US vs UK Crochet Terms: Complete Conversion Chart
Convert US and UK crochet stitch names with an accessible chart, abbreviation exceptions, and worked examples. Identify which terminology a pattern uses.
US and UK crochet terminology gives different names to the same stitches—and sometimes uses the same name for different stitches. UK double crochet means US single crochet, not US double crochet. Chain and slip stitch keep their names.
This researched reference covers standard basic stitches, taller-stitch naming, common pattern language, and compound abbreviations. The invented examples explain conversion; they are not tested project patterns. The decorative artwork does not demonstrate stitch construction. Read our editorial policy for how we distinguish research from testing.
US to UK crochet conversion chart
Read across each row: both columns describe the same stitch. To convert a UK pattern to US terms, read right to left. Core mappings follow the Craft Yarn Council’s comparison table. King Cole’s terminology guide confirms taller-stitch equivalents and alternative abbreviations.
| US stitch and abbreviation | UK equivalent and abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Chain — ch | Chain — ch |
| Slip stitch — sl st | Slip stitch — ss or sl st |
| Single crochet — sc | Double crochet — dc |
| Half double crochet — hdc | Half treble crochet — htr |
| Double crochet — dc | Treble crochet — tr |
| Treble crochet (also called triple crochet) — tr | Double treble crochet — dtr |
| Double treble crochet — dtr | Triple treble crochet — trtr or ttr |
| Triple treble crochet — trtr (some publishers use ttr) | Quadruple treble crochet — qtr |
Abbreviations are conventions, not unique identifiers. King Cole uses UK ttr for triple treble; the Craft Yarn Council’s comparison uses trtr. King Cole also uses US ttr for a taller stitch, equivalent to UK quadruple treble. Spell out unfamiliar tall stitches and check the publisher’s definition rather than trusting the letters alone.
How to identify a pattern’s terminology
Check the heading, notes, and abbreviation key for an explicit US or UK statement. A designer’s country, the spelling of “colour,” or a yarn brand cannot settle the question: a pattern may target an international audience.
If the system is unstated, sc defined as single crochet suggests US terminology; htr defined as half treble suggests UK. Traditional UK basic-stitch terminology has no single crochet. But absence of sc proves nothing: a US pattern might use only double crochet. dc and tr alone are ambiguous. Simply Crochet’s conversion guide identifies its own patterns as UK terminology and explains the distinguishing terms.
When notes conflict with a definition, ask the publisher. Turning-chain length is not reliable proof of a terminology system.
Once you know the system, use our pattern-reading guide to decode repeats and counts. For the stitch movements themselves, compare US single crochet and US double crochet.
Other words you may need to translate
Inside Crochet’s international terminology sheet pairs miss with skip and lists UK yarn-over variants. The Craft Yarn Council pairs gauge with tension. These are reading aids, not rules about what every author must write.
| US wording | UK wording you may see |
|---|---|
| Skip — sk | Miss (skip also occurs) |
| Yarn over — yo | Yarn over hook — yoh; yarn round hook — yrh |
| Gauge | Tension, when referring to stitches and rows over a stated measurement |
Words such as stitch, space, row, and round do not need a stitch-name substitution. Follow the pattern’s own abbreviations and repeat notation. “Tension” can also describe how tightly someone works; read it in context.
Worked examples: keep the numbers, translate the names
These invented fragments assume the required stitches or spaces already exist. They demonstrate translation, not a complete project.
Example 1 — a simple instruction
- US:
Work 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts. - UK:
Work 1 dc in each of the next 6 sts.
Both versions instruct six stitches. The label changes; the intended stitch does not.
Example 2 — a group in one space
- US:
Work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next ch-space. - UK:
Work (2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) in the next ch-space.
The group stays in the same space and the chain remains a chain. Do not add chains because the translated stitch is called treble.
Example 3 — a decrease
- US:
sc2tog over the next 2 sts. - UK:
dc2tog over the next 2 sts.
The base stitch changes name; 2tog retains its meaning. This assumes the conventional decrease defined by the pattern. It does not authorize substituting an invisible decrease or another variation.
Avoid successive global replacements: changing sc to dc, then dc to tr, could translate the same text twice. Make a source-to-target key first, then check each instruction against the original.
Exceptions: compound stitches, clusters, and symbols
Translate the base stitch within longer names. US front post double crochet corresponds to UK front post treble; some UK publishers call it raised treble front. Inside Crochet documents raised-stitch terminology. A conventional US dc2tog corresponds to UK tr2tog. Preserve placement and decrease details.
Named stitch patterns need definitions. Shell, cluster, bobble, and puff do not alone specify stitch quantities, yarn overs, or insertion points. Translate the individual instructions inside the pattern’s definition; do not replace them with a remembered formula.
Use the supplied symbol key. Read a chart with its legend, translating the written stitch names where necessary. Do not assign a stitch name from memory without checking. Tunisian crochet requires a dedicated glossary; this basic-stitch table is not a complete Tunisian reference.
What does not change during conversion?
Translation changes wording, not the intended fabric. Retain the original:
- Stitch counts, repeats, and row or round numbers.
- Chain quantities and whether a turning chain counts as a stitch.
- Placement in a stitch, space, loop, or post.
- Gauge or tension, materials, measurements, and finishing instructions.
Hook sizes and yarn weights are separate subjects. A hook measured in millimeters does not change diameter because a stitch changes name. Verify national letter or number hook labels separately. Do not substitute yarn merely because regional weight names sound alike.
Frequently asked questions
What is US single crochet in UK terms?
UK double crochet. US sc and UK dc describe the same stitch.
Is US double crochet the same as UK double crochet?
No. US double crochet is UK treble; UK double crochet is US single crochet. Identify the terminology system before interpreting dc.
Are chain and slip stitch the same in both systems?
Yes. Their names stay the same, although slip stitch may appear as sl st or ss.
Should I change a turning chain when translating?
No. Preserve the written chain quantity and the designer’s statement about whether it counts as a stitch. Translation is not a reason to redesign the row beginning.
Sources and editorial note
Sources checked on 29 October 2026:
- Craft Yarn Council — Crochet Abbreviations Master List: US abbreviations, comparison table, and separate Tunisian glossary.
- King Cole — Crochet Terminology: UK/US equivalents, taller stitches, and abbreviation variants.
- Inside Crochet — International crochet terms (PDF): UK abbreviations and raised-stitch terminology.
- Simply Crochet / Simply Yarn — Abbreviations and conversions: publisher conventions and terminology identification.
AI assisted with research organization and drafting. This guide makes no claim of hands-on testing or independent technical review. Explore Terms & stitches or read how we handle sources and corrections.
