Crochet Terms in US, UK & Australian English — The Complete Glossary

If you've ever picked up a crochet pattern and felt instantly lost — welcome to the club. One of the most frustrating experiences for beginners (and even experienced crafters) is discovering that US and UK/Australian crochet patterns use completely different terms for the same stitches. At MrsCrochetWorld, all our patterns are written in US terms, so we created this complete glossary to help every crafter — wherever you live — read our patterns with total confidence.

Why Do US and UK Crochet Terms Differ?

The answer lies in history. Crochet as a widely practiced craft spread through Europe in the 19th century, and both British and American crafters developed their own standardized terminology independently — without a coordinating international body to unify the vocabulary. By the time printed pattern books became mainstream in both regions, two distinct naming conventions had taken hold.

The British system, used uniformly across the United Kingdom and Australia, kept the original European names like "treble crochet" and "double treble." The American system, developed alongside the boom in US craft publishing through the 20th century, independently named stitches beginning with "single crochet" as the baseline. Since these two bodies of work evolved in parallel, there was no moment where someone said "let's sync the names" — and we've been untangling the mess ever since.

Here's the critical point: Australia follows UK terminology 100%. If you see an Australian pattern, treat it exactly like a UK pattern. Every term, every abbreviation — identical.

According to crochet community data, terminology confusion is the single most common complaint from beginners who try to follow a pattern from a different country. It's not a skill issue — it's a translation issue. And once you understand the system, it clicks permanently.

All MrsCrochetWorld patterns are written in US terms — the global standard on Ravelry, Etsy, and Pinterest. If you're from the UK, Australia, or Canada, keep reading: this glossary is your complete cheat sheet.

The Master Crochet Terms Comparison Table

This is the table you'll want to bookmark. Every core crochet term, stitch, and concept compared side by side across US, UK, and Australian conventions. Print it out, save it to your phone, or pin it to your crochet board — this is your permanent reference guide.

The Golden Rule: Every Stitch Shifts Up One Level (UK/AU vs US)

Here's the single most important concept in this entire glossary: UK and Australian stitch names are always one step higher than their US equivalents. That means if you're reading a UK or Australian pattern, every stitch name you encounter refers to the next stitch up from what you'd call it in US terms.

Think of it like a ladder. Each rung on the UK/AU ladder is labeled with the name that US crafters use for the rung below. When a UK pattern says "double crochet," they mean what Americans call a "single crochet." When they say "treble crochet," they mean the US "double crochet." The structure of the stitch is identical — only the name has shifted.

This shift happens consistently across all the main stitches — not just one or two. Once you internalize this rule, you can decode any UK or Australian pattern without a reference table. It's one rule that unlocks an entire library of international patterns.

UK/Australian-Only Crochet Terms You Need to Know

Beyond the stitch name shifts, UK and Australian patterns contain several unique expressions and spellings that don't appear in US patterns at all. Here's what to look out for:

"Miss" Instead of "Skip"

In US patterns, when you're instructed to bypass a stitch, the pattern says skip (abbreviated sk). In UK and Australian patterns, the same instruction is written as miss. So "skip 2 stitches" becomes "miss 2 stitches." Same action, different word — don't let it throw you off.

"Tension" Instead of "Gauge"

Gauge is the US term for the number of stitches and rows per inch (or centimeter) you produce with a given hook and yarn. In UK and Australian patterns, this is called tension. The concept is exactly the same: always check your tension/gauge before starting a project. This ensures your finished item matches the pattern's intended dimensions.

"Yarn Over Hook" Instead of "Yarn Over"

US patterns use yarn over (yo) — the action of wrapping the yarn around your hook. UK and Australian patterns write this as yarn over hook (yoh). Same motion, same result, longer abbreviation.

"Wool" as a Generic Term for Yarn

In British and Australian craft culture, wool is commonly used as a generic term for any yarn — even if it's made from acrylic, cotton, or bamboo. US crafters typically use yarn as the catch-all term and reserve "wool" specifically for animal-fiber yarn. If a UK pattern says "use wool," it simply means "use yarn."

"Jumper" Instead of "Sweater"

If you browse UK or Australian crochet communities, you'll see references to crocheting a jumper. This is simply the British/Australian word for what Americans call a sweater or pullover. Amigurumi patterns won't typically use this term, but it's useful to know for garment patterns.

"Colour" and "Fibre" Spellings

UK and Australian patterns use British English spelling: colour (not "color"), fibre (not "fiber"), grey (not "gray"). These are purely spelling differences — the meaning is identical. When searching for patterns or yarn online, try both spellings to maximize your results.

Canadian Crochet Terms — US or UK?

Canada sits in an interesting linguistic and cultural middle ground. As a country with strong ties to both British tradition and American popular culture, Canadian crocheters have historically been exposed to both systems. The honest answer? Canada predominantly uses US crochet terms today — especially in modern patterns, online communities, and YouTube tutorials.

Canadian yarn stores, craft publishers, and pattern designers have largely aligned with the US system, which dominates platforms like Ravelry, Etsy, and Pinterest. Older Canadian books and patterns (particularly those from the mid-20th century) may use UK terminology, but any contemporary Canadian crochet pattern is almost certainly written in US terms.

If you're a Canadian crafter purchasing patterns from MrsCrochetWorld, you're in the clear. All MCW patterns are written in US terms — the standard you already know and use. You won't need a conversion table; just pick up your hook and go.

The only exception: if you're working from a vintage Canadian pattern book published before the 1990s, double-check the pattern's terminology section. Most modern reprints will specify which system they use right on the cover or in the introduction.

How to Convert a UK Pattern to US Terms (Step-by-Step)

Have a UK or Australian pattern you love but can only crochet in US terms? No problem. Here's the exact process to convert it safely, without losing your place or misreading a single stitch:

Crochet Abbreviations — UK vs US Side by Side

Abbreviation lists are your first clue about which terminology system a pattern uses. Here's a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of the standard abbreviations you'll encounter in both systems:

Note that many abbreviations are actually shared between systems — particularly structural terms like BLO, FLO, RS, WS, inc, and dec. The main divergence is in the core stitch names (sc/dc, hdc/htr, dc/tr, etc.) and a few action words (yo/yoh, sk/miss).

Why MrsCrochetWorld Uses US Crochet Terms

This is a question we hear from UK and Australian customers occasionally, and it's completely fair to ask. Here's our honest reasoning:

US Terms Are the Global Digital Standard

The platforms where modern crochet patterns live — Ravelry, Etsy, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram — are dominated by US-term patterns. The overwhelming majority of popular designers, pattern publishers, and tutorial creators use US terminology. When a crafter from the UK, Australia, Germany, or Brazil searches for crochet tutorials online, they encounter US terms first, most often, and most consistently.

Easier for International Beginners

Paradoxically, US terms are actually easier for international beginners precisely because of this digital dominance. A new crafter in Sydney watching YouTube tutorials will learn US terms. A beginner in London joining a Ravelry community will see US patterns. The US system has become the de facto international language of online crochet — and designing in that system means our patterns work with the largest possible ecosystem of resources and support.

Clear Labeling for Every MCW Pattern

Every single MrsCrochetWorld pattern is clearly labeled at the top: "This pattern uses US crochet terms." We include a full abbreviation key in every pattern — so even if you're encountering US terms for the first time, you'll have everything you need explained right there in the document. No guesswork, no confusion.

For UK/AU Crafters: The Conversion Is Simple

If you're a UK or Australian crafter, bookmark this glossary page and keep the Quick Cheat Sheet handy. The conversion is mechanical and consistent — once you've internalized the golden rule (every stitch shifts up one level), you can work any MCW pattern without breaking your flow. Many of our most loyal customers are UK and Australian crafters who use this glossary as their permanent reference.

Frequently Asked Questions