Back to Basics: Knitting Terms
Review the most basic of knitting terms for the ultra beginner
I've written on knitting terms before, but I've never sat down and thought about the knitting terms an absolute beginner faces -- until now. My best friend is just learning to knit, and she called me up in a panic demanding to know all sorts of things I figured were common knowledge. Turns out common knowledge to a 20 year knitter isn't necessarily common after all!
So without further ado, here are some very basic knitting terms for the absolute beginner...
Yarn:
Yeah yeah, I know, you think you know what yarn is, at least. But yarn is not synonymous with wool. Yarn refers to anything you can knit with; it can be made of cotton, wool, acrylics, nylon, or any other fabric. Wool, on the other hand, is actually from animals (not always, but often, sheep -- alpaca wool is also common). If your pattern calls for wool, you must make sure you are using wool yarn and no other.Gauge:
Ah, gauge -- the step most commonly skipped. I'm guilty of it, too. When you see "gauge" on a pattern, it refers to casting on a certain number of stitches (the pattern tells you how many) and knitting a certain number of rows (ditto). The result should measure a certain number of inches square.If you're a slow knitter, or excited to get onto your project, it's tempting to skip this step, but that can be a disaster, especially if you're knitting clothing or something else that needs to, well, fit. This is one of the most basic knitting terms, and I'm sorry to say it's one you'll need to know.
Needles:
Again, this seems pretty common sensical, right? And it is -- I'm sure you can go into any store and find the knitting needles perfectly easily. But it's worth understanding the different kinds of knitting needles. The most common are:-Plastic: These are the most common by far. Some like them because they're easier to use and don't have pointy ends to jab your fingers.
-Metal: These are also quite common, and very traditional. Metal needles are cold and hard, but many people find they slip more easily and you can knit more quickly with them.
-Bamboo: My personal favorite, bamboo is a warm, comforting sort of material to have in your hands, but it knits just as nicely as metal.
You'll have to come to your own choices, though.
So just those three words give you enough to be getting on with, don't they? I bet you didn't think such simple knitting terms could be so complicated!