Crochet: French-English dictionary of crochet abbreviations
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What could be more practical than a dictionary of crochet abbreviations?! Especially a dictionary of crochet stitches in French and English! With these translations of abbreviations, the patterns in French or English will have no more secrets for you.
I use and write crochet patterns in French and English and if this is also your case you must had difficulty understanding abbreviations, especially English (UK) and American (US) abbreviations.
As my life as a crocheter progressed, I built my table of abbreviations which I often use as a dictionary.
Crochet Abbreviations chart
|
Maille |
Abréviation |
Stitch |
Abbreviation US |
Stitch UK |
Abbreviation UK |
|
Maille(s) |
m. |
Stitch(es) |
st. |
Stitch(es) |
st. |
|
Maille en l'air |
ml. |
Chain |
ch. |
Chain |
ch. |
|
Maille coulée |
mc. |
Slip stitch |
sl. st. |
Slip stitch |
ss. |
|
Maille serrée |
ms. |
Single Crochet |
sc. |
Double Crochet |
db. |
|
Demi-bride |
db. |
Half double crochet |
hdc. |
Half treble |
htr. |
|
Bride simple |
bs. |
Double crochet |
dc. |
Treble |
tr. |
|
Double bride |
db. |
Treble crochet |
tr. |
Double treble |
dtr. |
|
Triple bride |
tb. |
Double treble crochet |
dtr. |
Triple treble |
ttr. |
|
Augmentation |
aug. |
Increase |
inc. |
Increase |
inc. |
|
Diminution |
dim |
Decrease |
dec. |
Decrease |
dec. |
|
Cercle magique |
cm. |
Magic ring |
mr. |
Magic ring |
mr. |
List of crochet abbreviations
Because it's perhaps easier to read than a table on a phone ;p)
- Maille(s) -> m.
- US : stitch(es) -> st.
- UK : stitch(es) -> st.
- Maille en l'air -> ml.
- US : chain -> ch.
- UK : chain -> ch.
- Maille coulée -> mc.
- US : slip stitch -> sl. st.
- UK : slip stitch -> ss.
- Maille serrée -> ms.
- US : single crochet -> sc.
- UK : double crochet -> db.
- Demi-bride -> db.
- US : half double crochet -> hdc.
- UK : half treble -> htr.
- Bride simple -> bs.
- US : double crochet -> dc.
- UK : treble -> tr.
- Double bride -> db.
- US : treble crochet -> tr.
- UK : double treble -> dtr.
- Triple bride -> tb.
- US : double treble crochet -> dtr.
- UK : triple treble -> ttr.
- Augmentation -> aug.
- US : increase -> inc.
- UK : increase -> inc.
- Diminution -> dim.
- US : decrease -> dec.
- UK : decrease -> dec.
- Cercle magique -> cm.
- US : magic ring -> mr.
- UK : magic ring -> mr.
5 comments
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
You’re right to be confused about “msr”. The term “maille serrée en relief” (post single crochet) doesn’t really exist as a standard, standalone stitch in French crochet terminology in the same way that “maille serrée” (single crochet) or “bride” (double crochet) does.
If a pattern intends for you to work a stitch “en relief” (post stitch), it absolutely must specify whether it’s a front post stitch (“en relief avant”) or a back post stitch (“en relief arrière”). Simply stating “maille serrée en relief” or “msr” without further clarification is ambiguous.
Therefore, “msr” standing for “maille serrée relief” is highly unusual and problematic. The abbreviation “msr” should be clearly defined in the pattern’s abbreviation list, usually found at the beginning. If it’s not, it’s a strong indicator that the pattern might be poorly written or contains non-standard terminology.
Regarding “ms”, you’re correct! “ms” almost universally stands for “maille serrée”, which translates to single crochet in US terms. This is a very common and standard abbreviation.
Without more details from your pattern, especially how “msr” is described (or not described) in its abbreviation list, it’s really difficult to give you a definitive answer. If the pattern truly uses “msr” without any explanation of whether it’s a front or back post stitch, or how to execute it, that’s a significant red flag about the pattern’s quality.
I hope this answer can help you find a solution :)
Kind regards,
Fanny Le Merdy
I got a crochet pattern that is in French, and in translating it, I’ve found some terms that I can’t get a proper translation for. First is the abbreviation “msr”, which says it stands for maille sere, which translates to tight mesh but in an internet search it says it means maile serree relief, a type of post stitch using the single crochet technique. When I look that up, I get a video on Center Single Crochet or Waistcoat stitch. That’s confusing to me, and I would like to know what it really means. Also, “ms” has no description on the pattern, but when I look it up, I find it means single crochet. Is that correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Bought a French crochet book. NOW I can work it out properly. Thank you x
Bonjour,
Merci pour votre commentaire.
Normalement dans chaque patron (si celui-ci est correctement écrit évidemment ;) vous trouverez un tableau explicatif des abréviations utilisées dans le modèle. Votre modèle devrait donc vous fournir une explication pour cette abréviation.
A première vue, msdim. contient ms. (maille serrée) et dim. (diminution), il y a donc de fortes chances que msdim. puisse tout simplement signifier une diminution en maille serrée.
Meilleures salutations,
Fanny Le Merdy
Bonjour j ai un patron de chez hobbii je ne comprends pas l abréviation msdim pouvez m aider merci