Crochet Abbreviations | US and UK Terminology

This resource has been revised as of April 7, 2017.

The patterns I use are usually written in US Terminology. US terminology is more dominant between crocheters and the web. Since most people learn to crochet with US terms, and therefore many of the published patterns are written on these terms. I learned to crochet in US Terminology (just spoken in a foreign language)!! Therefore my patterns on this blog are written in US Terminology. You can find my patterns in the "Patterns" tab above.

UK Terminology is different. Also known as British crochet terms, they are popular through Europe and out. Though these terms aren't that different, it can be tricky to convert to and from a pattern in US terms. But how are they so different?

Differences 

Again, American and British crochet is not too different. UK terms are one step up from US terms. To further explain, here's an example using a US terminology double crochet(dc) stitch.

In this example, the British term would be Treble Crochet Stitch. In American terms it is still Double Crochet Stitch. The way the stitch is crocheted is the SAME. The name does not change anything.  An American double is crocheted the same way as a British treble. *Yarn over, insert hook into stitch. Yarn over and pull up two loops, pull through last two.*

But why is this so important?  Why do we as the crocheter have to change a perfectly beautiful pattern? Can't we just use a pattern in foreign terms and be okay? The answer is no, we really can't. If last week you went through something like me... you'd understand.

I started crocheting a beautiful backpack I found on Pinterest for my mom (Christmas crochet season is running away ladies)! The tutorial was beautiful and easy to understand, I had the perfect color yarn for it. But then I got to the 5th row and saw, Dc for the next 43 rounds, fasten off. Immediately I knew something was wrong. I scrolled through the pattern, trying to figure out where it came from. At the top were beautiful highlighted words stating that the pattern was written in UK terminology.

And, yes. I was very angry that I had learned to read patterns through an American eye.

If you just remember this 'one step' rule, you should be fine!! Now that you know, converting US and UK terms should be easy. Here you can download a conversion chart! as well as a charts with the US abbreviations and UK abbreviations.

Here you can download the US and UK Conversions. Basic stitch names and directions can be found all in one place!!!

Next is the US Crochet Abbreviation chart. All the correct stitch names and their abbreviations are here. Directions also included!

Last but not least, here is the UK Crochet Abbreviation chart. Like the US Abbre. it has all your basic stitches and the unique directions with their abbreviations.

That's it for this week everyone!! I hope that this helps you as much as it'll help me! Now converting crochet terms will be a breeze!!! 

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                               Cheers!!