You Say Poe-Tay-Toe? We Say Pah-Tah-Toe!
May 5, 2025
May Reflection: Separated by a Common Language
As if crochet, knitting & needlepoint aren’t hard enough, someone decided to use the same words for different things & different words for the same things. To paraphrase Nate Bargatze (comedian), we understand the words being said but we don’t know what they mean. It’s easy to get confused, especially if you’re self-taught so we thought we’d highlight some confusing terms.
Same Words, Different Meanings:
Crochet: US & UK basic crochet terms mean different things. The US uses single crochet (SC) & the UK uses double crochet (DC) for the same stitch, also, the US uses DC where the UK uses treble crochet (TC).
Knitting: Yarn over (YO) in crochet is part of half double crochet (HDC), DC & TC but a YO in knitting is creates a new stitch.
Different Words, Same Meaning:
Crochet: Tunisian crochet & Afghan crochet are the same technique.
Knitting: Yarn over (YO), yarn around (YRN) both indicate you’re creating a stitch. The US term is usually YO, regardless of whether you’re adding a stitch before a purl and yarn forward (YF), but the UK term is often YRN.
When finishing a project, you bind off, but some knitters call this a cast off.
When you knit on one side & purl on the other, the US term is stockinette, but the UK term is stocking stitch.
Stockinette can also be called reverse stockinette; they produce the same fabric! However, where stockinette usually means the knit stitches are on the right side (RS), reverse stockinette means the purl stitches are on the RS.
English style knitting (yarn in the right hand) is also known as throwing.
Needlepoint: Continental & Basketweave stitches look the same but use different process.
No matter the term, our goal is to help you get what you need. If you’re unsure what term to use or what the pattern means, come see us!
Stitch on!
Coming Attractions!
Friday, 5/9: Friday Night Craving – Feed Your Need for Stitching!
Saturday, 5/10: Zorn Junction Trunk Show
Sunday, 5/11: Mother’s Day - CLOSED
Saturday, 5/17: Spinner Saturday