Start here · a little extra help
Translate the name, not the movement
UK and US are two naming systems. The same hook movement can have two names: UK double crochet (dc) is US single crochet (sc). The word ‘double’ therefore cannot be understood on its own without knowing the system.
Read the pattern’s terminology note before choosing a tutorial. A video called ‘double crochet’ may show the taller US stitch. If the pattern does not say which system it uses, ask its designer rather than guessing from the country on a website.
Your small practice goal
Write ‘UK terms’ or ‘US terms’ at the top of a practice page, then write the translated name beside each unfamiliar stitch.
Picture it
Select the diagram to open it at full size. Use the written steps for the actual hook movements.
Words you’ll meet
No need to memorise these. Keep them nearby and look up a word whenever you need it. This guide uses UK names, with US equivalents explained.
Open the plain-English word guide · 10 terms
Chain · ch
A small loop pulled through the loop on your hook. A line of chains often forms the starting edge.
UK dc / US sc
UK double crochet is called single crochet in US patterns. They are the same short stitch.
UK htr / US hdc
UK half treble is US half double crochet. Finish by pulling through all three loops.
UK tr / US dc
UK treble is US double crochet. Finish by pulling through two loops, then two again.
Slip stitch · sl st
A low connecting stitch: pull the new yarn through the insertion point and the loop on the hook.
Stitch / stitches · st / sts
One finished unit of crochet, or more than one. Count the completed tops, following the turning-chain rule.
mm · millimetres
A unit of length: ten millimetres make one centimetre. Hook diameter is often shown in mm.
UK dtr / US tr
UK double treble is US treble. Start with two yarn overs, then finish by pulling through two loops three times.
UK trtr / US dtr
UK triple treble is US double treble. Start with three yarn overs, then pull through two loops four times.
Cluster
Several partly completed stitches joined at the top. Use the pattern’s recipe for the exact number and placement.
Quick note: this guide uses UK crochet names. UK double crochet is US single crochet.
The name-changing trick
A US double crochet is not a UK double crochet. That mix-up can make a project much taller than expected. Find the terminology note near the start of your pattern, then use one naming system throughout.
Keep this beside your hook
| UK name | US name |
|---|---|
| Double crochet — dc | Single crochet — sc |
| Half treble — htr | Half double — hdc |
| Treble — tr | Double — dc |
| Double treble — dtr | Treble — tr |
| Triple treble — trtr | Double treble — dtr |
| Chain — ch | Chain — ch |
| Slip stitch — sl st | Slip stitch — sl st |
Decode it before you make it
Write the system at the top of your project notes. If a pattern has a special stitch, read its own definition: names such as bobble or cluster can describe different combinations. Hook sizes in millimetres are especially useful when comparing patterns from different countries.
Sources & further learning
Checked 24 October 2026. Written in UK terms, with US equivalents where useful. Follow a project's own stitch key if it differs. These are original explanations and practice exercises, not copies of the linked publishers' patterns.