Crochet Terms: US to UK translation

Knitting terms seem standardized in the west from place to place, and country to country. Some stitches like moss stitch do mean different things in different countries.

However, crochet terms are a bit more difficult. Crochet is more of a recent craft, as it is generally 200 years old.

Crochet has different terminologies based on who created the pattern. UK, Europe and places exposed to crochet from these regions will have one, and the US and countries exposed to US terminology will have another. Here is a basic translation list between the two crochet terminologies.

US--------------------------------------UK

Chain (ch)                                      Chain (ch)

Slip stitch (sl st)                             Single crochet (sc)

Single crochet (sc)                         Double crochet (dc)

Half double crochet (hdc)              Half treble crochet (htc or htr)

Double crochet (dc)                       Treble crochet (Tc or trc)

Treble crochet (Tc or trc)               Double Treble crochet (dtr or dtc)

Double treble crochet (dtr or dtc)  Triple treble crochet (ttc)

etc.

And the list proceeds in a similar fashion with longer stitches. These are the basic stitches, hopefully this list helps.

Ways to tell if a pattern is using UK terms:

Mercifully, many pattern creators have this above mentioned key on their patterns. Some don't, and oftentimes, antique patterns don't have equivalent stitches listed.

This is one way that I'm able to tell if a pattern uses UK or US terms. First, look at the picture. Does it look like it has US single crochet? Does it look like it has slip stitches?

A pattern often starts with a chain X amount of stitches. After that, it will often say sc or dc. Do the first stitches in the picture look like sc or dc? If they look like sc but the pattern says dc, its a UK pattern. If the stitches look like sc and the patterns says sc, its a US pattern.

Another way to tell involves using old booklets. Old booklets from the Antique Pattern Library, Archive.org, and other sources often tell where the booklet was manufactured. It may say London, or Bristol (UK cities), or some similar place. If so, its safe to assume that UK terminology will be used.

If it says Chicago Ill, Boston MA, Florence MA, (US cities) or the like, its safe to assume that US terminology will be used.

If its a Canadian publication, (cities like Halifax, Toronto, etc), it seems to be a tossup on what terminology is used. Modern patterns will more likely have US style terminology, and antique patterns will more likely have UK style terminology.

Non-english language terminology can be translated from antique patterns as well, such as French. The translation will say something like 'single stitch', or 'double stitch'. In that case, it is harder, but again, look at the picture for clues.

In future, I'm hoping to have these stitch equivalents in other languages as well. God luck!

-jtp

Donating supplies to Charity pt1

I'm having an executive disfunction day, along with some stomach pain. Its adding to my confusion on how I should continue my room organization plans and donation of excess items.

I've decided to work on something small. I have more than enough knitting needles and crochet hooks (thanks to thrift stores and online/in store sales.)

(a pink plastic box full of various metal knitting needles and some crochet hooks.)

I've had it in my mind to donate my excess supplies for a while to charity programs. I think knitting needles and crochet hooks are too precious to end up in regular thrift stores. They can give young people, elderly, or other adults the chance to learn a lifelong skill that can give them peace.

(purple yarn I've begun winding on a spare wooden panel because I cant find my niddy noddy right now.)

So, I've started winding up yarn I wont use in preparation to donate it with some needles. I plan to label them as best I can for those people with wool allergies.

I'm 99% sure these are going to Pine Ridge Reservation, and perhaps neighboring native reservations. In the ravelry group, they mentioned craft supplies are things that would be welcome.

I am voluntarily downsizing my needle stash as I find needles that I like using. I have learned what types of needles I use for what types of projects: lace, cables, textured stitches, sweaters, shawls, Tunisian crochet, socks and more.

I think these would be great for beginners.

I just have to find the right address on the ravelry forums. There are so many addresses to send things to. I also have to make a note of what I am donating. I like staying organized.

Sometimes a set of needles or a yarn really wasnt made for you. I've learned that over time.

Have you been doing any de-stashing later?

Ttyl,

-JT