Knit Lab Projects
GLOSSARY
A C
Acrylic Yarn: Yarn made from man-made fibers
Actual Measurement: Measurement of the garment
including ease
Addi Turbo Needles: Metal knitting needles manu-
factured by a German company
Angora Yarn: Yarn made from Angora rabbit hair
B
Backwards Loop Method: A method of casting on
when you loop yarn onto the needle from the back
with your finger
Ballwinder: A gadget that is used to wind yarn from
a hank into a ball
Basket Stitch: When a row consists of a pattern of a
few knit stitches and then a few purl stitches
Binding Off: Removing stitches from the needle;
usually at the conclusion of a project
Blocking (see related, Steam Blocking; Wet Blocking):
Flattening and/or shaping a finished knit garment
British Knitter (see also, English Knitter): Knitter
that knits with the yarn in his or her right hand
Bulky Yarn: Thick, wide yarn
Bust darts: An extra wedge of fabric knitted into the
front of the garment to add shaping and length with-
out adding bulk.
C E
Cable Cast On (see also, The Knitting On Method):
Method of casting on when you create new loops by
pulling yarn loops with your right needle through
preexisting loops on your left needle
Cable Needle: A small double sided needle used to
move stitches around when cabling
Glossary 01
Cabling: Crossing stitches to create a textured
pattern on the surface of the fabric
Cast-On Edge: The side or edge you begin your project
Casting On: Putting stitches on your needle
Chart: A visual representation of knitting
Circular Needles: Needle tips that are permanently
secured to a cord; used to knit in the round
Continental Knitter: Knitter that knits with the yarn
in his or her left hand
Cross back measurement: The armhole to armhole
measure across the back
D
D.K. Weight Yarn: D.K. is an old British term that
literally means Double Knitting. Today it refers to
the diameter of the yarn.
Darning Needles: A long, big eyed needle often used
to weave in ends
Decrease: Taking stitches away from a row of knitting
Double Pointed Needles: Needles with points on
both ends; commonly used to knit in the round
Drape: The way the fabric hangs
Dropped Stitches: When stitches fall off of the needle(s)
Dye Lot: The amount of yarn that is dyed in a single
batch (lot) of dye
English Knitter (see also, British Knitter): Knitter
that knits with the yarn in his or her right hand; this
placement creates a different knitting rhythm
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 Knit Lab Projects Glossary 02

GLOSSARY
F K
Feather & Fan Stitch: Traditional stitch that is often Knit Stitch: Basic knitting stitch
used in afghans; looks like ripples; also known as the
Knit Two Together: Decrease method that calls for
Ripple Stitch
knitting two stitches as together as one; commonly
Felting: The process of matting and pressing wool abbreviated as K2tog
Fixed Circular Needles: The needle points are Knit-Wise: When slipping a stitch, putting the needle
permanently connected to the cable; used to knit into the stitch in the same way you would when doing
large pieces of circular knitting a knit stitch
Full Fashioned Increase: A very visible increase Knitting On Method, The (see also, Cable Cast On):
Method of casting on when you create new loops by
G pulling yarn loops with your right needle through
Garter Stitch: When a knitter uses just Knit Stitch preexisting loops on your left needle
Gauge Swatch (see also, Swatch): A small square of Knitting In the Round: Circular knitting that allows
yarn knit to a pattern's specifications to determine you to knit tubular material
the correct gauge for a project
L
H Laddering: A vertical line of loose stitches that looks
Hank: A coil of yarn; yarn is commonly spun into a hank like a ladder, caused by loose stitches when transfer-
ring from one side of stitching to another
Heathery Yarn: A yarn that is spun using pre-dyed
fibers to create a blended color Leaning Decreases: Asymmetrical decreases that
lean either to the left or the right depending on
High hip: Measurement point on the body which
which side of the marker you decrease
slopes from the waistline
Left Lifted Increase (see related, Right Lifted Increase):
I Knitting increase method where you lift the last leg
Increase: Adding stitches to a row of knitting before the last knitted stitch onto the needle, then
knit the stitch; commonly abbreviated as LLI; often
Interchangeable Needles: Set of circular needle tips
used in conjunction with the Right Lifted Increase
that can be exchanged with a common set of cables
Lifted Increases (see also, Paired Increases): Method
J of increasing that creates a distinctive line
Jogless Join: A technique used to join two offset rows Live Stitches: Stitches that are ready to be worked into
of knitting so that they line up without creating a jog
up or down Long Tail Cast On: Method of casting on where you
start with a long piece (or, tail) of yarn; a stretchy
K method of casting on
Keyhole: Large button hole
Knit Picks: Yarn and knitting accessory seller;
www.knitpicks.com
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 Knit Lab Projects
GLOSSARY
M R
Magic Loop Method, The: When a knitter uses a
single circular needle to knit small circumferences
like socks
Make One Increase: Common knitting increase
method using the bar between the stitches to create a
new stitch
Moss Stitch (see also, Seed Stitch): When you Knit 1,
Purl 1, then repeat throughout the same row
N Method of increase where you lift the first leg of
Needle Gauge: Helpful knitting gadget that helps to
determine size of a needle; is also helpful when
converting from one needle system to another (i.e.
British to US)
Negative Curve Measurement: Garment will hug the
body such as used in ribbed garments
Negative Ease: Garment measures less than the body
measurement
O (not applicable)
P Steam Blocking: When you use steam to flatten
Paired Increases (see also, Lifted Increases): Method
of increasing that creates a distinctive line
Point Protector: Attachments at the end of your
needles to keep the stitches from slipping off the
needles when you are not knitting.
Positive Ease: Garment measures more than the body
measurement
Purl Stitch: An inverted knit stitch
Purl-Wise: When slipping a stitch, putting the needle
into the stitch in the same way you would when doing
a purl stitch
Q (not applicable)
Glossary 03
Ravelry: An online knitting and crocheting community:
www.ravelry.com
Reverse Stockinette Stitch (see also, Stockinette Stitch):
When you Purl one row, Knit one row, repeat. All knit
will be on the Wrong Side of the fabric.
Ribbing: A pattern in which vertical stripes of stock-
inette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse
stockinette stitch. (knit, purl, knit)
Right Lifted Increase (see related, Left Lifted Increase):
stitch below the next stitch onto the needle, then knit
this stitch; commonly abbreviated as RLI; often used
in conjunction with the Left Lifted Increase
Right Side: Visible side of the fabric
S
Seed Stitch (see also, Moss Stitch): When you Knit 1,
Purl 1, repeat in the same row
Sock-Weight Yarn: A thin, four ply yarn
Skein: A coil of yarn; yarn is commonly spun into a skein
and/or shape your finished knit project
Stitch Markers: Small circular devices used to mark
placement in a knitting row
Stockinette Stitch (see also, Reverse Stockinette Stitch):
When you Knit one row, Purl one row, repeat. All knit
will be on the Right Side of the fabric.
Swatch (see related, Gauge Swatch): A small sample
of knitting
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 Knit Lab Projects Glossary 04

GLOSSARY
T
Three Dimensional (3-D) Objects: Garments
To Fit Measurement: Measurement of the bust

U (not applicable)

V (not applicable)

W
Wet Blocking (see also, Steam Blocking, Blocking) :
When you flatten and/or shape your final knit project
by first submerging it in water
Working Yarn: Yarn currently in use
Worsted Weight Yarn: A medium weight, medium
width, and smooth yarn
Wrong Side: Non-visible side of the fabric

X (not applicable)

Y
Yarn Label: The paper band on a ball, skein, or hank
of yarn that contains detailed information about
the yarn, washing instructions, and needle suggestions
Yarn Over Increase: Common method of increase
that leaves a hole in the knitting; commonly used
with Knit Two Together; executed by wrapping yarn
around the right-hand needle from back to front,
then knit the next stitch

Z
Zero Ease: Garment measures the same as the body
measurement