US vs UK Crochet Terms: A Clear Conversion Guide

Few things confuse new crocheters more than discovering that the same stitch name can mean two different stitches. A pattern calls for double crochet, you work double crochet, and your project comes out much taller and looser than the photo. The culprit is almost always the difference between US and UK crochet terms.

Both systems describe exactly the same stitches. They just name them differently. Once you understand how the names line up and how to tell which system a pattern uses, converting becomes quick and reliable.

Why the two systems differ

The difference comes down to how each system counts. In UK terminology, a stitch is named for the number of loops on the hook after you insert the hook and pull up a loop. After inserting the hook and pulling up a loop for the shortest standard stitch, you have two loops, so the UK calls it a double crochet. US terminology counts differently and calls that same shortest stitch a single crochet. Every taller stitch then shifts by one name.

The practical result: most UK stitch names are one step taller than their US equivalents. The chain and the slip stitch are the main exceptions.

US vs UK crochet terms: stitch conversion chart

• Chain (ch) = Chain (ch)
• Slip stitch (sl st) = Slip stitch (sl st), sometimes called a single crochet (sc) in older UK patterns
• Single crochet (sc) = Double crochet (dc)
• Half double crochet (hdc) = Half treble crochet (htr)
• Double crochet (dc) = Treble crochet (tr)
• Treble crochet (tr) = Double treble crochet (dtr)
• Double treble crochet (dtr) = Triple treble crochet (trtr)

The same shift applies to stitch combinations. A US sc2tog (single crochet two together) is a UK dc2tog. A US dc2tog is a UK tr2tog. Front post double crochet (FPdc) in US terms becomes front post treble (FPtr) in UK terms. Clusters, popcorns and shells follow the same rule: look at the base stitch and convert it.

Other wording differences

• Skip (US) = miss (UK)
• Gauge (US) = tension (UK)
• Yarn over (yo) (US) = yarn round hook (yrh) or yarn over (UK)
• Fasten off is used in both, though some UK patterns say finish off

How to tell which system a pattern uses

Many modern patterns state their terminology at the top. When they don’t, these clues help:

1. Look for single crochet. UK terminology doesn’t normally use the term single crochet for the short stitch. If a pattern uses sc throughout, it’s almost certainly US.
2. Look for half treble (htr). This name only exists in UK terms. If you see htr, the pattern is UK.
3. Check the spelling and vocabulary. Words like colour, tension, miss and grey point toward UK patterns. Color, gauge and skip suggest US.
4. Check where the designer is based. A designer in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa often writes in UK terms. North American designers usually use US terms. This isn’t a guarantee, so treat it as one clue among several.
5. Compare the photo and stitch height. If a pattern says dc and the fabric in the photo is short and dense, it may be UK dc (US sc).
6. Make a swatch. If your gauge swatch is dramatically taller than the stated measurement, you may be using the wrong system.

Converting a pattern safely

Converting on the fly while you crochet is where mistakes happen. A few habits make it much easier:

• Convert before you start. Print the pattern and write the equivalent stitch above each abbreviation, or rewrite the key section by hand. The My Crochet Project Planner printable includes a US/UK terminology chart you can keep next to your pattern.
• Highlight by stitch. Use one highlighter color for each stitch type after converting, so you’re reading colors rather than names.
• Convert combinations, not just basics. Decreases, post stitches and clusters are easy to overlook. Convert the base stitch inside each one.
• Don’t convert stitch counts. Only the names change. If a UK pattern says 12 dc, you’ll work 12 US sc.
• Check chart symbols. International crochet symbols are the same in both systems, which is one reason many crocheters like charts. A symbol for a US double crochet is the same symbol a UK pattern would label treble.

Hook sizes: metric, US and old UK

Hook sizes add a second layer of confusion. Most hooks today show a metric size in millimeters, which is the most reliable reference because it measures the actual shaft diameter. US hooks also carry a letter and sometimes a number, such as H-8 for 5 mm. Older UK hooks used a numbered system that runs in the opposite direction, where higher numbers mean thinner hooks.

Letters and numbers aren’t always perfectly consistent between manufacturers, so when a pattern gives a millimeter size, trust that. If you only have letter sizes, check the millimeter marking on your hook or use a hook gauge to measure it. Remember too that the hook size in a pattern is a starting point: if your swatch doesn’t match the stated gauge or tension, go up a size to loosen it or down a size to tighten it.

Yarn weights across the Atlantic

Yarn weight names differ as well, and the equivalents are approximate rather than exact:

• Lace is lace in both systems
• US fingering is roughly UK 4-ply
• US sport sits between UK 4-ply and DK
• US DK or light worsted is roughly UK DK (double knitting)
• US worsted is close to UK aran, though aran is often slightly thicker
• US bulky is roughly UK chunky
• US super bulky is roughly UK super chunky

Many yarn labels also show the standard weight category number from 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo), used by the Craft Yarn Council. Medium-weight yarn, category 4, is what most beginner guides recommend. Because names are approximate, compare the recommended hook size and the gauge printed on the label rather than relying on the name alone, and always swatch.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming dc means the same thing everywhere

This is the big one. A US double crochet is about twice as tall as a UK double crochet. Using the wrong one changes the size and look of your project dramatically and can mean running out of yarn.

Mixing systems in one project

If you combine a UK border with a US body, convert both into one system on paper first. Working half the project in each is a recipe for confusion.

Forgetting about turning chains

Turning chain lengths are tied to stitch height. A pattern in UK terms that says ch 3 counts as tr is telling you to use the height of a US double crochet. Once you convert the stitch, the turning chain will make sense.

Skipping the gauge swatch

A small swatch catches terminology mix-ups early. If your swatch is much taller or shorter than the pattern states, check the terms before you check your tension.

Quick memory trick

If you remember only one thing, remember this: US single = UK double, and everything above that moves up one name in UK terms. Chains and slip stitches stay the same.

Where to learn more

Understanding terminology is part of the broader skill of reading patterns, which also covers abbreviations, repeats, gauge and charts. Reading & Understanding Crochet Patterns covers those topics in detail, including the term differences between the US, Canada and the UK, and several amigurumi patterns in Amigurumi: Sweet & Funny Patterns are written in UK terms with US conversions alongside, which makes them good practice.

If you’re building your crochet skills from the ground up, The Crochet Bible brings together stitch guides, pattern-reading help and dozens of projects in instant-download PDFs, so you can keep a reference open on your phone while you work.