crochet & knit
words
amigurumi
The Japanese craft of creating small, crocheted or knitted, stuffed figures resembling animals or other creatures. Also: the stuffed figures so created. A word borrowed from the Japanese 編み ami (to knit or crochet) + 包み kurumi (to wrap), as in 縫い包み nuigurumi (a stuffed doll.)
Abbreviation: AMI
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bistitchual
A slang word that you won’t find in the Oxford Dictionary 🙂 It is the ability of someone to stitch in two crafts; so knitting, crochet or even sewing.
blocking
Giving your finished piece a little spa day. Wet, pin, and shape it to perfection. Think of it as yoga for your scarf or sweater — stretches, flattens, and lets your stitches breathe.
corner to corner
In this crochet technique your project grows diagonally, starting from one corner of your square or rectangle to the opposite one.
It is a great way to include words and/or graphics in your design.
Abbreviation: C2C
crochet along or CAL
The idea is to connect in an event people together who crochet one project at the same time. You will also find MAL (make along) or KAL (knit along). As you can imagine, it is great fun!
Abbreviation: CAL
frogging
verb. The noble art of ripping out stitches when your project goes sideways.
Also known as: “Rip it, rip it!”
Use it when you miscounted, messed up a stitch, or just changed your mind. It might sting a little… but every frog jump brings you closer to stitch-perfect glory!
gauge
Gauge is basically the GPS of your knitting. It tells you whether your project is actually heading toward the size the pattern promises or drifting off into the unknown. The pattern might say “size M,” but if your gauge is off, you could end up with something that fits your niece… or your sofa.
It matters because everyone knits a little differently. Your tension, your needles, even the yarn you choose all affect the final size. Although it might feel boring, make a swatch first and thank yourself later.
knitfiti, yarn bombing or urban knitting
By this we mean a form of street art that ‘covers’ public objects; trees, benches, lampposts, litter bins… and more objects found in public places, with bright crocheted fabrics. It is important to note that yarn bombing, like other street art, can be illegal in some areas if done without the consent of the owner. Its origin is attributed to Magda Sayeg, who started the idea in the USA in 2005. International Yarn Bombing Day is now a celebration of this tradition, today to raise awareness of the art of crochet and knitting and also to draw attention to different causes while having a lot of fun in the process.
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ombre (gradient)
Yarn that changes color gradually. Perfect for hypnotic scarves, blankets, or shawls that look like rainbows in motion. Warning: once you see an ombre skein, you’ll want to knit everything in it.
tinking
Knit spelled backward, literally. Slowly undo your stitches one by one, going backward like a time machine for your knitting. Perfect for mistakes in the middle of a row — precise, meditative, and oddly satisfying.
yarn bombing, knitfiti or urban knitting
By this we mean a form of street art that ‘covers’ public objects; trees, benches, lampposts, litter bins… and more objects found in public places, with bright crocheted fabrics. It is important to note that yarn bombing, like other street art, can be illegal in some areas if done without the consent of the owner. Its origin is attributed to Magda Sayeg, who started the idea in the USA in 2005. International Yarn Bombing Day is now a celebration of this tradition, today to raise awareness of the art of crochet and knitting and also to draw attention to different causes while having a lot of fun in the process.
Want to learn more about it?