Very often we get asked what the difference is in UK and USA crochet instructions, how you can tell and why are they different? Many folk panic if they see different wordings, and think that they cannot use it, or its going to be difficult to use.....On the patterns we send out, we always state which terms are used, and how easy it is to still use it, even if you are used to the other way....

So what is the difference? - the easiest way to describe the difference is that the stitches are exactly the same- its just the 'names' of the stitches that are different. For example- the UK 'dc' (double crochet ) stitch is exactly the same as the USA 'sc' (single crochet). Thats fairly easy so far- it then gets slightly confusing if you are a 'newbie' at translating the terms, as the same names are used for different stitches! For the next stitch up- the USA crochet terms call it a 'dc' (double crochet) and the UK terms call it a 'tr' (treble crochet)....are you with us so far? And the USA 'hdc' is therefore the same as a UK 'htr' (half treble)

And then it continues on, with the UK terms being what we here at VV call a 'stitch ahead' of the USA terms....the next bigger stitch for the USA is 'tr', which is a 'dtr' (double treble) for the UK. Once you get the idea that the UK terms are a 'stitch ahead' or the USA terms are a 'stitch behind' if you find it easier to remember it that way, then the mystery and worry disappear and you start to understand how to work your project.....

in the picture above we have included our own chart which also shows the symbols that most charted crochet patterns use today as well for an easy comparison....so keep this page bookmarked for reference....

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