Crochet Terms in US, UK & Australian English — The Complete Glossary
A US single crochet is a UK double crochet — and that one mix-up has ruined more first projects than any tangled skein. Here is the full translation, once and for all.
If you have ever opened a crochet pattern and felt instantly lost, welcome to the club. US and UK/Australian patterns use completely different names for the very same stitches, and nobody warns you until a "double crochet" turns out half the height you expected. The good news: the whole tangle follows one simple rule.
Why US and UK crochet terms are different
Two craft traditions, one ocean, and no committee in between.
Crochet spread across Europe and America in the 19th century, and British and American publishers standardized their stitch names independently — there was never an international body to sync the vocabulary. The British system, used identically across the United Kingdom and Australia, kept names like "treble crochet." The American system grew up alongside the US craft-publishing boom and started its ladder at "single crochet." Both systems are internally consistent, so neither ever had a reason to change.
One thing to lock in right away: Australia follows UK terminology completely. There is no separate Australian system — an Australian pattern is a UK pattern, every term and every abbreviation. So from here on, "UK terms" always means "UK and Australian terms." All MrsCrochetWorld patterns are written in US terms, the dominant convention on Ravelry, Etsy, Pinterest, and YouTube — this glossary is the permanent cheat sheet for everyone who learned the other system.
The golden rule: every stitch shifts up one level
UK and Australian stitch names are always one step higher than their US equivalents. When a UK pattern says "double crochet," it means the US single crochet. When it says "treble," it means the US double crochet. The stitches themselves are identical — only the labels moved. Internalize this one rule and you can decode any pattern without a table:
| When a UK/AU pattern says… | You crochet the US… |
|---|---|
| double crochet (dc) | single crochet (sc) |
| half treble crochet (htr) | half double crochet (hdc) |
| treble crochet (tr) | double crochet (dc) |
| double treble (dtr) | treble crochet (tr) |
| triple treble (ttr) | double treble (dtr) |
| tension | gauge |
| miss 2 stitches | skip 2 stitches |
The trap to watch: both systems use "dc" — for two different stitches. If a pattern's simplest, shortest stitch is labeled dc, you are almost certainly holding a UK/AU pattern; a US pattern would call that stitch sc.
The master comparison table: US, UK and Australian terms
Bookmark this table, screenshot it, or pin it to your project board — it covers the stitch ladder plus the everyday vocabulary that differs between systems.
| US term (abbr.) | UK term (abbr.) | AU term (abbr.) |
|---|---|---|
| chain (ch) | chain (ch) | chain (ch) |
| slip stitch (sl st) | slip stitch (ss) | slip stitch (ss) |
| single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) | double crochet (dc) |
| half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) | half treble (htr) |
| double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) | treble (tr) |
| treble crochet (tr) | double treble (dtr) | double treble (dtr) |
| double treble (dtr) | triple treble (ttr) | triple treble (ttr) |
| yarn over (yo) | yarn over hook (yoh) | yarn over hook (yoh) |
| skip (sk) | miss | miss |
| gauge | tension | tension |
| worsted weight | aran | aran |
| bulky weight | chunky | chunky |
| fingering weight | 4-ply | 4-ply |
| sweater | jumper | jumper |
| yarn / fiber | wool / fibre | wool / fibre |
| color | colour | colour |
Plenty of abbreviations are shared, thankfully: ch, magic ring, BLO, FLO, inc, dec, RS, WS, rep, and st(s) mean the same thing everywhere. The divergence lives in the core stitch names and a handful of action words. For the full US abbreviation list, keep our crochet abbreviations chart beside your hook.
UK and Australian-only terms to watch for
Beyond the stitch ladder, a few expressions appear only in UK/AU patterns. "Miss" simply means "skip" — miss 2 stitches, skip 2 stitches, same action. "Tension" is "gauge": the number of stitches and rows you produce per inch with a given hook and yarn, and yes, you should still swatch for it. "Yarn over hook" (yoh) is the US "yarn over" (yo). British and Australian crafters also say "wool" as a generic word for any yarn — even acrylic or cotton — and "jumper" where Americans say sweater. Finally, expect British spellings: colour, fibre, grey. When searching patterns online, try both spellings to catch everything.
Do Canadian patterns use US or UK terms?
Canada sits culturally between both traditions, but modern Canadian patterns, yarn stores, and tutorials overwhelmingly use US terms — the system that dominates Ravelry, Etsy, and YouTube. The main exception is vintage Canadian pattern books from before the 1990s, which may follow UK conventions. If you are working from an older book, check the abbreviation key first; any contemporary Canadian pattern is almost certainly US-term.
How to convert a UK pattern to US terms, step by step
First, confirm the system: professionally written patterns usually state "UK terms" or "US terminology" near the gauge information; if not, the dc-as-simplest-stitch test settles it. Second, translate the abbreviation key using the master table above, writing the US equivalent beside each term. Third, annotate the pattern itself in pencil — never convert from memory mid-row. Fourth, work a gauge swatch with your converted stitches before starting, especially for anything that needs to fit. If you are still getting comfortable reading patterns at all, our guides to reading amigurumi patterns and crochet symbol charts pair beautifully with this glossary — and symbol charts have a bonus superpower: they are the same in every language.
One more regional difference worth knowing: hook sizes are labeled differently around the world too. Our crochet hook sizes conversion chart translates millimeters to US letters and old UK numbers, so your whole toolkit speaks one language.
"A stitch by any other name is still the same loop. Learn the shift once, and every pattern in the world opens up."— Ava Collins, MrsCrochetWorld
Clearly labeled, beginner-loved: patterns in US terms
Every MrsCrochetWorld pattern states its terminology up front and includes a full abbreviation key — no guesswork, wherever you learned to crochet.
The Sunshine Tote Bag Pattern
US terms, stated on the coverA cheerful beginner tote whose pattern says exactly what it is: written in US terms, with every abbreviation explained. Perfect practice for reading a pattern start to finish — and for keeping your stitch counts honest along the way.
Easy No-Sew Amigurumi Book for Beginners
50 plushies, one abbreviation keyFifty super-simple plushie patterns that all share the same clear US-term vocabulary — ideal for cementing sc, hdc, inc, and dec until they are second nature. Pair it with our guide to what amigurumi is if you are brand new to plush crochet.
50-in-1 No-Sew Amigurumi Bundle
consistent US terminologyThe digital bundle version: fifty no-sew designs with identical structure and terms, so once you have read one, you can read them all. Browse the whole amigurumi collection — every single pattern is labeled US terms.
The five conversions to memorize first
If you only remember five things from this glossary, make it these — they cover 95 percent of real-world confusion.
UK dc = US sc
The big one. The UK double crochet is the US single crochet — and both systems abbreviate their own stitch "dc."
UK tr = US dc
The UK treble is the US double crochet. Every stitch on the ladder shifts exactly one level — no exceptions.
Tension = gauge
Same measurement, different word: stitches and rows per inch. Whatever you call it, swatch before projects that must fit.
Miss = skip
"Miss 2 stitches" simply means "skip 2 stitches." Same action, different verb — do not let it stall your row.
Wool = yarn, aran = worsted
UK crafters say "wool" for any yarn and "aran" for worsted weight. Chunky means bulky; 4-ply means fingering.
Learning from zero?
Our complete beginner guide to crochet teaches every US-term stitch from the very first loop.
Ava's tips for working across pattern languages
- Check the terminology line first. Most well-written patterns declare "US terms" or "UK terms" near the gauge note — read it before you read anything else.
- Use the dc test. If the simplest stitch in the pattern is called dc, it is UK/AU; if it is sc, it is US. Thirty seconds of detective work saves an evening of frogging.
- Annotate in pencil, not in memory. Write US equivalents beside each UK term before you start — mid-row is the worst time to translate.
- Swatch after converting. A quick gauge square confirms your translation and your tension in one go.
- Search both spellings. Colour and color, fibre and fiber, grey and gray — online searches reward trying both.
- Keep references within reach. A printed cheat sheet in your project bag beats any bookmark when your hands are full of yarn.
Read any pattern, from any country
Every MrsCrochetWorld pattern is written in clear US terms with a full abbreviation key — so wherever you learned, you can start today.
Get a free patternShop beginner patternsFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between US and UK crochet terms?
US and UK patterns use different names for identical stitches. What the US calls a single crochet (sc), the UK calls a double crochet (dc), and every stitch name shifts one level up the ladder from there. The techniques are the same - only the names, a few abbreviations, and words like gauge/tension and skip/miss differ.
Do Australian crochet patterns use UK or US terms?
Australian patterns use UK terms, without exception. There is no separate Australian system - Australian and British crochet terminology is identical, so treat any Australian pattern exactly like a UK pattern.
What is a US single crochet in UK terms?
The stitch Americans call single crochet (sc) is called double crochet (dc) in UK and Australian patterns. The technique is identical: insert hook, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through both loops.
What is a US double crochet called in UK patterns?
A US double crochet (dc) is called a treble crochet (tr) in UK and Australian patterns. This pair causes the most confusion because both systems use the abbreviation dc for completely different stitches.
Why are US and UK crochet terms different?
The two systems developed independently during the 19th and early 20th centuries, before any international body could standardize the vocabulary. Each region's printed patterns established their own consistent naming, and neither side ever had a practical reason to switch.
How do I convert a UK crochet pattern to US terms?
Confirm the pattern is UK (look for dc as the simplest stitch or the word tension), translate the abbreviation key with a conversion table, write the US terms directly on the pattern, and work a gauge swatch before starting. The shift is completely systematic, so it converts cleanly every time.
Do MrsCrochetWorld patterns use US or UK terms?
All MrsCrochetWorld patterns are written in US crochet terms, clearly labeled at the top, with a full abbreviation key included in every PDF. UK and Australian crafters can use the conversion table in this glossary as a permanent reference.
What does tension mean in a crochet pattern?
Tension is the UK and Australian word for gauge: the number of stitches and rows you produce per inch or centimeter with a given hook and yarn. Checking it before a project ensures your finished piece matches the intended size.
What does miss mean in crochet?
Miss is the UK and Australian equivalent of skip. When a pattern says miss 2 stitches, you pass over those two stitches without working into them and continue with the next instruction.
What is aran weight yarn in US terms?
Aran in UK and Australian terminology corresponds to worsted weight in US terms - a medium, category 4 yarn and the most common choice for amigurumi, blankets, and everyday projects. Chunky corresponds to bulky, and 4-ply to fingering.
