Crochet patterns are written with abbreviations for, well, brevity, and I will use the same abbreviations throughout my posts. Here are the most common ones:

• ch = chain (stitch)
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• dtr = double treble crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• sk = skip
• blo = back loop only
• flo = front loop only
• dec = decrease
• yo = yarn over

•  When you see an *asterisk* written in a pattern, you will repeat the instructions contained within the asterisks until the end of the round, or until the author directs otherwise.
• Most patterns will indicate the number of stitches in the row/round  by a # within parenthesis, e.g. (12).