Sometimes in forum communication you may come across some interesting lingo and slang. Do you sometimes fail to keep up with the conversation? Want to learn and communicate further, but stopped at a lot of obscure jargon.
Don't worry, this article has put together a guide to the jargon abbreviations and phrases you may need to master while crocheting, to help you get rid of the confusion of reading and communicating, and to have more fun.
Available for download/printing: Link for download.
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Crochet Slang |
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TERM |
DESCRIPTION |
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AMI |
Amigurumi, which is a small knitted or crocheted toy. |
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BISTITCHUAL |
Someone who both knits and crochets. |
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Bobbin |
Different from a ball or skein, a bobbin describes yarn that is wound much like that of a sewing thread bobbin - normally wound around a spool. |
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Blocking |
Blocking is a finishing technique used with crocheted or knitted items to ensure your crochet fabric lies flat and to the desired final measurements. |
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C2C |
Corner-to-Corner, a type of crocheting where projects are worked diagonally via graphs to create images. |
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CAL |
Crochet Along, which is when crocheters work on parts of a crochet project together as a group. |
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Clown barf |
When bright variegated yarn pools in an unattractive pattern. |
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Clusters |
Clusters is a generic term for a group of stitches together -in the same place. Often used to create a semi-circle/shell style effect, clusters can be made up of any number of stitches. |
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Crochet-hacking |
It follows the 'make do and mend' ethos, and describes taking an old garment or item of clothing and using crochet to update it and give it new life. |
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Crojo |
A portmanteau term referring to your crochet 'mojo' - your enthusiasm or energy for something. |
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Destash |
Sorting your stash (see below) in order to swap, sell, donate or discard unwanted yarns. |
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DH |
Dear hubby |
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Drape |
The term drape describes how a piece of fabric hangs, can also be thought of as describing how flexible a fabric is. |
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Embellish |
Embellishing a project is similar to crochet-hacking, where you add some crochet to a garment or item. |
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FO |
Finished Object |
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FOTH |
When a crochet project is "Fresh off the Hook" |
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FREEFORM, FREEHAND, or FREESTYLE |
Crocheting without a pattern and just making it up as you go. |
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FROG, or FROGGING |
Frogging is the act of undoing your crochet, so-called because you ‘rip-it, rip-it’ like the onomatopoeic frog’s sound. |
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FS |
An item that is "For Sale" |
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Halo |
The halo of a yarn is the description for the 'fuzziness' or 'fluffiness' of the loose fibres on a yarn.. |
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HOOKER |
One who crochets... with a hook. |
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HOTH |
When a project is "Hot off the Hook" |
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HSPY |
Haven't Started Project Yet |
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ISO |
"In Search Of", used when you are looking for a specific yarn or pattern. |
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JAYGO |
Join As You GO |
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LYS |
Local Yarn Store |
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MAM |
Mile-a-minute technique |
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Magic ring |
Sometimes also called 'Magic Loop', 'Magic Circle', 'Drawstring Loop' or 'Adjustable loop'. It allows you to create your first round of stitches and then tighten the loop so there is no visible hole in the centre of your round. |
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MGBTC |
must get back to crocheting |
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NCR |
Not Crochet Related |
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Neps |
Neps is a term referring to matted or tangled clumps or fibres within a yarn. |
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OCD |
Obsessive Crocheting Disorder |
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PAT |
Shorthand for "Crochet Pattern" |
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PHD |
Project Half Done |
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Picot |
A picot is a small loop of chains, which is normally used for decorative effect. |
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PIGS |
Projects in grocery sacks |
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Pills |
Pills (or what might be more commonly known as bobbles) are little clumps of fibres that develop on a fabric due to agitation (for example, after repeated washing). |
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PIW |
Project in Waiting, as in when a project has not been started yet. |
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Post stitches |
Post stitches refers to whether you insert your hook 'around the post' of the stitch from the front or the back of the fabric, which helps to give a raised texture to crochet fabric. |
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Sable |
An acronym for 'Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy'. |
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Skein |
Skeins are usually made by the yarn being wound in large loops, which are then tied together and twisted into what we call a skein. This is normally used on hand spun or hand dyed yarns. |
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STASH |
All your yarn, a yarn pile, or accumulation of way too much yarn. |
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Stashbusting |
The practice of intentionally making things using yarn from your stash in an attempt to tame it. |
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STASHBUSTER |
A project that uses up leftover yarn. |
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TIA |
"Thanks in Advance", used when you ask a question online and say thank you in advance. |
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UFO |
Unfinished Project |
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USO |
Unstarted Project (Same as a PIW) |
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WIP |
"Work in Progress", which is a crochet project that you are currently still working on. |
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YARN BARF |
The mess that comes out of the middle of the yarn ball or skein when you try to pull the center out. |
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YARN BOMB |
A decorative yarn piece that is crocheted or knit, and placed in public. |
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YARN CHICKEN |
The act of trying to finish a row or project before running out of yarn. |
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YARN CAKE |
When you re-wind a skein of yarn using a yarn winder tool. |
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YARN VOMIT |
See the definition for yarn barf |
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YARNIE |
Someone who loves to crochet or knit with yarn. |
That's some of the interesting jargon we've collected and sorted out. How do you feel? Isn't that amazing! The language that used to be "encrypted" suddenly became lively and interesting.
May every "Hooker" spend every crochet project happily accompanied by Yeezhee.
KOCO (Keep On Crochetin' On)!!
Yeezhee
