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US to UK crochet terms converter

Translate crochet pattern text between US and UK terms in one pass, with automatic detection and a list of every abbreviation changed.

Built by Monhar Wesvakguide edited by Alice Jackie

Navy and cream crochet swatches on a wooden table with hooks, stitch markers and scissors

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Exact arithmetic from the numbers you entered. Your tension, yarn and blocking still decide the real fabric.

The same abbreviation means different stitches in US and UK patterns: "dc" is a US double crochet but a UK double crochet is a US single crochet. This translator converts a whole pattern between US and UK terms in one pass, detects which system the pattern uses, and can convert inches and yards to centimetres and metres at the same time.

How to use the translator

  1. Paste a line or a whole section of the pattern.
  2. Leave it on detect, or choose US to UK or UK to US.
  3. Tick the box to also convert inches and yards (or centimetres and metres).
  4. Copy the translation. The table lists every abbreviation that changed.

How the translator works

UK names are one step taller than US names for the same stitch:

  • US single crochet (sc) = UK double crochet (dc)
  • US half double crochet (hdc) = UK half treble (htr)
  • US double crochet (dc) = UK treble (tr)
  • US treble (tr) = UK double treble (dtr)
  • US double treble (dtr) = UK triple treble (trtr)
  • sl st = ss, sk = miss, yo = yoh, gauge = tension. Chain (ch) is the same in both.

Every abbreviation is matched longest first (for example FPdc2tog before dc) and translated once, in a single pass, so nothing is translated twice. Word boundaries keep words such as "stripe" and "describe" intact.

To detect the system it counts clues. sc, hdc and their decreases only exist in US terms; htr, yoh, miss and tension only in UK terms. "Ch 3 (counts as dc)" and 12 dc in a ring suggest US; "ch 1, dc in" and 6 dc in a ring suggest UK.

Reading your results

  • Source terms: the system detected, and the clues it found.
  • Translation: the pattern in the other system's terms, counts and repeats unchanged.
  • Abbreviations changed: a glossary of every swap made.
  • Warnings: if the text mixes clues from both systems, or only uses names both share.

Worked example

US: Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, *sk 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next hdc, FPdc around next tr; rep from * across, sl st to join.

The translator detects US terms (sc and hdc only exist in US patterns) and gives:

UK: Row 2: Ch 1, dc in first st, *miss 2 sts, (2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) in next htr, FPtr around next dtr; rep from * across, ss to join.

Find and replace in a word processor would get this wrong: change sc to dc first, then dc to tr, and the first stitch ends up as tr. Translating everything in one pass avoids that.

Accuracy and limits

  • The translation is checked by our automated tests. Only stitch names (and units, if ticked) change; counts and repeats stay as written.
  • If the text only uses abbreviations both systems share, such as dc and tr, the translator will not guess. Check the pattern's stitch key and choose the direction yourself.
  • Very old patterns sometimes used other names, so read their stitch key.
  • Converted units are rounded: centimetres to one decimal place, metres and yards to whole numbers.

Common mistakes

  1. Assuming the country tells you the terms. US, and most Canadian, patterns use US terms; UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand patterns traditionally use UK terms, but many designers now publish in US terms or both. Check the stitch key.
  2. Expecting chains and slip stitches to change. Only stitches from single crochet (UK double crochet) upwards change name.
  3. Translating the hook and yarn as well. Old UK hook numbers and ply names need their own conversion: use the hook size converter.

Tips for more accurate results

  • Paste a whole row or two, not a single stitch name: the translator needs clues to detect the system.
  • Keep the original pattern alongside the translation until you have checked the first few rows.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether a pattern uses US or UK terms?

Look for sc or hdc (US only), or htr, miss, yoh or tension (UK only). Or paste a few rows and let the translator detect it.

Why are the names one step apart?

The two systems named the stitches differently. A common explanation is that UK names count the loops on the hook after the first pull through, while US names count the pairs of loops you work off; either way, each US name sits one step below the UK name for the same stitch.

Are chain and slip stitch the same in both?

Yes. Chain is ch in both, and slip stitch is sl st in US patterns and ss in UK patterns; the stitch itself is the same.

A pattern only uses dc and ch. Which dc is it?

The abbreviations alone cannot tell you. Check the pattern's stitch key, the designer's country, or the photo: a US dc is a tall, open stitch, while a UK dc (US sc) is short and dense.

Why can't I just use find and replace?

Because the names overlap. Replacing sc with dc and then dc with tr turns every original sc into tr. The translator changes each abbreviation once, all in one pass.

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