Crochet Glossary: Differences between US English and UK English
Crochet is a universal art, but its technical terms vary depending on the region of the world! Historically, the United States and the United Kingdom developed their own systems of abbreviations and names for base points.
For example, what US English speakers call "single crochet" becomes "double crochet" in UK English. These differences are explained by the independent evolution of practices and patterns over the decades.
Result ? The same word can refer to two different techniques depending on the country… and confusion can quickly arise if you don't check which system is being used!
Why is it important to differentiate between US and UK abbreviations?
Avoiding execution errors
A "double hook" in the US is not the same as in the UK. If you confuse the two, you risk... not realizing the right point during your project. Checking the system (US or UK) ensures proportional stitches and a result faithful to the pattern.
Access thousands of international business leaders
English-speaking designers always indicate which system their pattern is written in (US or UK). Knowing how to distinguish between them allows you to follow any pattern, whether it comes from an American blog, a British book, or an Australian PDF.
Understanding tutorials and communities
On YouTube, Reddit, and Instagram, US and UK terms coexist. Mastering both lexicons will...’help to decipher the advice, ask specific questions and exchange unambiguously with crocheters from all over the world.
Exchange with an international community
Crocheting is a passion shared worldwide. Knowing the differences between US and UK terms allows you to better communicate with other crocheters, whether on social media, in forums or at events.
The PDF to download
For further information, a complete PDF version of the glossary is also available for download.
The PDF includes two complete versions of the glossary: a main French version and a main English version.
Each of these 14-page documents compiles all the terms used on the site, in all languages available (French, English US/UK, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Norwegian), so you can easily view them offline, print them or always keep them handy on your phone, tablet or computer.
The PDF is available for €2, a deliberately symbolic amount which helps to support the work of creating, updating and translating the lexicon, as well as the development of new free content on Yarn & Crochet.
Access is free online glossary of course, it remains fully available.
2,00 €
The US English – UK English Crochet Lexicon
To make your navigation easier and help you with your project, you can simply click on a term that interests you highlight it. This can help you focus on the translations that are important for your project. If you click again on a line that's already selected, the highlighting will disappear.
| Anglais US | Abréviation (US) | Anglais UK | Abréviation (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points de Base | |||
| Chain | ch | Chain | ch |
| Single crochet | sc | Double Crochet | dc |
| Half double crochet | hdb | Half treble | htr |
| Double crochet | dc | Treble | tr |
| Treble | tr | Double Treble | dtr |
| Double treble | dtr | Triple treble | trip tr |
| slip stitch | slst | Slip stitch | slst |
I hope you find this US English - UK English dictionary of terms commonly used in crochet patterns helpful. To keep this information handy, consider downloading the PDF!
Do you want to explore other languages? Discover the multilingual glossary, where you will find crochet-related terms translated into Italian, Spanish, and many more.
Dictionaries
Looking for a more detailed crochet dictionary in a specific language? Check out our dedicated pages!
French - US English
French - Spanish
French - Italian
French - German
French - Russian
French - Norwegian
French - English UK
US English - UK English