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Glossary

2 ply
 The name for one of the standard weights of knitting yarn. Technically refers to two strands of fibre twisted together to make the yarn. It is a very fine yarn
4 ply

The name for one of the standard weights of knitting yarn. Quite a fine yarn
Aran
 The name for one of the standard weights of knitting yarn. Named after a style of knitwear originating in Scotland.
baby yarn
Name given to yarn specifically for making knitwear for babies
ball
Form in which yarn is wound and sold.
blocking
Term used for the process of setting fabric after knitting, usually done before sewing up.
cable cast on
A commonly used method for making the stitches to be able to start knitting
cast off

Term used for the technique for finishing off by securing the stitches at the end of a piece of knitting
cast on
Term used for making the stitches to be able to start knitting
chain cast off
 A commonly used method for finishing off by securing the stitches at the end of a piece of knitting
chunky yarn
 The name for one of the standard weights of knitting yarn.
Continental method
 A style of knitting - refers to the way the yarn and needles are held.
decrease/decreasing
 Reduce stitches during knitting to create pattern or shapes
designer yarn
 Name given to good quality yarns made with natural fibres.
double knitting
 The name for one of the standard weights of knitting yarn.
dropped stitch
 Term used to describe a stitch that has accidentally come off the knitting needle during knitting.
English method
A style of knitting - refers to the way the yarn and needles are held.
fibre
 Individual strands from an animal, plant or manmade made from chemical processes, that are then twisted together to make yarn.
garter stitch
 The simplest of all stitch patterns, made from rows of knit stitches.
gauge
Term for the size of a knitting needle
hank
 A long loop of yarn – a form in which yarn is wound and sold. A hank needs to be wound into a ball before knitting.
increase/increasing
Add stitches during knitting to create pattern or shape
knit

1. Meaning "to knit – describes the activity e.g. to knit a sweater. NB to knit is often used in a general sense covering the overall activity and any combination of stitches.

 

2. As an instruction meaning to work the next stitch/es as basic knit stitch

 
knit stitch
One of the 2 basic stitches in knitting.
knitting

1. Describes the activity, i.e. to be knitting

2. Describes the item i.e. a piece of knitting
knitting pattern
A full set of instructions for making a hand knit item
knitwise
Next stitch is worked as a knit stitch
ladder
 Describes the fault in a piece of knitted fabric caused by a dropped stitch which then unravels
make 1 increase
 A commonly used method for shaping a piece of knitted fabric

mattress stitch
 A commonly used sewing up method used to join seams or pieces of knitted fabric
moss stitch
 A common stitch pattern made from a combination of knit and purl stitches. Sometimes described as seed stitch (American).
novelty yarn
Name given to the very striking and unusual yarns from manmade fibres
ply
 Yarn is made from fibres twisted together. Each individual strand in the twist is known as the “ply”.
purl
 As an instruction meaning to work the next stitch/es as a purl stitch
purl stitch
 The second of the two basic stitches. Purl stitch is always used in combination with the first basic stitch, the knit stitch.
purlwise
Next stitch is worked as a purl stitch.
reverse side
 Name for the opposite side to the right side of a piece of knitted fabric. Is the side not generally considered to be the right side or to recognise that some fabrics are reversible.
reverse stocking stitch
 The name of a stitch pattern where the opposite side i.e. “wrong side” of stocking stitch is used as the right side.
rib or ribbing
A common stitch pattern made from a combination of knit and purl stitches. Often used as a border on sweaters, cardigans and socks.
right side
 Front of fabric. Will be on the outside of a finished piece of fabric.
row
 Working all the stitches on the knitting needle from left to right is known as completing a row. The final fabric is made up of a series of rows of knitting.
Scottish Method
A style of knitting - refers to the way the yarn and needles are held.
shaping
 The term used to describe the process of shaping a piece of knitted fabric whilst knitting. The process involves adding stitches (increasing) or removing stitches (decreasing)
simple decrease
A commonly used method for shaping a piece of knitted fabric
simple increase
A commonly used method for shaping a piece of knitted fabric
slip knot
The first stitch - preparation for casting on
slip stitch
Pass the stitch from left to right needle without working it
stitch
Name for the loop on the knitting needle that is worked to create knitted fabric
stitch pattern
 The design of knitted fabric created from any combination of the two basic stitches - knit stitch and purl stitch – and other techniques.
stocking stitch
 A common stitch pattern made from a combination of the two basic stitches. Created by knitting alternate knit and purl rows.
super chunky
 Name of a standard weight of yarn.
swatch
A small sample of knitted fabric created to test tension or a stitch pattern when designing
take-in
Describes the effect of a stitch pattern on the final fabric. Take in means that the stitch pattern reduces the width of the finished fabric compared to the original amount of stitches or stocking stitch.
take-up
 Describes the effect of a stitch pattern on the final fabric. Take up means that the stitch pattern reduces the length of the finished fabric compared to the original amount of stitches or stocking stitch
tension
Term used to describe how tightly or loosely an individual knitter creates a piece of hand knit fabric. It is measured by counting the number of stitches and number of rows in a 10 cm square of knitted fabric.
tension swatch
Small square of knitted fabric used to test the tension measurement i.e. how many rows and how many stitches per cm.

unravel or unravelling
 Term to describe knitting coming undone. This can be intentional, i.e. purposely undo (unrave)l in order to amend or correct a mistake, or unintentional caused as a result of a mistake or tear in the fabric.
weaving – in ends
 Term used for tidying up loose ends of yarn to prevent unravelling.
weight (yarn)
Refers to the ply (number of strands) in the yarn. It is actually a guide to how thick the yarn is.
wrong side Back of finished piece or inside of a garment.
yarn
 Yarn is the general name for any fibre, either natural or manmade, which has been twisted into long strands to form a thread which is then used in a variety of ways: e.g. Knitting, weaving, sewing or embroidery. The individual strand is known as the “ply”.
yarn needle
 A sewing needle specifically designed for sewing yarn. It is much thicker than a conventional sharps needle, has a large eye and a rounded blunt end.