US vs UK crochet terms use the same stitches with different names, shifted by one step. A US single crochet is a UK double crochet, a US double crochet is a UK treble, and a US half double is a UK half treble. Chain and slip stitch keep their names. Before starting any pattern, check which system it uses, because the same word can mean two different stitches.
Why the names are offset
The two systems count different things. US names count the yarn overs and pulls that make the stitch's height; UK names count the loops you work off. That leaves the US system starting one step lower: the shortest standard stitch after the slip stitch is called "single" in the US and "double" in the UK.
Neither is more correct. Patterns from the United States usually use US terms, while patterns from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and some other countries often use UK terms. Amigurumi patterns written in English are mostly in US terms, but that is not a rule.
Conversion chart
| US term | US abbreviation | UK term | UK abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| chain | ch | chain | ch |
| slip stitch | sl st | slip stitch (sometimes single crochet) | ss or sl st |
| single crochet | sc | double crochet | dc |
| half double crochet | hdc | half treble crochet | htr |
| double crochet | dc | treble crochet | tr |
| treble crochet | tr | double treble crochet | dtr |
| double treble crochet | dtr | triple treble crochet | trtr |
| single crochet 2 together | sc2tog | double crochet 2 together | dc2tog |
| skip | sk | miss | - |
| yarn over | yo | yarn over hook / yarn round hook | yoh / yrh |
| gauge | - | tension | - |
The two words that cause the most confusion are "double crochet" and "treble". In a US pattern, dc is a tall stitch with one yarn over before inserting the hook. In a UK pattern, dc is the short, dense stitch that makes up almost all amigurumi.
How to tell which system a pattern uses
Many designers state it at the top: "written in US terms" or "UK terminology". When they do not, a few clues help.
- Look for "single crochet". UK terminology has no stitch called single crochet in its standard set (except as an occasional old name for slip stitch). If you see "sc" throughout, the pattern is almost certainly in US terms.
- Check the hook sizes. US patterns often list letter-number sizes such as "E-4 (3.5 mm)". UK patterns usually give only millimeters. This is a hint, not proof.
- Spelling and vocabulary. "Color", "gauge" and "skip" suggest US; "colour", "tension", "miss" and "yarn round hook" suggest UK.
- Think about the project. A small, stuffed amigurumi worked almost entirely in "dc" is very likely a UK pattern, because a tall US double crochet would make far too open a fabric for a toy.
- Read the stitch guide. Most patterns explain each abbreviation. The description of how many loops you pull through tells you which stitch is meant.
Amigurumi and the "dc" problem
Because amigurumi relies on one stitch, a mix-up shows straight away. If you work US double crochet where a UK pattern meant UK double crochet, your piece will be roughly twice as tall, full of gaps, and the stuffing will show. If you notice that a head is growing like a lampshade after three rounds, stop and check the terminology before you go further.
The reverse also happens: following a US pattern with UK habits, you might work a short stitch where a taller one was intended, typically in an outfit or a blanket section. Doll clothes in particular often mix stitch heights, so read the key carefully.
Converting a pattern yourself
If you prefer to work in one system, rewrite the pattern before you start rather than converting in your head mid-round.
- Print the PDF or copy the instructions into a document you can edit.
- Replace each stitch name using the chart, starting from the tallest stitch and working down. If you replace "dc" first, you will end up converting some stitches twice.
- Keep stitch counts exactly as they are. Only the names change, not the numbers.
- Write the system you converted to at the top so you do not wonder later.
Our crochet abbreviations list explains the amigurumi-specific shorthand, such as inc, invdec and BLO, that stays the same in both systems.
Terms that are the same in both
Plenty of vocabulary does not change: chain, magic ring (also called magic circle or adjustable ring), round, row, front loop, back loop, stitch marker, fasten off and work even. Increase and decrease mean the same thing too; only the name of the stitch you increase with changes.
A related source of confusion: yarn over direction
Separate from naming, some crocheters wrap the yarn in a different direction (yarn under instead of yarn over), which changes how stitches look. That is a technique difference, not a terminology one, but it often comes up in the same conversations. We explain it in our guide to yarn under vs yarn over.
Hook sizes are not part of the terms issue
Hook sizes are a separate topic, but they cause similar confusion. Millimeter sizes are consistent everywhere, while US sizes use letters and numbers, and old UK hook numbers ran in the opposite direction. When in doubt, go by the millimeter size printed on the hook and in the pattern.
Older and translated patterns
Vintage patterns and patterns translated from other languages add another layer. Old leaflets sometimes call the slip stitch a "single crochet", and some translated amigurumi patterns borrow names from both systems in the same document. In those cases, ignore the names and read the stitch descriptions: how many times you yarn over before inserting the hook, and how many loops you pull through at each step. Those mechanics do not change from one country to another.
Charts are another way around the problem. Crochet symbols are largely shared across languages, so a small cross or X usually marks the short stitch and a T-shaped symbol with a crossbar marks a taller one. If a pattern includes a chart, compare the symbol with the written name the first time each stitch appears.
A short checklist before you start
- Find the line that states US or UK terms, or use the clues above.
- Read the abbreviation key once, all the way through.
- Make a small test swatch in the main stitch and compare it to the pattern photos.
- If you convert, do it on paper before you pick up the hook.
Whichever pattern you open next, including the amigurumi patterns in PDF in our shop, a minute spent checking which terms it uses saves an evening of unpicking.
