In this guide9 sections
Sooner or later you will find a pattern you love that was written in the other crochet language. Knowing how to convert UK to US crochet terms (and back) keeps you from working the wrong stitch for a whole project. The names are the same words, but most of them point to different stitches. This guide gives you a full conversion table, ways to tell which system a pattern uses, and a worked example you can copy.
Why the two systems exist
Both systems describe the same stitches. Only the names moved. US terms call the shortest basic stitch a single crochet, while UK terms call it a double crochet. Every name after that is shifted by one step, which is why "double crochet" is the most confusing phrase in crochet. If you want only the short chart, our US and UK abbreviations guide has it. This page adds the method.
Full UK to US conversion table
| UK name | UK abbreviation | US name | US abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain | ch | Chain | ch |
| Slip stitch | ss | Slip stitch | sl st |
| Double crochet | dc | Single crochet | sc |
| Half treble | htr | Half double crochet | hdc |
| Treble | tr | Double crochet | dc |
| Double treble | dtr | Treble crochet | tr |
| Triple treble | trtr | Double treble crochet | dtr |
| Two double crochet together | dc2tog | Two single crochet together | sc2tog |
| Yarn round hook | yrh | Yarn over | yo |
| Miss | miss | Skip | sk |
| Tension | tension | Gauge | gauge |
Chain stitches, magic rings and slip knots are made the same way in both systems, so they never need converting. Going from US to UK, read the table from right to left.
How to tell which system a pattern uses
Many designers state it near the top, often in a line like "US terms". When they do not, look for clues.
- Any mention of "sc" or "hdc" means US. Any mention of "htr", "dtr" or "miss" means UK.
- The word "tension" instead of "gauge" points to UK. So does "yarn round hook".
- A toy pattern that makes its whole body from "dc" and never uses another stitch is almost certainly UK, because the dense toy stitch is a UK double crochet.
- A toy pattern that uses "dc" for a few taller stitches among many "sc" is US.
- The materials list can help: yarn weights such as "DK" or "aran" are more common in UK patterns, while "worsted" is more common in US ones. This is only a hint, because designers mix them.
How to convert a pattern line by line
- Decide the system of the original pattern, using the clues above.
- Copy the pattern and write the new stitch name in the margin above each abbreviation. Do the whole pattern before you start crocheting.
- Convert the stitch names only. Do not change the numbers, the stitch counts in brackets, or the repeats.
- Convert any shorthand words too: miss becomes skip, tension becomes gauge.
- Check one round or row. The stitch count must match the number in brackets before you go on.
A worked example: UK amigurumi ball
Here is a short UK round-by-round pattern for a ball, with the US version beside it. The counts do not change, and you can verify them yourself.
| Round | UK version | US version | Stitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 dc in a magic ring | 6 sc in a magic ring | 6 |
| 2 | 2 dc in each st around | 2 sc in each st around | 12 |
| 3 | *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st*, repeat 6 times | *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times | 18 |
| 4 | *dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st*, repeat 6 times | *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st*, repeat 6 times | 24 |
| 5 | dc in each st around | sc in each st around | 24 |
| 6 | *dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog*, repeat 6 times | *sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog*, repeat 6 times | 18 |
Check the arithmetic. Round 3 turns each 2 stitches into 3, so 6 repeats take 12 stitches to 18. Round 4 turns each 3 stitches into 4, so 6 repeats take 18 stitches to 24. In round 6 each repeat uses 4 stitches and makes 3, so 24 stitches become 18. If your own count differs, you converted a stitch name wrongly or lost a stitch.
Taller stitches need extra care
With taller stitches the shift matters most. A UK pattern that says "tr" wants what a US pattern calls a double crochet, and a UK "dtr" is a US treble. Turning chains are usually written in the pattern, so copy that number as written and do not guess. If you are learning the taller stitches, our double crochet guide and half double crochet guide show how they are made.
UK terms and amigurumi
Toys are where this matters most. Amigurumi is made from the shortest, tightest stitch so the stuffing cannot show through. In US patterns that is "sc". In UK patterns the same stitch is "dc". If you work a UK toy pattern as US double crochet, you will make a larger, looser piece with gaps. Read what amigurumi is and how to stuff and assemble it if you are new to toys.
Common slips and how to fix them
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The toy is much bigger than the photo | A UK dc was worked as a US dc, so every stitch is taller | Pull out the piece. Use the table above and work every "dc" as a single crochet. |
| The fabric has gaps and the stuffing shows | Stitches are taller than the designer intended | Check the system, then redo the first rounds with the shorter stitch. |
| The stitch counts do not match the brackets | You converted a stitch name but also changed a number | Change names only. Recount each round against the pattern. |
| A flat piece grows wider than the pattern says | Turning chains were changed or counted as stitches | Use the turning chain given in the pattern. Check whether it counts as a stitch. |
| Part of the pattern is US and part UK | The designer mixed terms or a note was missed | Read the pattern notes. Convert only the lines that clearly use the other system. |
Next steps
Practice with a pattern you already know. Take a few lines of a US pattern and write them in UK terms, then convert them back. If you can do it without looking at the table, you can read both systems. Also read our guide to how to read a crochet pattern. Every pattern in our shop lists its materials and skill level, so you can pick one that suits you, and you can find more to practice with in our free crochet patterns.