I’m doing the A to Z Challenge for the month of April with the theme “Learn to Crochet A to Z.” For more details, and to see previous posts, click on the link at the top of my blog!
Hello friends! Today we’re going to talk about crochet terminology, more specifically, the difference between crochet terms on different sides of the pond.
For a while I didn’t even know there was more than one set of crochet terms, which is definitely leads to some interesting mistakes! I think it’s quite silly that we can’t all use the same crochet system, but I guess it’s just one of those things that differs from country to country. Like having extra letters in “color” and “favorite.” (I much prefer the British spelling of words, to be honest!)
I’m American, and I therefore use US crochet terms in all of my patterns. It’s important to know that the stitches are the same, it’s just the names that are different. So here’s a quick cheat sheet with the US and UK terms.
(This picture has nothing to do with this post, but I don’t like posting without a picture. Wait, actually I can connect it – this is part of a sock made with US double crochet!)
US TERMS – UK TERMS
Chain (ch) = same for both
Slip stitch (sl st) = same for both
US single crochet (sc) = UK double crochet (dc)
US half-double crochet (hdc) = UK half-treble crochet (htr)
US double crochet (dc) = UK treble crochet (tr)
US triple crochet (tr) = UK double-treble crochet (dtr)
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Other than the crochet terms, things are the same – phrasing might be a little different depending on what pattern you’re using, but that doesn’t have anything to do with where you live. I’ve noticed that British patterns sometimes say “3 ch” where American ones will say “ch 3,” but I don’t know if that’s just a coincidence – in any case, it’s easy enough to decipher.
Before you start a pattern, make sure you know what set of terms to use! Sometimes it’s fairly evident if you go wrong – for example, if an amigurumi pattern tells you to use double crochet, you can be pretty certain it’s a UK pattern (because you don’t use tall stitches in amigurumi, usually). Other times you might not notice until you’re a couple rounds in. Luckily, it’s always easy to frog. 🙂
What set of crochet terms do you use? 😀
That used to drive me crazy but now I have a little cheat sheet on my computer for the ones I don’t remember.
That’s so smart… it helps to have a list to refer to! I still end up googling a lot of terms, even now. 😛
I learned in American but I crochet in either. If there’s a choice I’ll take American because I don’t have to think about it. Uk patterns require a little more thought in ‘translation’! Last week I did a lot of frogging on a mandala because I mixed terms – it pays to double check when picking up a different wip 🙂
I’m with you…American terms don’t require mental translation for me, but UK terms definitely add a layer of complexity. And I have to admit I’ve done the same thing with patterns – I don’t realize until it’s too late. It certainly does pay to double check! 🙂 Thanks so much for commenting!
I prefer UK but am happy to work from either as long as I know at the start of the project!
Haha no matter how many times I swear I’ll double check, I never do. 😛 It’s great to be able to work from either!
Love the little cheat sheet, so useful! I use American terms usually, and after having to frog a few times when I assumed a UK pattern was US, I appreciate it immensely when books and patterns come with a quick stitch guide – checking it before I begin gets the project off to a good start.
Looking forward to seeing what you wrote for the letter V tomorrow! XD
Thank you so much, River! We’re getting to the “tricky” letters now, haha. Stitch guides are definitely super helpful, I think every book should come with one, sort of like they do in the back of magazines. Always good for a project to get off to a not-frustrating start! 😀
I’m in the UK, but I actually use US crochet terms, because they’re just so much more logical. I mean really, who starts with double? You can’t have double nothing, the shortest stitch MUST be a single! And don’t even get me started on how silly ‘double-treble’ sounds.
Anyway, rant over :p
That’s cool about using American terms although you’re in the UK – you’re completely right that it doesn’t make any sense to start with a double! Although in the US we have the weird “half-double” nonsense going on. Isn’t a half-double a single? 😛 Haha double-treble sounds kind of cool…I wonder how all of this would sound to the non-crocheting crowd. 😀
Crochet rants are welcomed! Thank you for commenting! 🙂
Haha I wonder why half-double doesn’t annoy me as much as double-treble. I suppose they both have their pros and cons, but I will always prefer US terms really 🙂
Haha I think everyone has a word that really annoys them for some reason… maybe it’s the same for crochet terminology. 🙂
It took me a while to realize there were two sets of terms too. Now I check and double treble check before starting. 🙂
Wise words… if I had a dollar for every time I did a double crochet when I should have done a single crochet… 😛
I’m in the UK and can crochet those terms but prefer US terms, as with someone else that has commented here I just think they make more sense!