Crochet reference
US vs UK crochet terms
US and UK patterns use the same stitch names for different stitches. A US single crochet is a UK double crochet, and a US double crochet is a UK treble. From single crochet up, each stitch name moves up one. Here is the whole conversion chart, with hooks and yarn weights, and one round written both ways.
Conversion chart
Stitch names, US to UK
| US term | UK term | Note |
|---|---|---|
Slip stitch sl st | Slip stitch ss or sl st | Same stitch; UK patterns often shorten it to ss. |
Chain ch | Chain ch | Same. |
Single crochet sc | Double crochet dc | UK has no single crochet. If a pattern says sc, it is in US terms. |
Half double crochet hdc | Half treble crochet htr | |
Double crochet dc | Treble crochet tr | The one that trips people up: dc means a different stitch in each. |
Treble crochet tr | Double treble crochet dtr | |
Double treble crochet dtr | Triple treble crochet trtr | |
Single crochet 2 together sc2tog | Double crochet 2 together dc2tog | Decreases follow their stitch. |
Double crochet 2 together dc2tog | Treble crochet 2 together tr2tog | |
Front post double crochet FPdc | Front post treble FPtr | Post stitches move up too. Some UK patterns say raised treble front (RtrF). On a US pattern, FPtr is the next stitch up, a front post treble. |
Other words that change
| US | UK |
|---|---|
Skip sk | Miss |
Yarn over yo | Yarn over hook or yarn round hook yoh, yrh |
| Gauge | Tension |
One round, both ways
The same round in US and UK terms
Round 4 of our free crochet circle. The stitches are identical; only the names change.
Ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in next st, [dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st] 11 times, dc in next st, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
48 dcCh 3 (counts as a tr), 2 tr in next st, [tr in next 2 sts, 2 tr in next st] 11 times, tr in next st, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
48 trBoth written by Krowshea from one pattern. Every pattern on this site has a US and UK switch.
Which terms?
How to tell which terms a pattern uses
Look for sc or htr
Single crochet (sc) only exists in US terms, and half treble (htr) only in UK terms. One of them in the abbreviations settles it.
Compare with the photo
A UK dc is a short stitch, the size of a US sc. If the pattern says dc but the photo shows short, dense stitches, it is probably in UK terms.
Check the source
Many designers say which terms they use near the abbreviations. Patterns from the UK, Ireland, Australia and South Africa usually use UK terms.
Hooks
Crochet hook sizes
UK patterns give hook sizes in millimeters. US patterns give a letter and number as well. The millimeter size is the one to trust; letters can vary a little between makers. Sizes from the Craft Yarn Council hook chart. For steel, vintage and old UK sizes, see our crochet hook size chart.
| US | Metric |
|---|---|
| B-1 | 2.25 mm |
| C-2 | 2.75 mm |
| D-3 | 3.25 mm |
| E-4 | 3.5 mm |
| F-5 | 3.75 mm |
| G-6 | 4 mm |
| 7 | 4.5 mm |
| H-8 | 5 mm |
| I-9 | 5.5 mm |
| J-10 | 6 mm |
| K-10½ | 6.5 mm |
| L-11 | 8 mm |
| M/N-13 | 9 mm |
| N/P-15 | 10 mm |
Yarn weights
Yarn weights, roughly
Yarn names don't line up exactly, so treat this as a starting point and check the gauge on the label.
| Standard | US name | UK name |
|---|---|---|
| Lace (0) | Fingering, 10-count crochet thread | Lace, 1-ply, 2-ply |
| Super fine (1) | Sock, fingering, baby | 4-ply |
| Fine (2) | Sport, baby | No usual UK name (sometimes 5-ply) |
| Light (3) | DK, light worsted | DK |
| Medium (4) | Worsted, afghan, Aran | Aran |
| Bulky (5) | Chunky, craft, rug | Chunky |
| Super bulky (6) | Super bulky, roving | Super chunky |
| Jumbo (7) | Jumbo, roving | Jumbo |
US weight categories from the Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system. UK names are the usual equivalents, not a standard.
More crochet guides
Krowshea is in beta
Write it once, read it both ways
Krowshea writes every pattern in US and UK terms from the same source, so a switch is all it takes. In the Krowshea Studio, members will be able to:
- Build a pattern and read it in US or UK terms
- See the chart, which looks the same in both
- Have every stitch count checked
- Print it in the terms you crochet in