Crochet Stitches Instructions

You can find crochet stitch instructions online, in books, and in magazines. There are some things that you need to know when looking for instructions for crochet stitches however. Depending on what country the instructions are from, they are slightly different. For instance, the single crochet in American English is called a double crochet in British English. Also, antique patterns found in the United States dating from the late 1800-1900s are often written in British English. It is not uncommon, when getting information online, for crochet stitches instructions to vary.

Where Did That Come From?

There is a simple way to determine where your instructions have originated from and how to achieve the stitch. Most instructions or patterns have a section describing how the crochet stitch will be done. Depending on the description, you can decide how the rest of the instructions will be followed. Using the guide below will help you see if the instructions are in British English or American English. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of basic crochet stitches. It is only a guide to distinguish the proper stitch to use for any given pattern.

Common American English Crochet Stitches With British English Equivalent:

Yarn Over (YO)- Bring yarn over hook. The British English equivalent is the same.

Chain (ch)- With hook in dominant hand and yarn in other hand start with a slip knot on your hook. Bring yarn from the back of hook and over the top. Catch yarn with hook and pull through slip knot. One chain stitch has now been made. Continue for specified number of chains. The British English equivalent is the same.

Single Crochet (sc)- With foundation chain already made, turn your work and insert hook in second chain from hook. Bring yarn from back to front over the top of hook. You will now have 2 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over from back to front again. Catch yarn and pull through both loops on hook. One single crochet stitch has now been made. Continue for specified number of stitches. The British English equivalent is called Double Crochet (dc).

Slip Stitch (sl st)- Insert hook in the stitch indicated. Bring yarn over from back to front, catch with hook and draw through both loops on hook. One slip stitch has now been made. Continue for specified number of stitches. The British English equivalent is the same.

Half Double Crochet (hdc)- With foundation chain already made, turn your work, bring yarn over from back to front, and insert hook into 3rd chain from hook. Bring yarn over the hook from back to front again. Catch yarn with hook and bring up a loop. You will now have 3 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over hook from back to front and draw yarn through all 3 loops on your hook. One half double crochet has now been made. Continue for specified number of stitches. The British English equivalent is called Half Treble Crochet (htr).

Double Crochet (dc)- With foundation chain already made, turn your work, bring yarn over from back to front, and insert hook into 4th chain from hook. Bring yarn over the hook from back to front again. Catch yarn with hook and bring up a loop. You will now have 3 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over from back to front and draw yarn through 2 loops on your hook. You should now have 2 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over from back to front a second time and draw yarn through remaining 2 loops on hook. One double crochet has now been made. Continue for specified number of stitches. The British English equivalent is called Treble Crochet (tr).

Triple Crochet (tr)- With foundation chain already made, turn your work, bring yarn over from back to front 2 times, and insert hook into 5th chain from hook. Bring yarn over the hook from back to front again and pull up a loop. You should now have 4 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over from back to front and draw through 2 loops on your hook. You should now have 3 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over from back to front a second time and draw through 2 loops. You should now have 2 loops on your hook. Bring yarn over from back to front for a third time and draw through the remaining 2 loops on your hook. One triple crochet has now been made. Continue for specified number of stitches. The British English equivalent is called Double Treble (dtr or dbl tr).

Final Thoughts

I hope you find this useful in your crochet endeavors. There are many wonderful patterns from around the world that have a slightly different twist on design. Don't be afraid to try different patterns. Just keep in mind that the crochet stitches instructions may vary and refer to this guide to help you along. Good luck and happy knotting!