Your forever bookmark for crochet patterns in any language………..
You found a beautiful crochet pattern. The photos are stunning, the yarn looks perfect, and you are ready to make it.
Then you read the first line. “Sc in each st across.” Simple enough. But the next pattern you pick up says “Dc in each st across” — same stitch count, same hook size, completely different abbreviation.
Are they the same thing? Is one of them wrong? Are you missing something?
You’re not missing anything. You just ran into the most confusing thing about crochet patterns: US and UK terms use the same abbreviations to mean completely different stitches. A US single crochet (sc) is the same stitch as a UK double crochet (dc). They are identical — with different names.
Once you understand that one thing, almost every crochet abbreviation confusion you’ve ever had will start to make sense.
I’ve been crocheting for over five years, and the US/UK term confusion still trips people up in my comments regularly. Not because they’re not paying attention — but because most patterns don’t tell you upfront which system they’re using. You’re expected to just know.
When I started designing my own amigurumi patterns, I realized how important it was to be crystal clear about which terms I was using (US terms, always) and to give my readers a reference they could actually come back to. That’s what this chart is.
It’s the reference I wish I’d had at the beginning. Twenty-eight stitches, both systems, one page. Free to download and keep forever.
Free download: The full printable stitch chart PDF is available at the bottom of this post. All 28 abbreviations, US and UK side by side. Print it out and keep it at your hook.
The US vs. UK Problem — Explained Once and For All
Here’s the short version: when crochet was being documented and named in different parts of the world, the US and UK independently created their own systems. Both are correct. Both are widely used. They just don’t match.
The result is that the same stitch has two completely different names depending on which side of the Atlantic the pattern came from. How do you know which system a pattern uses? Look for these clues:
- The pattern explicitly states “US terms” or “UK terms” — the most helpful patterns do this right at the top.
- If the pattern uses “sc” for single crochet, it’s almost certainly US terms.
- If the pattern uses “dc” where you’d expect a single crochet, it’s likely UK terms.
- Patterns from US-based designers, Ravelry, and most YouTube tutorials use US terms.
- Patterns from UK, Australian, and many European designers use UK terms.
Rule of thumb: When in doubt, check where the designer is based. US designers almost always use US terms. If you’re buying from an Etsy shop and can’t tell, send them a quick message — any good designer will tell you right away.
The Most Confusing Abbreviations — Side by Side
These are the five that cause the most confusion. If you learn nothing else from this post, learn these:
| US Term | UK Term | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Single Crochet (sc) | Double Crochet (dc) | The most common source of confusion. These are the same stitch — just named differently. |
| Half Double Crochet (hdc) | Half Treble Crochet (htr) | One yarn over before inserting the hook. Same stitch, two names. |
| Double Crochet (dc) | Treble Crochet (tr) | Two yarn overs before inserting the hook. Very common in UK patterns. |
| Triple Crochet (tr) | Double Treble (dtr) | Three yarn overs. Tall stitch used in lace and shell patterns. |
| Skip (sk) | Miss | Skip a stitch. UK patterns say “miss 1 st” where US says “sk 1 st”. |
The big one: Single Crochet (US) = Double Crochet (UK). This is the most important conversion to know. If you’re working a UK pattern and it says dc, your hands should be doing what you know as a single crochet. Same stitch. Different name.
The Complete Stitch Chart: All 28 Abbreviations
Here’s the full reference chart — US and UK terms side by side for every common crochet abbreviation. Download the free printable PDF at the bottom of this post.
| No. | Stitch Name | US Term | UK Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chain | Ch | Ch |
| 2 | Slip Stitch | Sl St | Sl St |
| 3 | Magic Ring | MR | MR |
| 4 | Single Crochet | Sc | Dc |
| 5 | Half Double Crochet | Hdc | Htr |
| 6 | Double Crochet | Dc | Tr |
| 7 | Triple Crochet | Tr | Dtr |
| 8 | V-Stitch | V-st | V-st |
| 9 | Shell Stitch | Shell | Shell |
| 10 | Bobble Stitch | bo | bp/tr5tog |
| 11 | Popcorn Stitch | pc/pop | pc |
| 12 | Puff Stitch | Puff | Puff/bo/ps |
| 13 | Increase | Inc | Inc |
| 14 | Decrease | dec/sc2tog | dec/dc2tog |
| 15 | Invisible Decrease | invdec | invdec |
| 16 | Skip | sk | miss |
| 17 | Stitch | st | st |
| 18 | Round | rnd | rnd |
| 19 | Repeat | rep | rep |
| 20 | Space | sp | sp |
| 21 | Chain Space | ch-sp | ch-sp |
| 22 | Turn | turn | turn |
| 23 | Fasten Off | FO | FO |
| 24 | Beginning | beg | beg |
| 25 | Back Loop Only | BLO/BLsc | dc-blo/dc in BLO |
| 26 | Front Loop Only | FLO/FLsc | FLO dc |
| 27 | Right Side / Wrong Side | RS / WS | RS / WS |
| 28 | Yarn Over | yo | yoh |
Note: Abbreviations like Ch, Sl St, MR, Inc, rep, and FO are the same in both US and UK systems. The main differences are in the basic stitch names.
A Note on Amigurumi Patterns
If you’re crocheting amigurumi — which is what I design most of — there are a few abbreviations you’ll use constantly that aren’t always in basic charts:
- MR (Magic Ring) — the starting technique for almost every amigurumi piece. Both US and UK patterns use the same abbreviation.
- invdec (Invisible Decrease) — a cleaner alternative to sc2tog that leaves a neater finish on the outside of amigurumi.
- rnd (Round) — amigurumi is worked in continuous rounds, not rows, so this one comes up constantly.
- BLO/FLO (Back Loop Only / Front Loop Only) — used to create texture and dimensional detail in amigurumi pieces like ears and feet.
New to amigurumi? The free Scallop Edge Crochet Coaster pattern on this blog is a great first project for getting comfortable working in the round before moving to 3D pieces.
You’re Not Bad at Reading Patterns
I want to say this clearly, because I see it in comments all the time: if you’ve ever felt confused or frustrated by crochet abbreviations, it is not because you’re doing something wrong. The system is genuinely confusing. Two countries, two naming conventions, zero universal standard. It’s a lot.
The fact that you looked it up — that you wanted to understand it rather than just muddle through — is exactly the right instinct. That’s how crochet actually gets easier. Not by hoping it clicks eventually, but by learning the one thing that unlocks ten others.
And this is that thing. Once you know that US sc = UK dc, the rest of the chart starts to make logical sense. The stitches didn’t get harder. You just got the decoder ring.
Keep This One. You’ll Come Back to It.
You now have the complete reference for every crochet abbreviation you’re likely to encounter — in any pattern, from any country, at any skill level.
Bookmark this page. Download the PDF and keep it at your crochet station. Next time a pattern says something unfamiliar, you’ll know exactly where to look — and the answer will be right there.
If you’re just getting started with crochet or amigurumi, everything on this blog is written in US terms, with every abbreviation spelled out clearly in the pattern notes. No guessing required.
Download Your Free Stitch Chart
The printable PDF version of this chart is available as a free download — all 28 abbreviations, US and UK side by side, formatted and ready to print.