English for Knitting and Crochet: Key Vocabulary for Yarn Crafts

If you're learning English and have taken up knitting or crochet, you might find patterns full of unfamiliar words. Don't let that stop you. The good news is that the vocabulary is fairly small and repeats often. Once you learn a handful of key terms, you'll be able to follow most beginner patterns with ease.

Knitting and crochet share some vocabulary, but each craft has its own set of tools and actions. Let's break them down.

Common Vocabulary for Both Crafts

Before you pick up needles or a hook, these words apply to yarn crafts in general:

• Yarn: The thread you work with. It comes in different weights (thickness) and fibers (wool, cotton, acrylic).
• Skein (pronounced "skane"): A coiled bundle of yarn. A typical pattern might say "you need 2 skeins of worsted weight yarn."
• Gauge: The number of stitches and rows per inch. Getting the right gauge ensures your finished piece matches the pattern size.
• Pattern: Written instructions for making something. Patterns use abbreviations to save space.
• Swatch: A small practice piece you make to check your gauge before starting the real project.
• Weave in ends: Tucking the loose yarn tails into your work so they don't unravel.

One confusing thing: in British English, "knitting" sometimes refers to both crafts, while American English keeps them separate. A "crochet hook" in the US is a "crochet needle" in the UK. Just something to watch for.

Knitting-Specific Terms

Knitting uses two pointed needles. Here are the most common words you'll see:

• Cast on: Making the first row of stitches on your needle.
• Knit stitch (k): The basic stitch. You insert the right needle from front to back and pull the yarn through.
• Purl stitch (p): The reverse of the knit stitch. Learning this opens up many patterns.
• Stockinette stitch: Alternating one row of knit, one row of purl. Creates that classic smooth V-shaped fabric.
• Ribbing: Alternating knit and purl in the same row. Used for cuffs and necklines because it stretches.
• Bind off (or cast off): Finishing your work so it doesn't unravel.
• Needle size: Typically given in millimeters (US sizes are different). A pattern might say "use 5mm needles."

Crochet-Specific Terms

Crochet uses a single hooked tool. The vocabulary is different:

• Chain stitch (ch): The foundation of most crochet projects. You make a loop, pull yarn through, repeat.
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used to join pieces or move the hook without adding height.
• Single crochet (sc): The shortest and tightest basic stitch. Insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, pull through both loops.
• Double crochet (dc): A taller, looser stitch. Yarn over before inserting the hook.
• Turning chain (t-ch): Extra chains at the end of a row to bring the hook up to the right height for the next row.
• Hook size: Also in millimeters. A pattern might say "use a 5.5mm hook for this yarn."

Here's a quick comparison to help your eyes adjust.

Concept	Knitting term	Crochet term
Tool	Needle	Hook
Basic action	Knit	Single crochet
Reverse action	Purl	Reverse sc (rarely used)
Starting	Cast on	Chain + first row

Reading a Pattern: A Mini Exercise

Patterns are written in shorthand. Look at this sentence:

"Row 1: K1, P1 across."

If you know the terms above, you know this means "on row one, knit one stitch, then purl one stitch, repeating across the whole row."

Now try a crochet version:

"Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)."

That means "on round two, work two single crochet stitches into each stitch of the previous round. You should have 12 stitches when you finish."

See the pattern? The abbreviations stack up logically. If you get stuck, most patterns include a key at the beginning.

One Final Tip

Don't memorize every term at once. Start with one project – maybe a simple scarf for knitting or a washcloth for crochet. Write the abbreviations on a sticky note. After making one or two items, the vocabulary will stick naturally.

And if you find yourself reading patterns aloud to practice pronunciation, you're already improving your English. That's a double win.

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