Crochet terminology

Note: UK and American crochet books and patterns use different terms for the same crochet stitches.  To avoid confusion if you are a beginner, stick with either UK or US crochet patterns until you are confident. The following table should help you work out which terms your book is using.

UK-US crochet stitch conversion table

UK yarn round hook (yrh) = US yarn over hook (yo)

UK chain (ch) = US chain (ch)

UK slipstitch (sl st) = US slipstitch (sl st)

UK double crochet (dc) = US single crochet (sc)

  • One loop already on hook. Insert hook through fabric, yrh/yo, draw loop through (2 loops on hook). Yrh/yo, draw through both loops on hook.

UK half treble (htr) = US half double crochet (hdc)

  • One loop already on hook. Yrh/yo, insert hook through fabric, yrh/yo, draw it through (3 loops on hook), yrh/yo, draw it through all 3 loops on hook.

UK treble (tr) = US double crochet (dc)

  • One loop already on hook. Yrh/yo, insert hook through fabric, yrh/yo, draw it through (3 loops on hook). Yrh/yo, draw it through 2 of the loops on hook (2 loops on hook).  Yrh/yo, draw it through remaining 2 loops on hook.

UK double treble (dtr) = US triple crochet (trc)

  • One loop already on hook. Yrh twice, insert hook in fabric, yrh/yo, draw it through (4 loops on hook). Yrh/yo, draw it through 2 of the loops on hook (3 loops on hook). Yrh/yo, draw it through 2 of the loops on hook (2 loops on hook). Yrh/yo, draw it through remaining 2 loops on hook.

UK Crochet abbreviations

 alt  alternate  rem  remaining
 beg  beginning  rep  repeat
 ch(s)  chain(s)  sk  skip
 cont  continued  sl st  slip stitch
 dc  double crochet  sp(s)  space(s)
 dtr  double treble  st(s)  stitch(es)
 foll  following  tr  treble
 htr  half treble crochet  ws  wrong side
 lp(s) loop(s)  yo  wrap yarn over hook
 patt  pattern
 RS  right side

Source: Wendy Poole

Crochet hook sizes: UK-US conversion chart

 Old UK Sizes  UK – Metric Sizes  USA Sizes
 14  2mm  B/1
 13  2.25mm  –
 12  2.5mm  C/2
 11  3mm  –
 10  3.25mm  D/3
 9  3.5mm  E/4
 8  4mm  G/6
 7  4.5mm  7
 6  5mm  H/8
 5  5.5mm  I/9
 4  6mm  J/10
 3  6.5mm  K/10V
 2  7mm  –
 0  8mm  –
 00  9mm  –
 000  10mm  –
 Source: Wendy Poole

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