Knitting Jargon and Knitting Help

Jargon is that shorthand language that allows people who are like-minded or work in the same fields to communicate clearly yet succinctly with one another both verbally or in written form. Every specialty field uses it's own lingo and of course knitting is no different. Pattern designers use abbreviations in the instructions to cut down on the size of knitting pattern books, and even when a pattern is digitally distributed abbreviations continue to be used because they've become so ubiquitous.

Like any other jargon, if you know the abbreviations you're fine, if you don't you are left in the dark wondering what is being said. Add to that the fact, as I've mentioned on several occasions, the English-speaking knitting world uses different terms and thus different abbreviations to represent the same thing. It can be very confusing, but doesn't have to be.

These are called knitting eye tests

Each one of these eye charts uses abbreviations that most intermediate knitters could explain because they are familiar. However, if you aren't so lucky as to already know what they mean, here's a link to a very comprehensive knitting abbreviation glossary put together by Knitting Help.com. In fact, this is a great website to bookmark if you knit because not only does it tell you what an abbreviation means, it also offers free videos on how to accomplish most of those stitches as well. Plus there's patterns, a forum and other good stuff. I've personally referred to this website often and highly recommend it to you.

And my final thought today about knitters.

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Anatomy of a Sock

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Flagel Knitting Files

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