Crochet reference
US vs UK crochet terms.
The same stitch can carry two different names. US patterns, also used in Canada, and UK patterns, also common in Australia and much of Europe, share abbreviations that mean different stitches. Here is every pair you are likely to meet.
Conversion table
Read across a row: both columns describe the same action with the hook. Rows marked with the same abbreviation in different columns, such as dc and tr, are where most mistakes happen.
| US term | US abbr. | UK term | UK abbr. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain | ch | Chain | ch |
| Slip stitch | sl st | Slip stitch | ss |
| Single crochet | sc | Double crochet | dc |
| Half double crochet | hdc | Half treble crochet | htr |
| Double crochet | dc | Treble crochet | tr |
| Treble (triple) crochet | tr | Double treble crochet | dtr |
| Double treble crochet | dtr | Triple treble crochet | trtr |
| Single crochet 2 together | sc2tog | Double crochet 2 together | dc2tog |
| Double crochet 2 together | dc2tog | Treble 2 together | tr2tog |
| Front post double crochet | FPdc | Front post treble | FPtr |
| Skip | sk | Miss | — |
| Yarn over | yo | Yarn over hook (or yarn round hook) | yoh (yrh) |
| Gauge | — | Tension | — |
Chain, picot, shell, cluster, round, right side and wrong side keep the same names on both sides of the Atlantic. Older British patterns sometimes call the slip stitch a single crochet, so treat "single crochet" in a vintage UK leaflet with care.
The one-step rule
The two systems name stitches from different starting points, so the shortest common stitch is a single crochet in US terms and a double crochet in UK terms. From there the pattern holds for every taller stitch: the UK name is always one step taller than the US name for the same stitch. US double crochet is UK treble, US treble is UK double treble, and so on up the table.
The rule also covers combined stitches. A decrease or a post stitch keeps its base stitch's name, so US dc2tog becomes UK tr2tog and US FPdc becomes UK FPtr. Half stitches follow along: US half double becomes UK half treble.
How to tell which terms a pattern uses
Many patterns state their terminology near the top. When one does not, look for a word that exists in only one system:
- sc or hdc means US terms, since modern UK patterns have no single crochet and no half double.
- htr, miss, tension or yrh points to UK terms.
- The publisher helps: a pattern from a UK or Australian magazine or designer usually uses UK terms, but check, because many designers publish both versions.
- A chart with a stitch key settles the question: compare the key's symbol with the crochet symbols chart. A symbol with one cross-bar is a US double crochet, whatever name it carries.
Converting a pattern line
Convert names, never numbers. Stitch counts, chain lengths and repeats stay exactly as written. Here is one granny square round in both systems:
| US terms | UK terms |
|---|---|
| Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, join with sl st. | Ch 3 (counts as tr), 2 tr in ring, ch 2, [3 tr in ring, ch 2] 3 times, join with ss. |
| Sk next st, sc in next st, yo, pull up a loop. | Miss next st, dc in next st, yoh, pull up a loop. |
Work through a long pattern with a highlighter: mark every stitch name, convert it once in the margin, then crochet from your notes. The crochet abbreviations list explains the shorthand that is the same in both systems, and the granny square chart shows the round above as a diagram.
Switch terms in the StitchPico editor
In the StitchPico editor, open Chart settings and change Crochet terms between US and UK. The stitch library and the legend rename every stitch at once, and exported SVG, PNG and PDF charts say "Stitch key · US terms" or "Stitch key · UK terms". The symbols on your chart do not change, because a symbol describes the stitch itself, not its name. That makes a chart the safest way to share a design with crocheters who learned the other system.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council, Crochet Abbreviations Master List: US/UK stitch name pairs, gauge and tension, yarn over and yarn over hook.
- The UK "miss" and "yarn round hook" wording and the older UK use of "single crochet" for a slip stitch are common publishing conventions; check each pattern's own key.