The single crochet symbol in crochet charts
The cross. Short, dense, and the single biggest source of US/UK confusion in crochet — this stitch is called double crochet in the UK.
- US name
- Single crochet
- UK name
- Double crochet
- In the editor
- Single crochet
What it looks like in a chart
A cross. This editor draws it as a plus sign (+); plenty of published charts draw it as an ×. There is no difference in the stitch — the two shapes are interchangeable, and the pattern’s own key will tell you which one that designer uses.
It is drawn short on purpose. In a chart, height is information: the taller the symbol, the taller the stitch. A cross sits noticeably lower than the T-shaped posts around it, which is how you spot a band of single crochet in a mixed chart without reading the key.
The classic trap. US single crochet (sc) is called double crochet (dc) in the UK. That means the abbreviation dc means two completely different stitches depending on which side of the Atlantic the pattern was written on. The reliable tell: “single crochet” does not exist in UK terminology at all, so if a pattern says sc anywhere, the whole pattern is in US terms.
How it is used
- Dense, sturdy fabric — bags, baskets, amigurumi, potholders.
- Edgings, where a firm even border is wanted.
- The first round of a round motif, where a lot of short stitches need to fit into a small circumference.
Worth knowing
This is exactly the ambiguity a symbol chart removes. A cross is a cross in every language — the chart tells you what to make even when the words would mislead you.
Common questions
What does the + or × symbol mean in a crochet chart?
A single crochet in US terms — the same stitch a UK pattern calls a double crochet. Some designers draw it as a plus sign and some as an ×; both mean the same stitch.
Is single crochet the same as UK double crochet?
Yes. US single crochet (sc) and UK double crochet (dc) are the same stitch. UK terminology has no stitch called single crochet, so a pattern that mentions sc is written in US terms.