Fiber Arts Definitions

My friend, Maggie, isn’t a fiber artist, but she is super supportive of me as one!

She pointed out that we have some funny terms in fiber arts lingo, and she wanted to see, based on following my blog, how close she could get to defining these terms. Let’s see how she did!

Ply

As a noun, a single strand twisted together to make yarn

As a verb, to twist together multiple strands in order to make a stronger yarn

Maggie’s definition: This is the thickness of your yarn, since yarn is not a one-size-fits-all deal. You can also match that up with the size of your fiber instrument (knitting needle, crochet hook, other weapon of choice).

Gauge

The number of stitch per inch in your knit or crochet fabric

Maggie’s definition: The size of your fiber weapon! This matches up with the ply so your final project doesn’t look whack. 

Fingering

A weight of yarn, as classified by the Craft Yarn Council, also known as sock yarn

Maggie’s definition: Fingering is when you feel your yarn for softness. If it isn’t soft enough, you gotta… block it or something idk.

Stockinette

A knitting stitch consisting of alternate rows of knit and purl stitches

Maggie’s definition: Stockinettes are for when you want to knit an entire stocking, but give up halfway through because oh my god that’s so much work.

Jog

A vertical seam that appears at the end of one round of knitting and the start of the next

Maggie’s definition: Um… is this when there’s like, a bump in your stitching? Or when you’re on a roll and just cranking out projects?

Chain

A foundational stitch in crochet

Maggie’s definition: Chain is all the stitches you need to make for your project. So if the directions are like, “Knit 40 chains” then you gotta do the knit stitch thing 40 times.

Cake

A cylinder of wound yarn, usually off of a crank ball winder

Maggie’s definition: Cake is your reward for a finished fiber project! So glad to hear the fiber arts community recognizes such an important step.

Pick Up Stitches

Creating live stitches off of a fabric edge

Maggie’s definition: This is for when you miscounted your stitches, and instead of undoing all your work (because who has the time?!) you just pick it up later.

I gave her a bonus question, too! I knew the difference between US and UK crochet terms, but I just recently learned where the difference comes from: UK terminology of crochet stitches refers to the number of loops on your hook, while the US terminology refers to the number of yarnovers when pulling up your first loop. So I had to ask her, what’s the difference between US and UK crochet terms.

Her answer: The spelling. Obviously. 

I got a good chuckle from most of these. Hope you did, too!