Download the AppPattern Symbols Decoded Your Crochet Stitch Chart
A searchable dictionary for knit and crochet chart symbols. Every glyph comes with its Japanese name (kanji + romaji), US and UK terminology, and a clear how-it's-worked description.
Download Yarnzy on iOS & AndroidHeads up: same symbol, different names in US vs UK. The cross symbol × is "sc" (single crochet) in US patterns but "dc" (double crochet) in UK patterns. Each card shows both.
Basic
7Decreases
2Increases
1Specialty
9わ
wa — “ring”
An adjustable starting ring made by wrapping yarn around your fingers. Work stitches into the ring, then pull the tail to close.
How to read a Japanese pattern chart.
JIS-style charts read from the bottom up and right to left, following the path of the yarn. Here's a real granny-square first round, translated symbol by symbol.
Granny square: round 1, joined.
Reading order, top to bottom.
JIS charts are visual: what you see on the page is what the finished work looks like. Read the symbols in the order yarn travels, usually starting from the centre or bottom-right.
Chain ring
わ (wa) means "ring." Start with a magic ring or short chain joined into a circle.
Double crochet (US) / Treble (UK)
長編み (naga-ami) means "long knit." The T-with-one-bar symbol is the standard tall stitch.
Chain
鎖編み (kusari-ami) means "chain knit." Each circle is one chain. Two circles at the corner = ch-2 corner space.
Continue around
Each side of the square reads: 3 dc, ch-2 corner, 3 dc. Repeat 4 times, then slip stitch to close.
How to use the dictionary.
Three quick ways to find a symbol by glyph, by abbreviation, or by Japanese name.
01
Pick the craft
Switch between crochet and knitting symbol sets. Each craft has its own glyph vocabulary about 17 crochet symbols and 16 knitting symbols here.
02
Filter or search
Browse by category (Basic, Decreases, Increases, Specialty, Cables) or search across abbreviations, Japanese names, romaji, and descriptions all at once.
03
Tap a card
Each symbol expands inline with the large glyph, US and UK terminology side by side, the Japanese name with kanji and romaji, how it's worked, and common uses.
Questions makers actually ask.
Quick answers on chart conventions, knit vs crochet symbols, and reading patterns from charts.
No they use different conventions. This tool keeps them separate so you always see the right symbol set for your craft.
- knitting charts: knit, purl, yo, k2tog, ssk, cables
- crochet charts: ch, sc, dc, tr, and stitch-height symbols
- switch craft at the top to load the matching legend
More tools from Skein.
A free toolkit for everything you measure, swatch, or substitute. No sign-up required.
Open tool →Yarn Calculator
Your pattern gives you a yarn name. Not a skein count. Enter your yardage and weight, Yarnzy returns the exact number of skeins. Not a guess. The real number.
Open tool →Stitch Calculator
Know your gauge. Know your width. Yarnzy does the one calculation every knitter skips and every frogged project proves they shouldn't have.
Open tool →Unit Conversion
Meters to yards. Grams to ounces. Your pattern is European, your yarn is American, Yarnzy makes both speak the same language instantly.
Open tool →Yarn Substitution
Your pattern's yarn is discontinued. Enter your yardage and weight, get the exact skein count for whatever yarn you're swapping in. Before you buy anything.
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