Reference
Knitting & Crochet Glossary
Plain-language definitions for the knitting and crochet terms used across Knittster's calculators. Each entry links back to the tools where the term matters most.
Following English-language patterns from international designers? Use our comprehensive bilingual craft translation reference charts:
Measurement
Gauge
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in a measured piece of knitting or crochet. It is what tells you whether your finished project will match the size in a pattern.
Swatch
A swatch is a small sample made with the yarn, stitch pattern, and needle or hook size you plan to use. Measuring a swatch is the safest way to check gauge before starting a full project.
Stitch Count
Stitch count is the number of stitches across a row, round, or section of fabric. It is often the number you adjust when sizing a project or matching a stitch multiple.
Row Gauge
Row gauge is the number of rows in a measured height of fabric. It matters most for length-sensitive shaping, such as armholes, sleeves, and pattern repeats worked over rows.
Stitches Per 4 Inches
Stitches per 4 inches is the common gauge format used on yarn labels and knitting or crochet patterns. It normalizes your stitch count so it can be compared directly to a pattern.
Blocking
Blocking means wetting, washing, steaming, or shaping finished fabric so it settles into its final size and texture. Some fibers and stitch patterns change gauge after blocking.
Yarn
Yarn Weight
Yarn weight describes the thickness category of a yarn, such as lace, fingering, sport, worsted, bulky, or jumbo. It affects gauge, yardage, drape, and suggested needle or hook size.
WPI
WPI means wraps per inch. It is found by wrapping yarn around a ruler for one inch and counting the wraps, which helps identify the yarn weight of unlabeled yarn.
Skein
A skein is a packaged unit of yarn. Yarn labels usually list both the weight and the total yardage or meterage for one full skein.
Yardage
Yardage is the length of yarn available or required for a project. Meterage is the same idea measured in meters instead of yards.
Safety Buffer
A safety buffer is extra yarn added to an estimate so you have room for swatches, seaming, tension differences, and small changes in project size.
Yarn Substitution
Yarn substitution means using a different yarn than the one named in a pattern. A good substitute should provide enough yardage, match gauge after swatching, and behave similarly in drape, stretch, fiber, and care.
Held-Together Yarn
Held-together yarn is made by working two or more strands at the same time as if they were one yarn. It creates a thicker fabric and can blend colors or fibers, but the final gauge still needs a swatch.
Sizing
Needle Size
Needle size is the diameter of a knitting needle. It can be written as a metric millimeter size, a US size, or a UK/Canadian size.
Hook Size
Hook size is the diameter of a crochet hook. Metric millimeters are the most precise size because letter and number systems vary by region.
Negative Ease
Negative ease means the finished item is smaller than the body measurement it fits. Hats often use negative ease so the fabric stretches and stays snug.
Armhole Depth
Armhole depth is the vertical distance from the underarm to the shoulder or upper body join. It affects sleeve fit, upper-body comfort, and how many rows are worked above the underarm.
Ease
Ease is the difference between a body measurement and the finished size of the item. Positive ease makes the item larger than the body; negative ease makes it smaller for a snug or stretchy fit.
Stitches
Cast-On
A cast-on is the starting edge of a knitting project. The cast-on stitch count determines the starting width or circumference of the piece.
Stitch Multiple
A stitch multiple is the repeat math for a stitch pattern, often written as a multiple of X plus Y. Your total stitch count has to fit that formula for the pattern to line up cleanly.
Stockinette
Stockinette is a common knitted fabric with smooth V-shaped stitches on the front and purl bumps on the back. It is often used as a baseline for yarn and gauge estimates.
Garter Stitch
Garter stitch is made by knitting every row when working flat. It creates a stretchy ridged fabric and generally uses more yarn than stockinette for the same area.
Single Crochet
Single crochet is a short, dense crochet stitch. Because it creates firm fabric, it often uses more yarn per square inch than taller crochet stitches.
Double Crochet
Double crochet is a taller crochet stitch that works up quickly and creates a more open fabric than single crochet. It usually uses less yarn per square inch than denser stitches.
Granny Square
A granny square is a crochet motif usually worked from the center outward in rounds. Multiple squares can be joined into blankets, bags, garments, and other modular projects.
C2C
C2C means corner-to-corner, a crochet method worked diagonally from one corner of the project to the opposite corner. Projects are usually planned in blocks rather than standard horizontal rows.
Stripe Pattern
A stripe pattern is the planned order and height of color changes across rows, rounds, or motifs. Planning stripes ahead of time helps balance colors and estimate how much yarn each color needs.
Shaping
Increase Evenly
To increase evenly means to add stitches at regular intervals across a row or round. Even spacing prevents the added stitches from bunching in one area.
Decrease Evenly
To decrease evenly means to remove stitches at regular intervals across a row or round. Even spacing keeps the shaping smooth and balanced.
Sleeve Shaping
Sleeve shaping is the planned increase or decrease sequence that changes sleeve width between the cuff and upper arm. It uses stitch gauge, row gauge, and target measurements to spread shaping smoothly.
Finishing
Finishing is the non-stitching work that turns pieces into a completed project, such as blocking, seaming, weaving in ends, attaching parts, and tidying edges. It can add meaningful time beyond the basic stitch count.