What Does RS Mean in Crochet? (Right Side Explained)
When you read a crochet pattern and see the letters RS, it is helpful to know exactly what they mean, because getting the right side of your work facing the correct way matters for how your finished piece looks. RS is a simple abbreviation, but it is an important one. This guide explains what RS means, how it differs from WS, and how to tell which side of your crochet is which. It is part of the crochet basics.
What RS Stands For
RS stands for right side, which is the front of your work, the side that is meant to be seen in the finished piece. Its partner is WS, which stands for wrong side, the back. Patterns use these two abbreviations to tell you which side of the fabric should be facing you at various points, so that textures, colors, and shaping end up on the correct, visible side. RS and WS are among the common terms listed in our crochet abbreviations guide.
Right Side vs Wrong Side
The right side and wrong side are just the front and back of your crochet fabric. Most crochet looks slightly different on each side, especially textured stitches and colorwork, so the front and back are not identical. The right side is the nicer, intended face, and the wrong side is the back. Patterns specify which is which so your design shows correctly. Some plain stitches look almost the same on both sides, and then you can simply pick one side to call the right side and keep it consistent throughout.
Why the Right Side Matters
Knowing the right side matters most for anything designed to show on the front. Textured stitches like bobbles and popcorns are usually made so the bump pops out on the right side, and color changes and colorwork are meant to be seen on the front too. If you work these on the wrong side by mistake, the effect can end up hidden on the back. So keeping track of the right side ensures your design looks the way the pattern intends, which is why patterns bother to tell you.
How to Tell Which Side Is the Right Side
There are a few ways to identify the right side. The position of your starting yarn tail gives a consistent reference, and the texture of the stitches often looks clearer or smoother on the right side. In colorwork, the front shows the crisp design while the back shows carried strands. The easiest and most reliable method, though, is simply to mark the right side with a stitch marker as soon as you can tell which it is, so you always know. There is a full guide to this in how to tell the right side of crochet.
What 'With RS Facing' Means
A common instruction you will see is to work something with RS facing, which simply means to hold your work so the right side, the front, is facing you as you do that step. Patterns say this most often for adding edgings, borders, and finishing touches, so that the new stitches appear on the correct, visible side of the piece. When you see with RS facing, just turn your work so the front faces you before you begin. Marking the right side, using stitch markers, makes this effortless.
Keeping Track With Confidence
So RS means right side, the front of your work, and WS means wrong side, the back, and patterns use them so your textures, colors, and finishing end up facing the right way. The simplest way to stay on track is to mark the right side early and keep it in view. With that habit, following patterns becomes much clearer. Explore more terms in the crochet terms every beginner should know and the rest of the crochet basics.