It’s frustrating when you’re trying to reproduce a cute crochet pattern you found and yet it just doesn’t look anything like the photo you saw.
The problem could be something as simple, but profoundly affective, as this: Basic American crochet terms are different from European (including British and Australian) crochet terms.
And just because you grew up in the US doesn’t mean you necessarily learned crochet vernacular according to “American Crochet Standards.” Many patterns published in America during the 1800’s and early 1900’s also used terms from standards we refer to today as European or British.
So we’ll clear that up a bit today. And if you like to collect antique crochet patterns (as I do), take note because there are terms you’ll need to watch for, no matter which side of the ocean it came from.
What influenced the differences? I’m not really sure. However, the basic stitch we call single crochet in America, for instance, is called double crochet in Europe. As you can see, discrepancies in stitch terminology such as this can make a huge difference in end results.
Reference point: Australia, the UK and Europe in general all fall under the umbrella of “European terms.” Canada and the U.S. fall under the umbrella of “American terms.” Some refer to them instead as “American/British terms” or “UK/US terms.” For the purpose of this article, and the sake of clarity, I’ve simply left it at “European vs. American.” This list comes from my notes and cross-references over the years.
Here’s a quick list of American/European terms and their counterparts:
American: chain stitch (ch)
European: chain (ch)
These terms are essentially the same everywhere.
American: slip stitch (ss)
European: slip stitch (ss)
I have also seen slip stitch referred to as single crochet (sc) or “single stitch” in some British patterns, especially from the late 1800’s. Additionally, I’ve seen the terms “mitten stitch” and “close joining stitch” used.
American: single crochet (sc)
European: double crochet (dc)
I have also seen this referred to as “plain stitch” in some British patterns, especially from the late 1800’s.
American: half double crochet (hdc)
European: half treble crochet (htr) or extended double crochet
American: double crochet (dc)
European: treble crochet (tc)
American: triple crochet (tr)
European: double treble crochet (dtr or dbl tr)
I have also seen this referred to as a “long stitch” in some antique patterns.
American: double triple crochet (dtr or dtrc)
European: triple treble crochet (trtr)
I have also seen this referred to as an “extra long stitch” or “long treble” in some antique patterns.
American: triple treble (trtr or trtrc)
European: quadruple treble (quadtr)
American: yarn over (yo)
European: wool round hook (wrh) or yarn over hook (yoh)
American: bind off or fasten off
European: cast off
OK! So these are the most common basic English terms you’ll run into out there while comparing crochet patterns from across the oceans.
Today it is pretty standard practice to print on the pattern whether the pattern is written according to American Crochet Standards or British/English/Australian/European Crochet Standards. I list all four there, because I have seen each of these in variation.
There are also Japanese, Chinese, Croatian, Scandinavian, South American and other terms as well, not to mention universal symbol crochet. But this will get you started with the most common terms published in English.
Thanks for reading! If you have resources and ideas to share, feel free to post them in the comments.
Until next time then….!
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