Here are a few basic definitions of crochet terms/abbreviations (American) that I commonly use in my patterns. You can definitely find better definitions and even videos online, but this is the basics. If you have questions, please shoot me an email and I'll try to clarify.
( ): repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated
*: repeat directions following *, or between *s as many times as indicated
[ ]: work directions inside parentheses into stitch indicated
2sc/2hdc/2dc: increase, work 2 single, half-double or double crochet in the same stitch (depending on pattern)
blp: back loop – the back loop at the top of a stitch, work only in this loop when a pattern indicates in, instead of through both loops as usual
bpdc: back post double crochet – worked similarly to a dc, but instead of working into the top of a stitch, insert hook from the back to the front around the post of the stitch
CC: contrasting colour - this is the accent colour used for a pattern, there can be more than one contrasting colour (CC1, CC2 etc)
ch: chain - yarn over, draw yarn through loop on hook
ch-sp: chain space - refers to the space created by a chain or chains
dc: double crochet - yarn over (2 loops on hook), insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over, draw yarn through first two loops on hook, yarn over (2 loops on hook), draw yarn through both remaining loops on hook
dc2tog: decrease, double crochet two stitches together - yarn over, insert hook into 1st stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through first two loops on hook (2 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into 2nd stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through first 2 loops on on hook (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on hook.
dsl st: double slip stitch - insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over, insert your hook into the next st, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch and both loops on hook, next stitch will be working in the same stitch as the previous, and in the next one
flp: front loop - the front loop at the top of a stitch, work only in this loop when a pattern indicates in, instead of through both loops as usual
dsl st: double slip stitch - insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over, insert your hook into the next st, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch and both loops on hook, next stitch will be working in the same stitch as the previous, and in the next one
flp: front loop - the front loop at the top of a stitch, work only in this loop when a pattern indicates in, instead of through both loops as usual
fpdc: front post double crochet - worked similarly to a dc, but instead of working into the top of a stitch, insert hook from the front to the back around the post of the stitch
fsc: foundation single crochet – ch 2, insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through first loop on hook, yarn over (2 loops on hook), draw yarn through both loops on hook, *insert hook into loop at the bottom of stitch just made, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through first loop on hook, yarn over (2 loops on hook), draw yarn through both loops on hook* repeat until desired number of base stitches.
hdc: half-double crochet – yarn over (2 loops on hook), insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over, draw yarn through all three loops on hook
hdc2tog: decrease, half-double crochet two stitches together - yarn over, insert hook into 1st stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into 2nd stitch, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all five loops on hook
lch: long chain - work a chain, the length of an hdc, dc etc. (depending on pattern)
lch: long chain - work a chain, the length of an hdc, dc etc. (depending on pattern)
MC: main colour - this is the main or first colour of yarn used for a pattern
rev sc: reverse single crochet (crab stitch) - instead of working to the left, you work to the right, insert hook in stitch to the right, complete as normal sc
sc: single crochet - insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw yarn through both loops on hook
sc2tog: decrease, single crochet two stitches together - Insert hook into 1st st, pull up a loop, (2 loops on hook) insert hook into 2nd stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops of hook), yo, pull through all 3 loops. If doing amigurumi, insert hook into front loop of stitch one, twist hook and insert hook into stitch two, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops
sk st: skip stitch - exactly as the name implies, you skipped the prerequisite number of stitches
sl st: slip stitch - insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch and loop on hook
sp(s): space(s) - refers to the space between stitch
st(s): stitch(es) - any stitch (sl st, sc, hdc, dc etc)
yo: yarn over - wrap yarn from the back over the top of the hook
