Crochet Glossary: The differences between US and UK English
Crochet is a universal art, but its technical terms vary from region to region! Historically, the USA and the UK have developed their own systems of abbreviations and names for basic stitches.
For example, what US English speakers call “single crochet” becomes “double crochet” in UK English. These divergences can be explained by the independent evolution of practices and patterns over the decades.
The result? The same word can designate two different techniques, depending on the country… and rapid confusion if you don’t check the system used!
Why is it important to differentiate between US and UK abbreviations?
Avoiding design errors
“Double crochet” in the US is not the same as double crochet in the UK. If you confuse the two, you risk making the wrong stitch for your project. Checking the system (US or UK) guarantees proportional stitches and a result faithful to the pattern.
Access to thousands of international patterns
English-speaking designers always indicate in which system their pattern is written (US or UK). Knowing the difference means you can follow any pattern, whether it comes from an American blog, a British book or an Australian PDF.
Understanding tutorials and communities
On YouTube, Reddit or Instagram, US and UK terms live side by side. Mastering both lexicons helps you decipher tips, ask precise questions and exchange unambiguously with crocheters from all over the world.
Exchanging with an international community
Crocheting is a passion shared the world over. Knowing the differences between US and UK terms will help you communicate better with other crocheters, whether on social networks, in forums or at events.
The English US – English UK Crochet Glossary
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To facilitate navigation and help you with your project, you can simply click on a term of interest to highlight it. This can help you focus on the translations that are important to your project. If you click again on an already selected line, the highlight will disappear.
| English US | Abbreviation (US) | English UK | Abbreviation (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Stitches | |||
| 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 English US – English UK glossary of terms commonly used in crochet patterns useful. To keep this information close at hand, don’t forget to download the PDF!
Want to explore other languages? Discover the multilingual lexicon, where you’ll find crochet terms translated into Italian, Spanish and many more.
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