MATERIALS & TOOLS
Ply
A strand of fibre that can be spun together
with other plies to form a yarn (e.g. some
4ply yarn is made from four strands).
Post
The upright ‘post’ of a stitch. Some
patterns might ask you to insert the hook
around the post of the stitch on the
previous row, and work a stitch here.
Reverse shaping
To work a pattern in the mirror image of
any previous shaping, such as on the left
and right front of a cardigan. For example,
to mirror increase stitches at the end of a
row, you’d need to increase at the start of
a row.
Right side
The ‘public-facing’ side of an item, such as
the outside of a sweater or hat.
Round
The name for a row of stitches when
crocheting in the round. These can create
a flat fabric (such as a disc) or a tubular
fabric (such as a sleeve).
Row
A series of stitches that runs the width of
your fabric. Lengthening or shortening
rows by increasing or decreasing the
number of stitches will shape the item.
Row counter
A device that helps you to keep track of
how many rows or rounds you have worked
so far.
Skein
(see hank)
Skip a stitch
An instruction in patterns, which means
you do not work into this stitch but move
on to the next one. You may also see it
called ‘miss a stitch’.
Slipknot
The most commonly used way to start
your crochet fabric. This knot creates a
secure loop of yarn, from which you can
work your chains.
Slip stitch
More of a technique than a stitch, it’s used
to join areas of the crochet fabric, often
the last stitch to the first stitch in a round.
Stash
A crocheter’s collection of yarn, needles
and notions.Stitch
One individual crochet stitch, including the
post of the stitch and the top two loops,
which form a neat v-shape. Usually, you’ll
insert the hook under these two loops to
work the next stitch.Stitch marker
A tool used to denote important places in
your crochet. This could be the start of a
round or spiral, an important area of
shaping or a pattern repeat. Often a clasp
or spiral of plastic.Surface crochet
Crochet stitches that are worked on top of
crocheted fabric to create details and
‘draw’ designs onto finished crochet items.Swift
A rotating device that holds a hank or skein
of yarn while it’s being wound into a ball
(either by hand or by using a ball winder).Tail e n d
The loose, short end of the yarn you’re
using – as opposed to the ball end, which
runs back to the ball of yarn you’re using.Ta p e s tr y cro ch et
A colourwork technique that creates
interesting designs using two or three
colours of yarn. The non-working shade is
carried across the back of the fabric.
Variations on this technique are intarsia,
Fair Isle, mosaic and jacquard crochet.Tension
The number of stitches and rows that a
given combination of yarn weight and hook
size should create. You need to get your
tension correct to ensure that the finished
object is the right size.Treble crochet
One of the most used crochet stitches. It’s
fairly tall and lacy.Triple treble crochet
A very lacy crochet stitch, taller than a
double treble crochet.Turning chain
A series of chains worked at the beginning
of a row or round, to bring the hook up to
the right height for working the stitches in
that row or round. Different stitches are
different heights, so you need a different
number of chains to form the turning chain
for different stitches.Weaving in ends
The process of tidying up your finished
item and securing loose ends by weaving
them into the back of the crochet fabric.WIP
Short for ‘work in progress’ – any project
that you’ve started but not yet finished.Work straight
An instruction you may see in patterns,
which means to continue a series of rows
in a pattern without increasing or
decreasing. Also known as ‘work even’.Working yarn
The strand of yarn currently in use (most
likely to be mentioned in colourwork
patterns where colours are swapped in
and out).Wrong side
The side of your item that will be the back
(or the inside) once it’s finished. This won’t
usually be on show.Yarn
Any fibre that’s been spun into a strand so
it can be crocheted with. The word ‘yarn’
is often used instead of ‘wool’ in order to
distinguish actual wool from other types!Yarn round hook
A key crochet technique to learn. The
process of moving the hook so the yarn
wraps around hook in an anti-clockwise
(RH) or clockwise (LH) direction. Used to
create all crochet stitches. Also called yarn
over hook.Yarn weight
How thick a yarn is. Thicker yarns require
larger hooks, and thinner yarns require
smaller hooks, unless you want a lacier
effect for a specific pattern.