Crochet School · Reading patterns
US vs UK Crochet Terms: The Complete Conversion Guide
US and UK crochet patterns use the same names for different stitches. Use this conversion chart to tell them apart and follow any pattern correctly.
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If you have ever followed a pattern and ended up with something twice as tall as expected, you have probably met the US/UK terminology problem. The two traditions name the same stitches differently. The movements are identical — only the words change — but mixing them up changes everything.
Conversion chart
| US term | UK term |
|---|---|
| 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 crochet (tr) | double treble crochet (dtr) |
| double treble crochet (dtr) | triple treble crochet (trtr) |
| skip (sk) | miss |
| yarn over (yo) | yarn over hook (yoh) |
| gauge | tension |
| chain (ch) | chain (ch) |
Notice the pattern: from single crochet upward, each UK name is one step “taller” than the US name for the same stitch. A US double crochet is a UK treble; a US treble is a UK double treble.
How to tell which terms a pattern uses
- Check the notes. Most patterns state “US terms” or “UK terms” near the start.
- Look for “single crochet”. This name only exists in US terms. If you see sc, the pattern is almost certainly US.
- Look for UK words. “Miss”, “tension” and “half treble” appear in UK patterns; US patterns say “skip”, “gauge” and “half double crochet”. “Treble” is used in both systems, so on its own it is only a clue.
- Check the yarn and hook descriptions. “DK” and “aran” are more common in UK patterns, although many US patterns use them too — so treat this as a clue, not proof.
Converting a pattern
For short patterns, convert the whole thing before you start and write the new terms on your printout. For longer patterns, a small sticky note with the four or five stitches used is usually enough.
US ↔ UK Crochet Terms ConverterPaste instructions and convert stitch names between US and UK crochet terms.A quick memory aid
Think of the UK system as counting one more: where a US pattern says single, a UK pattern says double; where US says double, UK says treble. The slip stitch and chain keep the same names in both.
Common questions
Do US and UK hooks use the same sizes?
Millimeter sizes are the same everywhere. US letter sizes and older UK number sizes differ, so always check the millimeter size.
Which terms does this site use?
All patterns here are written in US terms, with UK equivalents noted in the abbreviations section of each pattern.
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