US vs UK Crochet Terms: Conversion Chart and How to Tell Them Apart

Here's the thing that trips up almost every crocheter at least once: US and UK patterns use the same names for different stitches.

A UK "double crochet" is a US "single crochet." A UK "treble" is a US "double crochet." The stitches themselves are identical; only the names change. But follow a UK pattern using US stitches and every stitch comes out one size too tall, so your project grows bigger, looser and hungrier for yarn.

The good news is that the system is completely consistent. Once you know the pattern, converting takes a few seconds.

Other terms that differ:

The simple rule: apart from chain and slip stitch, every UK stitch name is one step "taller" than the US name for the same stitch.

The two systems simply count different things. A handy way to remember it:

• US names count the "yarn over and pull through two" steps. A single crochet finishes with one of them, a double crochet with two, a treble with three.
• UK names count the loops on your hook after you pull up the first loop. A UK double crochet has two loops on the hook at that point; a UK treble has three.

Both systems make sense on their own terms. They just grew up separately, and patterns from both are widely available today.

Good patterns say so near the top, often with "written in US terms" or "UK terminology." If yours doesn't, look for clues:

1. 1.Single crochet appears: it's almost certainly US. Modern UK patterns don't use the term single crochet at all.
2. 2.UK-only words: "miss," "tension," "yrh" or "yoh," and stitch names like "half treble" point to UK.
3. 3.The designer's location: designers in the US and Canada usually write in US terms; those in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa often use UK terms. This is only a clue, because many designers write for an international audience.
4. 4.Look at the photos. If a pattern says "dc" but the fabric is clearly short, dense stitches, it's probably UK double crochet, which is US single crochet.
5. 5.Check the stitch counts. Work a few rows both ways and see which one matches the pattern's counts and measurements.

Converting on the fly is where mistakes happen, especially with "dc," which means different stitches in each system. A few minutes of prep avoids that:

1. 1.Print or copy the pattern so you can write on it.
2. 2.Write a key at the top: "UK dc = US sc, UK tr = US dc, UK htr = US hdc."
3. 3.Convert every stitch name before you start, row by row, or highlight each stitch type in its own color.
4. 4.Check turning chains. They follow the stitch, not the name: a UK treble row starts with the same ch 3 as a US double crochet row.
5. 5.Work a test swatch and compare with the pattern's gauge and photos.

If you design or write patterns yourself, state your terminology at the very top, and consider including a small conversion table.

Terminology isn't the only thing that changes across the Atlantic.

Hook sizes: US patterns use letters and numbers like H-8, while older UK patterns use numbers that run in the opposite direction, where higher means smaller. Modern patterns everywhere increasingly give millimeters, which is the only reliable measure. Our hook size guide has a full conversion chart.

Yarn weights: the US names yarn by category (sport, worsted, bulky); the UK, Australia and New Zealand often use ply names (4-ply, 8-ply/DK, 10-ply/aran, 12-ply/chunky). See the yarn weight guide for approximate equivalents.

Gauge vs tension: same measurement, different word.

• Assuming every pattern is US. Lots of beautiful patterns are written in UK terms, especially from British and Australian designers. Always check.
• Converting halfway through. If you realize midway that the pattern is UK, rip back to where you started and convert everything; mixing systems leaves a visible band of different fabric.
• Forgetting half double crochet. UK "htr" doesn't look like "hdc," so it's easy to miss. Add it to your key.
• Mixing up yarn over terms. "Yrh" is just a yarn over. Don't overthink it.
• Using a chart incorrectly. Crochet charts use symbols rather than words, so they're the same in both systems. If a pattern includes a chart, it can settle any confusion. See how to read crochet charts.