Glossary of Terms and Abbrev

TERM ABBREV DEFINITION
Aran knitting
a technique of working combinations of stitches and patterns in a solid color (usually white), named after Aran Islands of Ireland
bind off BO When a piece of knitting is completed, stitches are removed one by one and locked so that they will not ravel.
blocking
the infusion of steam or water into a knitted fabric that causes the strands of the fiber to relax and reshape
cable
a technique in which the order of stitches is changed to create the effect of twisted rope
cast on CO the process of creating loops to transition yarn from skein to needles; creating the first row of knitting
circular needles
two knitting needle points strung together with a flexible cable
colorwork
knitting involving multiple colors in the same piece
Continental knitting
Knitting technique in which the yarn is held in the left hand; also known as German knitting or picking
decrease dec the combining or removal of one or more existing stitches
double knitting DK a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two yarns on one pair of needles
double pointed needles dpn a group of 4 or 5 knitting needles, each with a point at each end
English knitting
knitting technique in which the yarn is held in the right hand; also known as American knitting or throwing
Fair Isle
a specific form of stranded colorwork named for Fair Isle, a small island off the coast of Scotland
felting
a process by which knitted wool is soaked in hot water to shrink and tighten the fibers and create a dense fabric
finished object FO a completed knitting project
flat knitting
knitting back-and-forth on straight or circular needles to create a piece of flat knitting
frogging
unraveling a piece of knitting; resembles the sound a frog makes (rip-it, rip-it)
garter stitch
Knit EVERY row when working on straight needles; knit 1 round, purl 1 round when working on a circular needle.
gauge
number of stitches per inch horizontally and vertically when using the recommended yarn weight and stitch pattern
I-cord
knitted cord created using double pointed needles
knitting in the round
knitting on circular or double pointed needles to create a piece of cylindrical knitting
Increase inc the creation of one or more new stitches
intarsia
the integration of isolated blocks of color into a project
joining
attaching a new piece of yarn to the knitting (new skein, new color, etc.)
Kitchener stitch
the invisible joining of two knitted fabrics using yarn and a needle; also known as grafting
knit k, k1 a stitch in which yarn is pulled through an existing loop from the back of the work to the front
knit front and back kfb an increase
knit two together k2tog an decrease
make one m1 an increase
purl p, p1 a stitch in which yarn is pulled through an existing loop from the front of the work to the back
ribbing
a textured fabric created by combining knit and purl stitches in the same row (e.g. k2, p2) and repeating identical stitches in subsequent rows
right side RS the side of the work that is intended to face the viewer once complete
selvage
The side edge of the knitting, composed of the first and last stitch of each row
skein
length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil
slip sl pick up a stitch from the source needle and slip it onto the working needle without involving the working yarn
steek
a shortcut vertical column of knitted stitches added into a garment, to be cut open to make room for an opening or attaching another piece>
stockinette St st Knit 1 row, purl 1 row alternately when working on straight needles; knit EVERY round when working on a circular needle.
stranded colorwork
technique for working 2+ colors of yarn in the same row with strands of the non-working yarn floating in back of the knitting
straight needles
the traditional set-of-two knitting needles, with a point at one end of each needle and a button on the other end
swatch
a square of test knitting, used as a trial run for gauge, yarn, pattern, etc.
tail
the loose end of the yarn
through the back loop TBL creating a stitch through the back leg of the source loop rather than the front
unfinished object UFO an incomplete knitting project

work in progress
WIP an incomplete knitting project

working yarn

the current strand of yarn coming from the skein that is being used in the knitting
wrong side WS the side of the work that is intended to face away from the viewer (back/inside) once complete
yarn over yo a stitch that creates a hole by bringing the yarn forward and over the top of the needle