Crochet Thread Information

Crochet Thread Information.  This has always been a confusing issue for me.  I found this article that explains it all.  I hope this is useful for you.
Thread Terminology

Mercerized

Thread has undergone a process making it stronger and giving it a luster.

Boilfast

The color will not run or fade in hot water.

Ply

The number of units or cords that have been twisted together to make a single strand. The weight will signify the thickness of the strand, such as #10 to #70 or even #100. The larger the number the finer the thread.

Thread Varieties

Knit Cro-Sheen

Generally a 4 ply tightly twisted thread. It's about a size 10 or a bit larger. Has been widely interchanged for size 10 threads. Some suggestions for usage are shawls, blouses, dresses, bedspreads, curtains and lace trims.

Metallic Knit Cro-Sheen

A 4 ply thread with one strand of mylar. It does offer quite a variety of colors, such as white and gold, gold on gold, green and red, white and red, white and silver etc. It's great for thread ornaments, doilies, sweaters, blouses and fashion accessories.

Speed Cro-Sheen

An 8 ply, firmly twisted thread, about a size 3. It's great for bedspreads, tablecloths, placemats and fashion accessories.

Bedspread Weight Cotton

Is a 4 ply, very firmly twisted thread. It's commonly called a size 10 thread. It's excellent for bedpsreads, tablecloths, place mats, trims and doilies. For most of my patterns I use a size 10 thread.

Perle Cotton

A 2 ply, loosely twisted cotton thread with a very high sheen. It is comparable to a size 5 thread. It's great for vests, blouses, trim and flowers.

Tatting-Crochet Cotton

A 3-ply, firmly twisted size 70 thread (can also be finer). It's great for trims, laces, tatted doilies, and the like.

Boucle

A 4-ply stubbed novelty that is loosely twisted and soft. It's an excellent source for making dresses and sweaters and other clothing accessories.

Six Cord Cotton

A 6 ply, very hard thread that comes in size 20, 30 for tableclothes, trim and lace.

Three Cord Cotton

Widely used for tablecloth, trim and lace. Should be available in 10, 20, and 30 weight. It's a 3 ply , firmly twisted fiber.

Lustersheen

A sport weight yarn, that is excellent for vests, blouses, doilies, and the like. It comes in a variety of colors and is comparable to a size 3 or sport weight fiber.

Thread Brands

Aunt Lydia's Crochet Thread

3 ply, size 10 bedspread weight, 100% mercerized cotton.

Aunt Lydia's Denim Crochet Thread

75% cotton and 25% acrylic.

Cebelia Crochet Cotton

An excellent quality, 3 cord, mercerized 100% cotton thread.

Coats Big Ball

3 ply 100% mercerized cotton thread.

Cordonnet

A superior quality, six-cord, mercerized, 100% cotton thread.

DMC Baroque Crochet Cotton

A bedspread weight 100% cotton thread with a soft sheen.

DMC Traditions Crochet Cotton

An excellent quality 100% cotton, Size 10 crochet thread.

Grandma´s Best

100% mercerized cotton thread, bedspread weight, 3-ply.

J & P Coats

Mercerized 100% cotton thread.

Nicola Crochet Thread

Mercerized crochet cotton.

Opera Crochet Cotton

An excellent premium quality crochet cotton, 3-ply, tightly-twisted 100% cotton thread.

Optima Crochet Thread

Mercerized thread.

Regina Crochet

100% Egyptian cotton mercerized.

South Maid Crochet Cotton

100% mercerized for added strength and softness.

Crochet Abbreviations Master List

Following is a list of crochet abbreviations used in patterns by yarn industry designers and publishers. The most commonly used abbreviations are highlighted. In addition, designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, which you might not find on this list. Generally, a definition of special abbreviations is given at the beginning of a book or pattern.

Abbreviation	Description		Abbreviation	Description
[ ]	work instructions within brackets as many times as directed		FPdc	front post double crochet
( )	work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed		FPsc	front post single crochet
*	repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed		FPtr	front post treble crochet
* *	repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions		g	gram
”	inch(es)		hdc	half double crochet
alt	alternate		inc	increase/ increases/ increasing
approx	approximately		lp(s)	loops
beg	begin/beginning		m	meter(s)
bet	between		MC	main color
BL	back loop(s)		mm	millimeter(s)
bo	bobble		oz	ounce(s)
BP	back post		p	picot
BPdc	back post double crochet		pat(s) or patt	pattern(s)
BPsc	back post single crochet		pc	popcorn
BPtr	back post treble crochet		pm	place marker
CA	color A		prev	previous
CB	color B		rem	remain/remaining
CC	contrasting color		rep	repeat(s)
ch	chain stitch		rnd(s)	round(s)
ch-	efers to chain or space previously made: e.g., ch-1 space		RS	right side
ch-sp	chain spac		sc	single crochet
CL	cluster		sc2tog	single crochet 2 stitches together
cm	centimeter(s)		sk	skip
cont	continue		Sl st	slip sitich
dc	double crochet		sp(s)	space(s)
dc2tog	double crochet 2 stitches together		st(s)	stitch(es)
dec	decrease/ decreases/ decreasing		tch or t-ch	turning chain
dtr	double treble		tbl	through back loop
FL	front loop(s)		tog	together
foll	follow/follows/ following		tr	treble crochet
FP	front post		trtr	triple treble crochet
			WS	wrong side
			yd(s)	yard(s)
			yo	yarn over
			yoh	yarn over hook