Knitting terms are full of acronyms, weird words, and technical jargon. They can leave both beginner and experienced knitters confused sometimes.
If you want to understand the knitting terms you’ll commonly find in knitting patterns or hear knitters talking about, this is the guide for you. It will cover all the important terms you need to know to create beautiful knitwear without loosing your mind.
For other knitting terminology, take a look at the complete list of knitting abbreviations. It includes all the common stitches, actions, and techniques you’ll encounter in knitting patterns. In other words, it will help you navigate through your knitting projects.
There are quite a few knitting terms in this glossary, luckily in alphabetical order though. If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to scroll through all of them, you can use the search function (Ctrl + F on a Windows or Command + F on a Mac) to find a specific term faster.
List of Knitting Terms
2aat (also: TAAT)
Two at a time. This knitting term refers to a special technique you can use to knit two socks at the same time on circular needles. You can use this technique also for sleeves.
Alternate
(alt) To perform the instruction every other stitch or row, or repeat as described.
Back leg (also: back loop)
The leg or loop of the knitting stitch that is on the side of the needle furthest from the knitter.
Ball
In a ball, the yarn is rolled into a round shape and it’s ready to knit. The yarn can be pulled from the outside of the ball, and sometimes also from the inside.
Ball band
The wrapper around a ball, skein, or hank of yarn that contains useful information, such as fiber content, the recommended needle size and tension, and washing instructions.
Ball end
The end of the yarn that runs from the knitting on your needles back to the ball of yarn that you are using.
Ball winder
A device for winding hanks or skeins of yarn into balls so that knitting will be easier. A ball winder is often used with a swift.
Bavarian twisted stitches
Also known as Austrian or Alpine twisted stitches. A traditional way to knit small mini-cables without a cable needle. All cable stitches are knit through the back loop, which creates an elevated line.
Bind off (also: cast off)
(BO) To finish a knitting work or a section by completing the loops of knitting so that they can’t unravel. Read more about how to bind off here.
Blocking
A process of wetting and/or steaming a knitting work after finishing it and drying it in the correct shape. You can do this for example by pinning the knitting out flat on a soft mat. Read more about how to block knitting here.
Bobbin
A small reel or other shape for holding different colored yarns during intarsia work.
Break the yarn
To cut the working yarn leaving a short tail. You can do this either with scissors or by simply tearing the yarn apart.
Brioche stitch
A type of knitting stitch that is used in brioche knitting. It creates a thick and textured fabric with a unique, ribbed appearance and a lot of stretch.
Cable
Cable knitting is a technique that creates a textured pattern in the knitted fabric. It involves crossing stitches over each other to create a twisted or braided effect that resembles a cable.
Cable needle
(CN) The needle used for knitting the cable stitch. They are designed to help you add twists into a pattern by crossing a group of stitches over one another.
Cable stitch
A traditional way to cross multiple stitches creating designs that look like cables or plaits.
Cake
A skein or hank of yarn that has been wound into a round cake-like shape with a ball winder.
Cast on
(CO) Casting on means creating the loops on the needle, which will become the first row of stitches of your knitting work.
Circular knitting (also: tubular knitting or knitting in the round)
A method of knitting using double-pointed needles or a circular needle to produce a seamless tube.
Colorwork
Working with different colored yarns within one project. This includes anything from basic stripes to intricate patterns and designs.
Continental knitting (also: German knitting, European knitting, or left-hand knitting)
A style of knitting where you hold the yarn in your left hand and pick the yarn with the knitting needle tip to make the stitches.
Course
A series of loops connected horizontally. This is basically a more technical term for the stitches in a row.
Crochet
A way of making a patterned fabric by using a yarn and a needle with a small hook at the end.
Decrease
(dec) Combining stitches together to reduce the total number of stitches on a row in order to shape your knitting (make it narrower) or to create a decorative effect.
Destash
To give away, sell ,or swap unwanted yarn from your stash.
DK
Double knitting weight yarn. It is not to be confused with double knitting, which is a popular knitting technique. Double knitting weight yarn is twice the thickness of sock yarn.
Double-pointed needles
(DPNs) Knitting needles that have points on both ends of the needle. You can use them to knit in the round using 3 or 4 needles for items that are too small for circular needles.
Dropped stitch
A stitch that has slipped off the needles by a mistake, creating an unwanted hole in the knitting work.
English knitting (also: Western knitting or right-hand knitting)
A style of knitting where you hold the yarn in the right hand and basically throw the yarn on the needle to make stitches.
Entrelac
A knitting technique that creates a beautiful texture that resembles basket weaving.
Eyelet
An intentional hole in your knit fabric. You can use eyelets to make buttonholes of lace patterns.
Fair Isle
A traditional way to knit with two different colors in one row by carrying the yarn for a limited number of stitches across the back of the work. Many knitters use Fair Isle instead of stranded knitting to describe any knitting with two or more colors per row.
Felting
The process of compressing and binding together the fibers of a knitted fabric (usually one made from wool) by using hot water to create felt.
Fingering
A thin and lightweight yarn but durable enough for everyday wear. A fingering weight yarn is typically 4-ply and for needle sizes US 1–3 (2.25–3 mm).
Finishing
This includes everything that you do after binding off the stitches in your work, such as assembling, weaving in ends, and blocking.
FO
Finished object. A completed knitting project.
Frog or Frogging
Unraveling the stitches in a knitting work to correct a mistake or to use the yarn for another project. Read more about frogging here.
Front leg (also: front loop)
The leg or loop of the knitting stitch that is on the side of the needle nearest to the knitter.
Front of work
The side of a piece of knitting that faces you while you work. This could be either the right or wrong side.
Garter stitch
(g st) The most basic knitting stitch pattern resulting from knitting all stitches when using straight needles or alternating rows of knit stitches with rows of purl stitches when using circular needles or DPNs.
Gauge
The number of stitches and rows per inch (or centimeter) in a particular pattern. It basically describes the size of knitted stitches. Read more about knitting gauge here.
Halo
The fuzz and fluff of loose fibers that sticks from the yarn, such as mohair.
Hank
In a hank, the yarn is wound into a large ring shape and then twisted into a cord. You need to wind a hank into a ball or a cake before it can be knitted.
HO
Half-finished object. A project, which is half-way to completion.
HOTN
Hot off the needles. A piece of work that you just finished but didn’t yet block or even weave in ends.
I-Cord
A little tube knitted in the round, usually with two double-pointed needles. It is a great way to make tie, strap, or edge for any piece of knitting.
Increase
(inc) Creating new stitches to add the total number of stitches on a row in order to shape your knitting (make it wider) or to form a range of stitch patterns.
Intarsia
A knitting technique for knitting with multiple colors in one row by using a special joining method and separate lengths of yarn for each section of colour.
Jog
A visible stair or a vertical column of staggered lines that appears at color changes when knitting in the round. There are different methods for creating jogless stripes.
KAL / CAL / MAL
Knit-a-long / crochet-a-long / make-a-long. When knitters or crafters join together to start the same project at the same time and share their progress with each other.
KIP
Knitting in public. Every occasion where you knit in public. There is also a worldwide knit in public day, which takes place every year on the second Saturday of June.
Knit (also: knit stitch)
(k or K) One of the two main knitting stitches (the other is “purl”). A knit stitch is made by inserting the right needle into a loop on the left needle from the left side, catching the yarn with the right needle, and bringing it through to form a new loop.
Knitting needles
A tool to produce hand knitted fabrics. The three main types of knitting needles include straight needles, double-pointed needles, and circular needles. You can read more about different types of knitting needles here.
Knitwise
(kwise) Describes how to insert the needle into the next stitch loop: inserting the needle from the left as if you’re going to knit.
Lanolin
The oily substance found in sheep’s wool that keeps its natural weather resistance capabilities intact.
Leading leg
The part of the knitting stitch that is closest to the tip of the needle.
Long-tail cast-on
(LTCO) A method of casting on, which creates a stretchy edge on a piece of knitting. It works well in projects where you knit in stockinette stitch or rib stitch at the beginning. Check out the instructions for long tail cast on here.
Loop cast-on (also: backward loop cast-on, single cast-on, or thumb cast-on)
A method of casting on, which creates a very loose and thin edge on a piece of knitting. It is a good all-purpose cast on often used for mid-project cast ons in the ends and middles of rows.
LYS
Local yarn shop. The place to your local town where you buy your yarn.
Maintain pattern as established
This knitting term is used when you are working a pattern stitch and increasing or decreasing at the edges. It means that you will keep the center part in the pattern the same and add or reduce stitches at each end without disturbing the pattern.
Make 1
(M1) A basic type of increase where you work into the strand between two stitches. It can also refer to a generic way to say “create one new stitch”.
Making up (also: joining or seaming)
Sewing together the different parts of a knitting work that have been knitted separately, such as the sleeves and body of a sweater.
Moss stitch
A classic textured knitting stitch resulting from alternating knits and purls every stitch and changing their location after two rows. It creates an almost shifted ribbing or tiny basketweave patterned fabric. Check out the instructions for a moss stitch here.
Notions
All the little accessories and tools that make your knitting possible, including stitch markers, needle stoppers, buttons, and wool-washing detergent. You can read more about stitch markers here and needle stoppers here.
Pick up stitches (also: pick up and knit)
A technique for creating a new fabric that is not worked in the same direction as the piece to which it is joined, such as a heel or neckband. You will grab the stitches (or some other loops) along the edge with the working needle, catch the yarn around it, and pull the yarn through, completing it like a normal stitch.
Pilling
The fuzz balls or bobbles that form on the surface of knitted garments caused by everyday wear.
Ply
A strand of fibre that is twisted together with other plies to form a yarn. For example, a 4-ply yarn is made from four single strands.
Popcorn stitch
(pop) A rounded bobble on the surface of a knitted work resulting from increasing several stitches by knitting through the same stitch and then decreasing immediately in the next row or round, creating a bump of yarn that stands out from the fabric. The number of knit and purls into the stitch determine the size of the bobble.
Purl (also: purl stitch)
(p or P) One of the two main knitting stitches (the other is “knit”). A purl stitch is made by inserting the right needle into a loop on the left needle from the right side, catching the yarn with the right needle, and bringing it through to form a new loop.
Purlwise
(pwise) Describes how to insert the needle into the next stitch loop: inserting the needle from the right as if you’re going to purl.
Reverse shaping
To work the shaping in the mirror image, for example on the left and right front pieces of a cardigan. If the shaping instructions say to increase stitches at the end of a row, you will need to increase at the beginning of a row to do reverse shaping.
Ribbing
(rib) A technique that creates ribs or textured vertical stripes resulting in a stretchy fabric. A rib stitch is often used for hems and cuffs.
Rib stitch
A basic knitting stitch pattern resulting from alternating knit and purl stitches matched row for row. The rib stitch consists of columns of knit stitches alternating with columns of purl stitches.
Right side
(RS) The side of your knitting that faces outwards and will be seen, such as the outside of a hat or a sweater. The tail of the cast-on row will fall on the right-hand side of your work.
Round
(R) A row of stitches when knitting in the round, either on DPNs or circular needles.
Row
(R) A horizontal line of stitches that runs the width of a piece of knitting.
Sable
Stash acquired beyond life expectancy. It means you’ve got more yarn than you could possibly knit in a lifetime.
Selvedge (also: selvage)
(sel) The left and right edges of a piece of knitting. When you make up a garment from separate pieces, you sew together the selvedge stitches. If you are knitting something like a scarf, the selvedge will be visible and can be knitted in a more decorative way.
Short row shaping
A technique for seamlessly shaping a piece of knitting with a smooth edge. It allows you to knit a gentle curve or slope by adding extra length of fabric to parts of your knitting. You can be use it for example for shaping the shoulders of sweaters or the heels of socks.
Skein
In a skein, the yarn is winded into an oblong shape and it’s ready to knit. The yarn can be pulled from the outside or the inside of the skein.
Slip
(sl) Passing a stitch or stitches from the left needle to the right needle without working them.
Slip knot (also: slipknot)
(slk) An adjustable loop used for casting on. It often is also the very first stitch in your piece of knitting. Check out how to make a slip knot here.
Slip stitch
(ss) A basic knitting stitch where you move a stitch from one needle to the other without wrapping the yarn around it. You can do this to create a decorative pattern or as part of a series of decreases.
Sock blocker
A flat, foot-shaped piece of wood, plastic, or metal that you can insert into your knitted socks so they can be shaped. They often also include a size chart for different foot sizes that helps you to knit the socks to the correct size. Check out how to make sock blockers here.
SSS
Second sock syndrome or second sleeve syndrome. When a knitter is not feeling motivated enough to finish the final parts of their knitting projects, often because it’s too boring to knit the exact same thing again.
Stash
A knitter’s total knitting yarn collection.
Stashbusting
Using yarn from your stash for a knitting project rather than buying more yarn.
Steek (also: steeking)
Cutting vertically through your piece of knitting to add a zipper or an opening, such as cardigan front or armhole, especially when knitting in the round. Special reinforcing and seaming is necessary before you can cut it to avoid unraveling.
Stitch
(st) A single loop of yarn within a piece of knitting.
Stockinette stitch (also: stocking stitch)
(st st) A basic knitting stitch pattern resulting from alternating knit and purl rows (with straight needles) or knitting continuously (with circular needles and DPNs). It creates a flat, smooth, and even fabric.
Superwash
A yarn that has been chemically treated to make the fibers machine washable.
Stranded knitting (also: stranded colorwork)
A traditional way to knit with multiple colors in one row to create a pattern by carrying the yarn across the back of the work. It is very similar to Fair Isle where you use only two colors per row.
Swift
A rotating device that holds a hank or skein of yarn in place while you wind it into a ball. You can use it when winding yarn wither by hand or by using a ball winder.
Swiss darning (also: duplicate stitch knitting)
An embroidery technique that involves covering a knitting stitch with an embroidery stitch that looks like knitting. You can use it for creating small colorwork motifs, fixing mistakes in colorwork, or mending holes in knitted fabrics.
Tail end
The short loose end of the yarn that is the yarn leftover from the cast-on row and essentially the starting point of your knitting. Read about how to weave in ends here.
Tension
This means how tightly or loosely you pull your stitches when knitting. It basically describes how tight your stitches are. It is also used to refer to gauge in the UK and Canada.
Tink
“Tink” is “knit” spelled backwards. It means unknitting or undoing a piece of knitting stitch by stitch to fix a mistake. This is a safe way to undo your knitting when you only need to unravel a couple of rows of less. Read more about tinking here.
TOAD
Trashed object abandoned in disgust. A project, which for some reason, doesn’t qualify for frogging and salvaging the yarn.
Together
(tog) Working two or more stitches together, forming a decrease.
Trailing leg
The part of the knitting stitch that is further from the tip of the needle.
UFO
Unfinished object. A project that you’ve started but has been idle for a long time.
Wales
A series of loops connected vertically. This is basically a more technical term for the rows in a knitting work.
WIP
Work in progress. This means any knitting project you are currently actively working on.
WPI
Wraps per inch. A way of measuring the rough weight of a yarn.
Work even (also: work straight)
An instruction to continue what you have been doing in the stitch pattern without increasing or decreasing.
Working yarn
The strand of yarn you are currently knitting with.
Wrong side
(WS) The side of your knitting that will be the back or the inside and usually hidden once finished. The tail of the cast-on row will fall on the left-hand side of your work.
Yarn
Any natural or synthetic fiber that has been spun into a continuous strand for use in knitting. Read more about different types of yarn here.
Yarn over
(YO) The act of moving the working yarn over the right-hand needle. Then, when you work the next stitch, this creates an additional stitch in knitting while leaving a hole below. An open yarn over creates an eyelet of this hole whereas a closed yarn over closes the hole.
Conclusions
Knitting terms can be confusing sometimes. Trust me, I should know!
Now that you’ve reached the end of this complete guide to knitting terms, no knitting pattern or a conversation with a fellow knitter should leave you baffled anymore. Instead, you’re ready to take on any knitting pattern with the confidence of a pro.
So grab your needles and a ball of yarn, and start knitting!
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