Abbreviations

r = ring
st = stitch
ch = chain - a series of sts worked on the ball thread and are not drawn into a ring;
ds = double stitch
p = picot
cl r = close ring - draw shuttle thread until last st made touches first st, thus forming a r.
rw = reverse work - turn work over so that the lower edge of work lies at the top.
sp = space
sm p = small picot
lg p = long picot
sm r = small ring
lg r = large ring
sep = separated - the number of picots in a ring is sometimes given, together with the number of doubles by which they are separated.
* = asterisk - repeat the directions following the asterisk as many times as specified, in addition to the original.