Speaking Maker: The Shared Language of Knitting and Crochet
Every craft has its own vocabulary, but the fibre arts community has developed a particularly rich, humorous, and descriptive shorthand. Whether you have been making for decades or are just picking up a hook or needles for the first time, these terms are a source of shared comfort and a good laugh. They are the words that make us smile when we talk to other makers, representing the shared quirks of our craft.
These terms are more than just vocabulary; they are shared expressions of the physical and everyday realities of working with yarn. They help us connect, share our frustrations, and celebrate the small victories of the making process.
In this guide, we have compiled the most common terms you will encounter, arranged from project lifecycles to the art of undoing. Let us look at the vocabulary that brings us together as a community of makers.
The Lifecycle of a Project: From Cast-on to FO
We start our work with a plan, some natural plant-based fibre, and a hook or needles. Here is the shorthand makers use to track their progress.
OTN & WIP
- OTN (On The Needles): This refers specifically to the project you are actively working on at this very moment. If someone asks what is OTN, they want to know what project, stitch pattern or fibre is currently moving through your hands.
- WIP (Work in Progress): Any project that you have cast on or started, but have not yet completed. Most makers have multiple WIPs on the go, allowing them to choose a project that suits their current energy level, mood or situation. If you ever feel guilty about how many projects you have on the go, check out our guide on why it is healthy to have multiple active projects.
UFO & PHD
- UFO (Unfinished Object): A project that has been cast on but set aside, often for months or even years. Unlike an active WIP, a UFO is hibernating, waiting for you to find the inspiration to pick it back up.
- PHD (Projects Half Done): A lighthearted term for a maker's collection of incomplete works.
FO & FOTH
- FO (Finished Object): The ultimate goal of any maker. This is the completed garment, accessory, or homeware item after the final ends are woven in and the piece has been washed and blocked.
- FOTH & FOTN (Fresh Off The Hook / Fresh Off The Needles): The specific terms for completed crochet or knitting projects. They signal that the final stitch has just been made and the work is complete.
Second Sock Syndrome (SSS)
- Second Sock Syndrome (SSS): The common phenomenon where a maker finishes the first sock, sleeve, or mitten of a pair, and then loses the motivation to start the second. Since the design challenge is solved, knitting the duplicate can feel like a chore. Casting on both at the same time is a common strategy to avoid it.
The Art of Undoing: Dealing with Maker Mistakes
Making is rarely a straight line. Sometimes we have to backtrack, and the community has created specific terms for the physical act of undoing our stitches.
Tink
- Tink: This is simply the word "knit" spelled backwards. It describes the process of undoing your work stitch by stitch, slowly slipping the needle back into the previous row to correct a mistake. It is a slow, careful action that keeps your stitches secure.
Frog & Toad
- Frog (or Frogging): The act of ripping out several rows of stitches all at once. We call it frogging because when you pull the yarn to unravel it, you "rip it, rip it"—which sounds just like a frog croaking. It can feel daunting, but trusting the process and starting fresh is often the best way to get a neat result.
- Toad: A step beyond frogging. This stands for Trashed Object Abandoned in Disgust. This is a project where a mistake was so frustrating or structural that you decided to abandon it completely, sometimes setting it aside without even unraveling the yarn.
Ramen Yarn & Yarn Barf
- Ramen Yarn: The crinkled, wavy yarn that is left over after you "frog" a project. It resembles instant ramen noodles in shape and texture, though it can easily be smoothed out by steam-blocking or washing the hank.
- Yarn Barf: The tangled, messy clump of yarn that accidentally gets pulled out from the centre of a ball or skein when you are trying to find the starting strand. It takes patience to untangle, but winding it neatly is the best way to restore order.
Stash and Resource Management
The yarn we collect is just as important as the projects we make. Here is how makers talk about their materials.
The Stash & Yarnies
- Stash: A maker's personal collection of yarn - any colour, weight or fibre. If your collection is starting to feel a bit overwhelming, you can read our guide on taming the stash for tips on keeping your space intentional and organised.
- Yarnie: A passionate lover of yarn and fibre. A yarnie appreciates the tactile qualities of different spins and the drape of natural fibres.
SABLE & Stash-Busting
- SABLE (Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy): The humorous state of having accumulated more yarn than you could realistically knit or crochet in a lifetime.
- Stash-Busting: Designing or choosing patterns specifically to use up the leftover balls of yarn in your stash. It is a wonderful way to reduce waste and create colourful, unique projects from oddments.
Yarn Chicken
- Yarn Chicken: A self-imposed game of chance. You play yarn chicken when you are near the end of a project or row and are unsure if your remaining yarn will last. You knit or crochet as fast as you can, hoping to bind off or finish before you run out of yarn. If you find yourself in this situation often, you might want to look at our guide on yarn chicken winner: efficient stitches to help you get the most out of your remaining yarn.
Squishy Mail & Destash
- Squishy Mail: A package of yarn that arrives in the post. It is a playful term used because new skeins of plant fibres are soft, yielding, and squishy to the touch when the package is delivered.
- Destash: The intentional process of sorting through your collection and selling, gifting, or donating the yarn you no longer plan to use. It is a key practice in maintaining an organised, sustainable workspace.
Community and Public Making
Crafting is often a social activity, whether online or out in the world.
LYS
- LYS (Local Yarn Store): The local independent shop where you buy your yarn, patterns, and tools. A good LYS is a hub for local makers, offering advice, community, and high-quality, natural materials.
CAL & KAL
- CAL / KAL (Crochet-Along / Knit-Along): A community event where makers work on the same pattern at the same time, sharing their progress, choosing colours, and helping each other troubleshoot.
CIP & KIP
- CIP / KIP (Crochet in Public / Knit in Public): The act of bringing your work out into the world. Making in cafes, parks, or on public transport is a great way to start conversations and show others the beauty of handmade crafts.
Yarn Bombing
- Yarn Bomb (or Yarn Bombing): A form of street art where public structures, such as lamp posts, trees, or benches, are covered in colourful knitted or crocheted patches. It is a playful way to bring texture and colour to urban environments.
Finding Joy in the Language of Making
Whether you are tinking a mistake, playing yarn chicken, or planning your next stash-busting KAL, these terms connect us to a rich history of crafting. The vocabulary we use reflects the patience, humour, and dedication that goes into every single stitch.
Taking the time to understand these terms helps us feel part of a global community of makers. Next time you have to frog a project, remember that every maker has been there, and the process of starting over is simply a natural part of the journey.
FAQs
- What is the difference between frogging and tinking? Tinking is undoing your work stitch by stitch, which is slow and controlled. Frogging is slipping the project off the needles or hook and pulling the yarn to rip out multiple rows at once.
- Is a Toad the same as a UFO? No, a UFO (Unfinished Object) is a project you plan to finish eventually but have paused. A Toad (Trashed Object Abandoned in Disgust) is a project you have completely given up on due to frustration or mistakes.
- What does playing yarn chicken mean? It means continuing to knit or crochet when you are very close to finishing a row or project, but are unsure if you will run out of yarn before reaching the end.
- What is SABLE? SABLE stands for Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy. It describes a yarn stash that is too large to be used up in the maker's lifetime.
- Why is it called frogging? It is a play on words: when you unravel your stitches, you "rip it, rip it," which sounds like a frog croaking "ribbit, ribbit".
- What are CIP and KIP? They stand for Crochet in Public and Knit in Public, referring to the practice of crafting in community spaces like parks or cafes.
- What is a CAL or KAL? These stand for Crochet-Along and Knit-Along, which are community events where makers work on the same pattern simultaneously.
- How can I avoid SABLE? You can avoid SABLE by practising mindful stash organisation, focusing on purchasing only what you need for specific projects, and planning regular stash-busting projects to use up left-over materials.
- What are FOTH and FOTK? FOTH stands for Fresh Off The Hook (for crochet) and FOTK stands for Fresh Off The Needles (for knitting). Both describe a newly completed project.
- Can any fibre be stash-busted? Yes, any leftover natural fibres like organic cotton, linen, or bamboo can be combined in creative ways for smaller accessories, homewares, or striped projects.
- What is Second Sock Syndrome? It is the lack of motivation to knit the second sock, sleeve, or mitten of a pair after finishing the first. It can be overcome by casting on both at the same time on circular needles.
- Can I reuse ramen yarn immediately? It is best to wind it into a skein, wash or steam it, and let it dry to remove the crinkles. This ensures your tension remains consistent when you re-knit or re-crochet the fibre.