US vs UK crochet terms: how to read either system

US and UK crochet terms describe the same family of stitches with an offset in naming. In US terms, single crochet (sc) is the short dense stitch. In UK terms, that same stitch is called double crochet (dc). A US double crochet (dc) is a UK treble (tr). Once you know the offset, most abbreviations fall into place.

Problems start when a pattern never states its system, or when you combine charts and blogs from both sides of the Atlantic in one project notebook.

Keep one column in mind while you work. If the pattern says “dc” and the fabric suddenly looks twice as tall as you expected, you may be reading UK names with US hands—or the reverse.

• US sc ↔ UK dc
• US hdc ↔ UK htr
• US dc ↔ UK tr
• US tr ↔ UK dtr
• US slip stitch (sl st) ↔ UK slip stitch (ss) — same idea, different abbreviation

Look for an explicit note (“US terms” / “UK terms”) near the abbreviations list. If there is none, clues include: British spellings (colour, fibre), “miss a stitch” instead of “skip,” and “dc” used as the default short stitch for amigurumi (often UK). US amigurumi patterns commonly list sc as the workhorse stitch.

When you are unsure, convert one round both ways on a scrap and compare height and density to the photos. OpenCrochet’s free converter lets you search either side of the table so you can annotate your printout in one system only.

Pick the system you think in. Translate the abbreviation list once at the start. Stick to that system for the whole make. If you share the pattern later, label your notes clearly so the next maker is not left guessing.