If, like me, you enjoy searching online for your next project, you will be excited to discover the perfect pattern and the best yarn. And one of the great things about crochet patterns is that they are nearly always very well written and extremely clear. Some are accompanied by video explanations which help with trickier techniques.
There is one piece of advice you need before you start - check if the instructions are written using American or British terms. The best patterns will tell you at the beginning of the project.
But it's useful to know how to 'translate' from US terms to UK terms and vice versa.
The table below shows the different names for the same stitch:
Crochet Stitch Names
US | UK |
Chain (Ch) | Chain (Ch) |
Slip Stitch (Sl St) | Slip Stitch (Sl St) |
Single crochet (SC) | Double crochet (DC) |
Double crochet (DC) | Treble crochet (TC) |
Half double crochet (HDC) | Half treble crochet (HTR) |
Treble crochet (TC) | Double Treble crochet (DTC) |
Skip (SK) | Skip or Miss (SK) |
Yarn Over (YO) | Yarn over Hook (YOK or Yarn Over (YO) |
International Yarn Types and Crochet Hook Sizes
There are also differences in the way hooks and yarn are classified. The following table shows the names of the yarn weight for the US, UK and Australia and the sizes of crochet hooks in millimetres and the codes for the American hooks:
US | Lace | Fingering | Sport | DK | Worsted | Bulky | Super Bulky |
UK | 1 ply | 2 ply | 4 ply | DK | Aran | Chunky | Super Chunky |
AUS | 2 ply | 3 ply | 5 ply | 8 ply | 10 ply | 12 ply | 14 ply |
Hook size (mm) | 1.50-2.25 mm | 2.25 -3.50 mm | 3.50-4.50 mm | 4.5-5.5mm | 5.5-6.5 mm | 6.5-9mm | 9mm+ |
US Letter-Number | B-1 | C-2 D-3 E-4 | F-5 G-6 | H-7 | I-8 J-9 | K-10 L-11 M-13 | N-15 P, Q |
Check your Tension
Always make a sample square to check your tension before you start. If your work is smaller than the tension required in the pattern, go up a hook size. If it is larger, drop down a size. We all crochet differently, so checking your tension is always advisable.
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