Antique and vintage basic crochet terms

 

The terms for crochet stitches varied from publication to publication, starting in the 1820’s, and didn’t become standardized until well into the 20th century.  Sometime in the 1880’s, crochet terms for the basic stitches became more standardized in Britain, and although some American publishers began to use what we now recognize as U.S. crochet terminologies, British terms were still used in many U.S. publications until after World War I.  Here is a list of different stitch terms from some of the popular publications of their time. 

 

U.K. modern terms

chain st (ch)

slip st (sl st)

double crochet (dc)

half treble (htc)

treble crochet (tc)

double treble crochet (dtc)

triple treble crochet (ttc)

 

U. S. modern terms

chain st (ch)

slip st (sl st)

single crochet (sc)

half double crochet (hdc)

double crochet (dc)

triple crochet (tc)

double triple crochet (dtc)

 

1844 Miss Lambert, My Crochet Sampler, London

chain

plain single crochet

plain double crochet

 

treble

 

 

See p 14-21 of the book – plain stitch variations

1850 Ladies Guide in Needlework, Philadelphia

chain

 

double crotchet stitch

 

 

 

 

 

c. 1845-1870 Mlle Riego Crochet Books , London

chain

single stitch

plain stitch

 

treble stitch

long stitch

extra long stitch

 

1850’s Royal Crochet Worker , London

chain

plain

double

 

treble

 

 

 

1859 Mrs. Pullan, Lady’s Manual of Fancy-Work, New York

chain (ch)

slip stitch (sl)

single crochet (sc)

short double crochet (sdc)

double crochet (dc)

treble crochet (tc)

long treble (ltc)

also a “short treble”, and a “half long treble”

Godey’s Lady’s Book c. 1850-1870 New York

ch

sc

dc

 

tc

 

 

Not consistent from pattern to pattern.

1870 Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Needlework, London

chain

slip stitch

double stitch

long double

treble

long treble

double long treble

many stitch variations, see p 185-194

1880 New York Tribune Knitting and Crochet

chain

single crochet or sc

double crochet or dc

 

treble stitch or tc

long stitch or long treble

extra long stitch

 

1886 Th. de Dillmont, Encyclopedia of Needlework, France

chain stitch

single crochet

double crochet

treble crochet

 

 

 

 

1891 Home Work, Toronto

chain, ch

slip stitch, sl st

single crochet, sc

half treble or short treble

treble crochet

long treble

 

 

c.1900-1917 Priscilla Publishing Company, Boston

Some books use the equivalent of modern U.S. terms, some use modern U.K. terms – there is a stitch guide in the front of each book. 

 

 

 

 

c. 1911-1920 Flora Klickmann books

Modern U.K. terms

 

 

 

 

c. 1900-1920 Needlecraft, Augusta, Maine

similar to modern U.K. terms – see stitch guide PDF

 

 

 

 

compiled by Judith Combs, last updated 03oct2006