HookedYou found a gorgeous blanket pattern, followed it exactly, and the result is dense, stiff, and half the expected size. Nothing is wrong with your crochet — the pattern was written in UK terms and you worked it in US terms. It's the single most common pattern-conversion error in crochet, because the two systems reuse the same names for different stitches.
The conversion chart
| US term | UK term | Same stitch |
|---|---|---|
| slip stitch (sl st) | slip stitch (ss) | ✓ |
| single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) | ✓ |
| half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) | ✓ |
| double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) | ✓ |
| treble (tr) | double treble (dtr) | ✓ |
| double treble (dtr) | triple treble (trtr) | ✓ |
The pattern to remember: UK terms are always “one step up” from US terms for the same physical stitch.
How to tell which system a pattern uses
- Look for “sc” or “hdc”. Single crochet and half double crochet only exist in US terminology. If you see either, it's a US pattern.
- Look for “htr”. Half treble only exists in UK terminology.
- Check the source. Patterns from UK, Australian, or NZ designers and magazines usually use UK terms; American sites and the Craft Yarn Council standard use US terms.
- Check the gauge. If your swatch is dramatically tighter or looser than the stated gauge despite correct tension, suspect a terminology mismatch.
Other differences to watch
- “Miss” vs “skip”: UK patterns say “miss 2 stitches” where US patterns say “skip”.
- “Tension” vs “gauge”: same concept, different word.
- Hook sizes: UK patterns may reference old imperial hook sizes; modern patterns use millimeters, which are universal.
Converting a pattern manually
If you prefer to convert by hand, rewrite the pattern before starting: shift every UK stitch name one step down (UK tr → US dc, UK dc → US sc), replace “miss” with “skip”, and re-check the stitch counts per row — they stay the same, which makes them a great sanity check as you work.
Quick answers
Is a UK double crochet the same as a US single crochet?
Yes. The stitch worked as “insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops” is called single crochet (sc) in the US and double crochet (dc) in the UK.
How do I know if my crochet pattern is US or UK?
If the pattern contains “sc” (single crochet) or “hdc”, it's US — those stitches don't exist in UK terminology. If it contains “htr” (half treble), it's UK. Designer location and the words “tension” (UK) vs “gauge” (US) are further clues.
Can an app convert UK crochet terms to US?
Yes — Hooked converts entire patterns between US and UK terminology with a single toggle, including imported PDFs and Ravelry patterns.