Glossary

The Glossary explains terms you’ll encounter in patterns, tutorials, or forums—without assuming prior knowledge. Each entry uses plain, everyday words and avoids jargon unless followed immediately by a plain-language explanation. For instance, ‘felicity’ (a term sometimes used for a specific stitch tension or style) is described in terms of how it feels: ‘a consistent, slightly springy tension that lets the fabric drape naturally without dragging or pulling.’

Entries often include usage notes: how the term shows up in patterns, whether it’s common in knitting or crochet, or how regional dialects might change its meaning. ‘Yarnover’, for example, gets a concise definition in both knitting and crochet contexts, plus a note like ‘don’t confuse with yarnover hole—that’s when it accidentally creates a lace eye’. This helps reduce confusion when terms overlap across crafts.

Most entries include a hint about what to watch for visually or in your hands. For ‘slip stitch’, it might say: ‘you’ll notice the new stitch sits above the old one with no twist; if it loops around, you’ve added a yarnover by mistake’. These sensory cues help learners trust their own hands and eyes, rather than relying solely on written instructions that might not match what they feel.