Convert Crochet Patterns — US ↔ UK Terms
Paste a US or UK pattern. The converter swaps every stitch name and abbreviation to the other system. Includes a hook-size scaler for substituting one yarn weight for another.
Stitch term reference
| US name | US abbr | UK name | UK abbr |
|---|---|---|---|
| single crochet | sc | double crochet | dc |
| half double crochet | hdc | half treble crochet | htr |
| double crochet | dc | treble crochet | tr |
| treble crochet | tr | double treble crochet | dtr |
| double treble crochet | dtr | triple treble crochet | trtr |
| Slip stitch | sl st | Slip stitch | sl st |
| Gauge | — | Tension | — |
| Skip | — | Miss | — |
| Yarn over | yo | Yarn over hook | yoh |
The trap: US single crochet = UK double crochet. Same physical stitch, different names. Always confirm which system the source pattern is written in before you start.
Convert the words without changing the stitches
US and UK crochet patterns use overlapping names for different stitches. The converter makes the terminology explicit and gives you a hook-size starting point when you are adapting yarn, while a gauge swatch remains the final check.
- Full stitch names, abbreviations, and common pattern vocabulary
- US ↔ UK output that is easier to copy into your project notes
- A hook-size starting point that still needs a real gauge swatch
Turn a photo into a real pattern
Need a fresh crochet chart from a photo? The pattern generator builds tapestry, C2C, and graphghan charts in either stitch system.
Open Crochet Pattern GeneratorWhy a Crochet Pattern Converter Is Necessary
US and UK crochet terminology share names but mean different stitches. The most dangerous overlap: 'double crochet' in a US pattern is the medium-tall stitch (yarn over once, three loops). 'Double crochet' in a UK pattern is the short stitch (no yarn over, two loops) — which the US calls 'single crochet'. If you grab a UK pattern and crochet it as if it were US, every stitch is one full size too tall and the finished piece is wildly off gauge and proportion.
The shift propagates up the stitch ladder. US single crochet (sc) = UK double crochet (dc). US half double crochet (hdc) = UK half treble crochet (htr). US double crochet (dc) = UK treble crochet (tr). US treble crochet (tr) = UK double treble crochet (dtr). The pattern of UK names is always one step taller than the US name for the same stitch. Slip stitch (sl st) is the only stitch with the same name in both systems.
There are smaller vocabulary differences too: US 'gauge' is UK 'tension'. US 'skip' is UK 'miss'. US 'yarn over' is UK 'yarn over hook'. None of these will ruin your project the way the stitch-name confusion does, but they trip up readers who learned only one system.
How to Use This Crochet Pattern Converter
Step 1: identify the source system. Look at the pattern's origin — Australian, UK, Irish, and most South African designers use UK terminology. American, Canadian, and most international Etsy designers use US terminology. If the abbreviations include 'tr' for the workhorse blanket stitch, it is UK. If the workhorse is 'dc', it is most likely US (but read the pattern intro for confirmation).
Step 2: paste the full written pattern into the input box, set the source system (US or UK), and the converted version appears in real time on the right. Click 'Copy result' to take it to your project. The converter handles full names ('double crochet'), abbreviations ('dc'), and the related vocabulary differences (gauge/tension, skip/miss, yarn over / yarn over hook).
Step 3 (optional): if you are also substituting yarn, switch to the Hook Scaling tab. Enter the original yarn weight and hook size from the pattern, then your substitute yarn weight, and the tool returns the equivalent hook size. The conversion preserves the relative offset from the typical hook for that weight — useful when the pattern uses a hook size at the loose or tight end of the standard range.
Crochet Pattern Converter FAQ
Every named stitch is shifted by one. 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). Slip stitch is the same in both. Vocabulary differences: gauge/tension, skip/miss, yarn over / yarn over hook.
US: United States, Canada, and many international online designers (Etsy, Ravelry pattern stores). UK: United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and most Commonwealth countries. When in doubt, check whether the pattern uses 'sc' or 'dc' as the workhorse stitch — sc = US, dc as the workhorse = UK.
Yes. The converter swaps both full names ('single crochet') and abbreviations ('sc') in the same pass. It uses word-boundary matching so it won't accidentally replace letters that happen to appear inside other words.
Yes — set the source toggle to UK. The converter swaps every UK stitch name and abbreviation for the US equivalent and converts vocabulary (tension → gauge, miss → skip).
No — the physical stitches stay the same. It only renames them. If a US pattern says 'sc' and you convert it to UK, the output says 'dc' but it's still the short single-loop stitch. The conversion exists so a UK reader can follow the pattern using their familiar terminology without crocheting the wrong stitch by accident.
The hook-size scaler gives you a starting hook size, but real-world gauge depends on fiber, ply, and personal tension. Two DK yarns at the same nominal weight can knit to different gauges by 5–15%. Always swatch a 10cm × 10cm sample with the recommended substitute hook before committing to a sized garment.
Yes. Paste the entire pattern including the abbreviations key — every term is converted in place, so the abbreviations key updates to match the converted body of the pattern.
The tool is free with no signup. For copyright: the converter changes terminology, not the underlying pattern design. If you do not own the pattern or have explicit permission to redistribute, do not publish or sell the converted version. Personal use (converting a pattern you own to follow it more easily) is fine.
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