# US vs UK Crochet Terms: What Is the Difference?

https://rowandround.app/guides/crochet/us-vs-uk-crochet-terms · Crochet; published 2026-11-01, updated 2026-11-01 · Kallos Labs

> UK and US crochet use the same stitch names for different stitches. A UK double crochet (dc) is a US single crochet (sc), and every name from there up is one step off.

UK and US crochet patterns use the same stitch names for different stitches. A UK double crochet is a US single crochet, and each name above it sits one step off: the UK treble is the US double crochet, and so on up the ladder. Chain and slip stitch are the same in both, so only the stitches built on them change. Check which system a pattern uses before you start, because the wrong one changes your stitches from the first row. More [crochet guides](https://rowandround.app/guides/crochet) cover the rest of reading a pattern.

## What are the US and UK crochet terms side by side?

A UK stitch name is the US name one step up, so you can convert by moving one rung on the ladder. This table follows the [Craft Yarn Council's abbreviations list](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/crochet-abbreviations), and [LoveCrafts' conversion tables](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/pages/crochet-conversion-tables) give the same pairs.

| US name (abbreviation) | UK name (abbreviation) |
|---|---|
| Chain (ch) | Chain (ch) |
| Slip stitch (sl st) | Slip stitch (ss) |
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) |
| Half double crochet (hdc) | Half treble (htr) |
| Double crochet (dc) | Treble (tr) |
| Treble (tr) | Double treble (dtr) |
| Double treble (dtr) | Triple treble (trtr) |

Read it across a row. If a US pattern says "sc", a UK pattern would say "dc" for the same stitch. If a UK pattern says "tr", you work what a US pattern calls a double crochet.

The trap is the abbreviation. "dc" and "tr" show up in both systems and mean different stitches, so a "dc" tells you nothing until you know the system.

## Which other words differ besides stitch names?

Three everyday words change too, and in each case it is the same thing under a different word.

- Gauge (US) and tension (UK). Both mean the stitches and rows in a set measurement, usually 10 cm (4 inches).
- Skip (US) and miss (UK). Both mean passing over a stitch without working into it.
- Yarn over (yo, US) and yarn over hook (yoh, UK). Both mean wrapping the yarn around the hook.

These differences are listed by the [Craft Yarn Council](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/crochet-abbreviations) and by [LoveCrafts](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/crochet-terms-uk-vs-us). None of them changes the fabric. You only translate the word.

## How do you convert a pattern line from one system to the other?

Swap each stitch name for its partner in the table and leave the numbers alone. Take a made-up line written in UK terms: "Row 2: 1 ch, 1 dc in each stitch across, turn." In US terms the same line reads "Row 2: ch 1, sc in each stitch across, turn." The stitch count stays the same, only the name changes.

A second line shows the step up: "Row 3: 3 ch, 1 tr in each stitch across" in UK terms becomes "Row 3: ch 3, dc in each stitch across" in US terms. A UK treble is a US double crochet, so the "tr" turns into "dc".

Write the converted line in the margin the first time. After a few rows you won't need the table, because the one-step rule does the work.

## How do you tell which terms a pattern uses?

Look for a line that says so. [LoveCrafts notes](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/crochet-terms-uk-vs-us) that the pattern will usually say whether it uses US or UK terms, often near the materials list or the gauge.

When it does not say, the wording gives it away:

- Stitch names. "Single crochet" or "half double crochet" means US. "Half treble" or "htr" means UK.
- Gauge or tension. "Gauge" points to US, "tension" to UK.
- Skip or miss. "Skip" points to US, "miss" to UK.
- Yarn amounts. Yardage points to US, metres to UK, though many patterns now give both.

One clue is rarely enough, so look for two that agree. If the pattern lists "yoh" and "tension", you are reading UK terms. If it lists "sc" and "gauge", they are US.

For the parts of a pattern line beyond the terms, see [how to read a crochet pattern](https://rowandround.app/guides/crochet/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern).

## What happens if you use the wrong system?

Your stitches come out a step off, and the piece ends up the wrong size. [LoveCrafts warns](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/crochet-terms-uk-vs-us) that a UK pattern worked with US terms makes the item twice the size, and the reverse makes it far too small.

A quick check on the first row saves unravelling. Work the first row as written, then compare the height of your stitches with the photo or the stitch height the designer describes. Tall stitches where the pattern shows tight, dense fabric mean you have read it the wrong way round. Once you have chosen the right system, [count your crochet rows](https://rowandround.app/guides/crochet/how-to-count-rows-in-crochet) against the stitch count the pattern gives, so you catch any slip early.

## Try it in Row & Round

Once you know which system you are in, the app keeps your place while you work. In Row & Round, the [highlighter bar](https://rowandround.app/features/highlighter-bar) sits on the row you are working in your PDF pattern, and the [row counter](https://rowandround.app/features/row-counter) moves the count and the bar together with one tap. Projects count in rounds for crochet, so a round of single crochet or a round of treble each get one tap.

Row & Round is coming soon to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. It keeps your place; reading the terms stays up to you, so write the system on your pattern before you begin.

## Bottom line

UK and US crochet share stitch names but not stitches, and the UK name is the US name one step up. Find the pattern's stated system, check two clues if it does not say, and work the first row before you commit.

## Questions

### Is a UK double crochet the same as a US double crochet?

No. A UK double crochet (dc) is a US single crochet (sc). The US double crochet (dc) is the UK treble (tr). The abbreviation matches, the stitch does not.

### Are chain and slip stitch the same in US and UK patterns?

Yes. A chain (ch) is the same stitch in both systems. Slip stitch is also the same stitch, though a UK pattern may write it ss where a US pattern writes sl st.

### Does gauge mean the same as tension?

Yes. Gauge is the US word and tension is the UK word for the number of stitches and rows in a set measurement, usually 10 cm (4 inches).

### What do skip and miss mean in crochet?

They mean the same thing. Skip is the US word and miss is the UK word for passing over a stitch without working into it.


## Sources

- [Craft Yarn Council: Crochet Abbreviations Master List](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/crochet-abbreviations)
- [LoveCrafts: UK vs US Crochet Terms, Conversion Chart](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/crochet-terms-uk-vs-us)
- [LoveCrafts: Crochet Conversion Tables](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/pages/crochet-conversion-tables)