The short answer: British and American crochet patterns use the same stitches but give them different names, and each US name is one step down from the UK one. UK double crochet is US single crochet, UK half treble is US half double crochet, and UK treble is US double crochet. So the words “double crochet” mean two different stitches depending on where the pattern comes from.
This confuses nearly every beginner, so it’s worth five minutes now. Here is the full chart of the terms used in our course, then how to tell which kind of pattern you’re holding.
UK vs US crochet terms: the conversion chart
| UK term | US term (same stitch) |
|---|---|
| chain (ch) | chain (ch) |
| slip stitch (ss) | slip stitch (sl st) |
| double crochet (dc) | single crochet (sc) |
| half treble (htr) | half double crochet (hdc) |
| treble (tr) | double crochet (dc) |
| double treble (dtr) | treble (tr) |
| yarn round hook (yrh) | yarn over (yo) |
| miss | skip (sk) |
| dc2inc (2 dc in the same stitch) | sc inc |
| dc2tog (2 dc together) | sc2tog |
| tension | gauge |
Some abbreviations are the same on both sides of the Atlantic: chain space (ch-sp), turning chain (tch), magic ring (MR), front and back loop only (FLO / BLO), space (sp) and round (rnd).
Why the names don’t match
The two systems simply count differently. The easiest way to remember it is to think in stitch heights, from shortest to tallest, and line them up:
- Shortest real stitch: UK double crochet = US single crochet. Yarn round hook, pull a loop through (2 loops on the hook), yarn round hook, pull through both.
- A little taller: UK half treble = US half double crochet. Wrap first, then go in, pull up a loop (3 loops), wrap and pull through all three.
- Tall: UK treble = US double crochet. Wrap, in, pull up (3 loops), through 2, through 2.
- Taller still: UK double treble = US treble. A treble with one extra wrap before you go in.
If you know the movement, the name stops mattering. A stitch with one wrap before you go in, worked “through 2, through 2”, is the same stitch whichever country’s name is on the page.
How to tell whether a pattern uses UK or US terms
- Look for a note at the top. There’s usually one: “This pattern uses UK terms”, or an abbreviations list that says “tr = treble” or “sc = single crochet”. Always check before you start.
- Look for “single crochet” or “sc”. UK patterns don’t use it at all. If you see sc, the pattern is American.
- Look for “half treble”, “htr” or “miss”. These are British. US patterns say half double crochet (hdc) and skip.
- Check the turning chain against the stitch. A row of the shortest stitch starts with ch 1. If a pattern says “ch 1, dc in each stitch”, it’s probably UK. If it says “ch 3, dc in each stitch”, the “dc” is the tall stitch, so it’s US.
- Videos count too. Most crochet videos are American. When they say single crochet, that’s UK double crochet.
Converting a pattern? Write the conversion at the top of your copy (for example “US dc = my tr”) and convert every stitch as you read, not just the first one. Mixing the two systems gives you stitches of the wrong height.
Knitting has a few too
Knitters meet the same problem, just less often:
| UK term | US term |
|---|---|
| cast off | bind off (BO) |
| stocking stitch (st st) | stockinette |
| tension | gauge |
| yarn forward (yfwd) | yarn over (yo) |
| yarn to the front / back (yf / yb) | with yarn in front / back (wyif / wyib) |
| Aran yarn | worsted |
| DK (double knit) | DK / light worsted |
| 4 ply | fingering / sock |
| chunky | bulky |
For yarn, the weight number on the label (0 to 7, inside a little skein symbol) is the easiest thing to go by, because it’s the same everywhere. Aran and worsted are both weight 4.
Questions people ask
Is UK double crochet the same as US single crochet?
Yes. It’s the same stitch: yarn round hook, pull a loop through, yarn round hook, pull through both loops. UK patterns call it double crochet (dc) and US patterns call it single crochet (sc).
What is a US double crochet in UK terms?
A treble (tr). The US double crochet is the tall stitch worked “through 2, through 2”, used in granny squares.
How do I know if a crochet pattern is UK or US?
Check for a note or abbreviations list at the top. If the pattern uses single crochet (sc) it’s American; if it uses half treble (htr) or “miss”, it’s British.
Is tension the same as gauge?
Yes. UK patterns call it tension and US patterns call it gauge. Both mean how many stitches and rows fit in 10 cm.