Okay, picture this: you’re working on a crochet pattern, feeling all confident, and then… BAM! You realise the scarf you are making is going to span a football field and looks nothing like the picture. What the?
Chances are, you’ve been caught in the vortex of the Great Crochet Terminology Divide—aka the difference between UK and US crochet terms.
But it’s okay. Don’t panic! It’s not your fault. It’s just that UK and US crocheters decided to call the same stitches completely different names. Why? Who knows.
From a designer point of view, I think it’s so I have to do more work in offering both US and UK terminology. It’s painful!
The main difference between the terms seems to be how the stitches are defined:
In the UK, the stitch name reflects the number of yarn overs and loops pulled through to create the stitch.
In the US, the stitch name reflects its relative height compared to other stitches.
Examples:
What the UK calls a double crochet (dc) involves pulling through two loops twice.
The US calls it a single crochet (sc) because it’s the shortest stitch in height.
What that means:
In the US, the simplest stitch is the single crochet (sc).
But in the UK, that same stitch doesn’t exist! Instead, their simplest stitch is the double crochet (dc).
Every UK stitch is one step up compared to its US counterpart.
Mind-boggling, right?
Check this out:
US Term UK Term
Single Crochet (sc) Doesn’t Exist
Double Crochet (dc) Treble Crochet (tr)
Treble Crochet (tr) Double Treble (dtr)
Double treble Crochet (dtr) Triple Treble Crochet (trtr)
How Do You Know Which to Use?
Most designers will state in the pattern which terminology is used.
Don’t assume that the designer’s nationality dictates which crochet terminology they use. For example, as an Australian designer, it might be expected that I would naturally write in UK terminology. However, I personally prefer US terminology.
I write all my patterns in US terms and then translate them into UK terms for accessibility. Ultimately, the choice of terminology is a personal one, and every designer may have their own preference.
Check the origin of the pattern: US pattern? US terms. UK pattern? UK terms. Look for a terminology note:
Most patterns will tell you upfront if they’re in US or UK terms (thank goodness!).
I f the pattern contains single crochet, then it is an instant given that the pattern is written in US terminology.
So, there you have it—the mystery of UK vs. US crochet terms solved! Now you can grab your hook, choose your preferred terminology, and crochet.