Tuesday, August 27, 2013

British and American Crochet Terms


I am not an expert when it comes to crochet which is why I was puzzled last week trying to master a simple Granny square crochet pattern! The pattern had an easy rating yet here I was struggling.

My first attempt turned into a crocheted mat for my daughter's dolls house and my second attempt was claimed by my eldest daughter and made into a trendy headband. While both daughters were extremely pleased with their new items I was beginning to get a "tad frustrated".



Then it dawned on me. I was using an American pattern but had been taught to crochet by my Grandmother, the British way.

Those of you who crochet will understand that the terminology used is quite different, which can be a trap for "young players" like myself. Fortunately I managed to demystify this problem and my Granny square progress has improved.

For those of you who need a helping hand when it comes to British and American terms, I have included a table for you here which will shed some light on the matter.


British vs American English Crochet Patterns
British Crochet Terms American Crochet terms
double crochet (dc) single crochet (sc)
half treble (htr) half double crochet (hdc)
treble (tr) double crochet (dc)
double treble (dtr) treble (tr)
triple treble (trtr) double treble (dtr)
miss skip
tension gauge
yarn over hook (yoh) yarn over (yo)

As you can see the same stitch name can refer to different stitches. It is n0 surprise that my crocheted Granny squares were wonky! The best way to tackle this problem is to refer to the crochet stitch reference included with the pattern. Most quality patterns will include this information for you. Look for the Double Crochet stitch as a reference, then you will know whether the crochet pattern is British or American.

Hope this has shed some light on the variations between British and American crochet stitches .
Warmly Lenna

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Stitching Cow has a new website

I have some exciting news, Stitching Cow has a brand new website for you to enjoy. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog you will have noticed that my posts have been few and far between. Truth is I have had my nose hard to the grind updating my website which has been an enormous task. The good news is that it is even better than before with bigger graphics (perfect for pinning on Pinterest and for sharing on social media) and a state of the art shopping cart with  a few bells and whistles that I hope you will find much easier to navigate.

You will also notice that my blog has had a revamp as well...told you I have been busy!?

There is also a brand new shop section with a beautiful collection of timber sewing accessories handcrafted by my Dad. Here is a sneak peek of what you can expect, they're two of my favourites.

timber button dish with lid

timber heart thread organizer
There is also a section of quilting fabric bundles and some other bits and pieces for you.
quilting fat quarter bundle

But instead of me rambling on here, head on over to the Stitching website right now and check it out. There is still much more to come over the next few weeks as I upload more new patterns and articles so stay tuned.
Warmly Lenna

PS While you are there please help to spread the word for me by sharing on your favourite social media, thanks


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