Mind the gap!
Did you know there is a difference between American English and British English crochet terms? Just to make it more confusing, some of the same terms and abbreviations are used in both, but mean different things in each.
This language gap could really cause problems for an unsuspecting crocheter. Can you imagine working a whole project in double crochet, only to find out it should have been single?
What are the differences in the crochet terms?
Here’s a quick translation chart:
| American English and British English Crochet Terms | |
|---|---|
| American English | British English |
| Yarn Over (yo) | Yarn over hook (yoh) |
| Chain (ch) | Chain (ch) |
| Slip Stitch (sl st) | Slip Stitch (sl st) |
| Single Crochet (sc) | Double Crochet (dc) |
| Half Double Crochet (hdc) | Half Treble (htr) |
| Double Crochet (dc) | Treble (tr) |
| Treble Crochet (tr) | Double Treble (dtr) |
| Double Treble Crochet (dtr) | Triple Treble (trtr) |
| Skip | Miss |
| Guage | Tension |
Which crochet terms does your pattern use?
So how do you know whether a given pattern uses American or UK crochet terms? These days, many patterns specify which one they use. You can also look for terms that are only used in one or the other, such as miss/skip, or half double/half treble.
If you’re still not sure, try working up a gauge swatch. A gauge swatch that is way off the size specified in the pattern may be an indication that you are using the wrong stitches. Another option is to see if the pattern is listed on Ravelry and if that entry specifies which crochet terms are used. Finally, in most cases, you can also ask the designer.
2 Comments
ukcrochetpatterns
Had the very same issue when I started too! Very confusing but it gave birth to our blog, which seems to hit the spot with lots of other people – you are not alone! :>
piathadani
When I first saw mention of translating patterns, I figured they were just talking about the whole inches to cm thing, hook sizes, yarn weights, etc…not the actual pattern stitches themselves.