If you’ve ever followed a crochet pattern and ended up with something completely different from what you expected, you might have stumbled into the US vs. UK crochet terminology confusion! While both use the same stitches, they name them differently, which can be frustrating for beginners and experienced crocheters alike.
Why Do US and UK Crochet Terms Differ?
The US and the UK both use the same basic stitches, but they name them differently due to how they interpret the stitch structure.
In US terminology, stitches are counted based on the number of yarn overs before inserting the hook.
In UK terminology, the same stitch is counted based on the number of loops remaining after completing the stitch.
Because of this, UK terms are typically one level “higher” than US terms. For example:
- A single crochet in the US is called a double crochet in the UK.
- A double crochet in the US is called a treble crochet in the UK.
The only stitch that stays the same in both systems is the slip stitch (sl st).
How to Tell if a Pattern Uses US or UK Terms
Since the same abbreviations can mean different stitches, it’s important to check which system the pattern is using before you begin. Here’s how to spot the difference:
Look for a Note in the Pattern
Most patterns specify at the beginning whether they use US or UK terms. It may say something like:
“This pattern uses US crochet terminology” or “Pattern written in UK terms.” From my experience, the majority of patterns tend to use US crochet terminology. Of course, this may be due to me being located in the US, so always double check!
Check the Stitches Used
If a pattern includes single crochet, it’s a US pattern, since UK terminology doesn’t use that term.
Look at the Publisher
- US-based sources (like American blogs, Ravelry, or major US yarn brands) will likely use US terms.
- UK-based sources (like British magazines, UK yarn brands, or European designers) will likely use UK terms.
Compare with a Stitch Guide
If you’re unsure, look at how the stitches are described in the instructions. If the pattern refers to a “double crochet” but the stitch only has one yarn over, it’s using UK terms.
How to Convert Between US and UK Crochet Terms
If you find a pattern you love but it’s written in the “wrong” terminology for what you’re used to, don’t worry! You can convert it easily using the following rules:
- Subtract one level for US to UK conversions.
- Add one level for UK to US conversions.
To avoid confusion, some patterns provide both sets of terminology, like this:
“Work 10 dc (US)/tr (UK)”
Once you understand the differences between US and UK crochet terms, switching between them becomes much easier. Whether you’re following a pattern from an American designer or a British magazine, keeping a conversion chart handy can help you get the results you expect. Have you ever been confused by US vs. UK crochet terms?