Old Knitting Terms: A Glossary of Vintage Knitting Language

What Counts as an “Old” Knitting Term?

“Old knitting terms” is a loose category rather than a strictly defined one. It generally covers a few overlapping things: words and abbreviations used in older printed patterns (roughly pre-1970s or so) that have since become less common, regional or old-fashioned names for stitches and tools, and general knitting vocabulary that’s simply been around for a long time and can feel unfamiliar to newer knitters. Because knitting terminology has rarely been standardized across countries and eras, sources don’t always agree on exactly when a term fell out of use or where it originated, so this guide sticks to widely corroborated, general descriptions rather than precise dates.

Common Slang and Informal Terms Used in Knitting

What are some common slang terms used in knitting? Knitters, both past and present, have used a number of informal or affectionate terms for aspects of the craft. A few that show up often in knitting communities and older writing include:

• Frogging — ripping out stitches to undo work, from “rip it, rip it” sounding like a frog’s croak. This is a widely repeated bit of knitting folklore rather than a formally documented etymology, so it’s best treated as a popular explanation rather than a confirmed fact.
• Tink — unknitting stitches one at a time (the word “knit” spelled backward), as opposed to frogging a whole section at once.
• Yarn bombing — a more modern slang term for decorating public objects with knitted or crocheted pieces; included here because it’s commonly asked about alongside other knitting slang, even though it’s a recent term rather than an old one.
• WIP — a “work in progress,” meaning a project that’s been started but not finished.
• Stash — a knitter’s personal yarn collection, often used self-deprecatingly (“stash enhancement” for buying more yarn).
• Startitis — a humorous, informal term for the habit of starting new projects before finishing current ones.

Not all of these are strictly “old”; some are modern knitting-community slang. They’re grouped here because they commonly come up in searches about knitting slang generally.

Everyday Terms Used in Knitting (Old and Current)

What are some common terms used in knitting? Many basic knitting terms have stayed fairly stable over a long period, even if some have older variant names. Commonly used terms include:

• Cast on — creating the first row of stitches on the needle.
• Cast off / bind off — finishing a piece by securing the final row of stitches so it doesn’t unravel. “Cast off” is the more traditional British term, while “bind off” is more common in American usage, though both are still widely used today.
• Knit stitch and purl stitch — the two basic stitches that nearly all knitting is built from.
• Gauge (or tension, more common in British usage) — the number of stitches and rows per inch or centimeter, used to match a pattern’s intended sizing.
• Needles — generally referred to by size numbers, though older patterns sometimes use now-uncommon sizing systems (such as older UK or US numbering) that don’t map directly onto modern metric sizes without a conversion chart.
• Selvedge (or selvage) — the edge stitches of a knitted piece, often worked slightly differently to create a neater border; see our guide to the best selvedge stitch for seaming for common options.

10 Words Related to Knitting (With Plain-English Meanings)

What are 10 words related to knitting? Here’s a short list that mixes basic and slightly more old-fashioned terms:

1. Needle — the tool stitches are formed on; historically made from materials like bone, wood, or metal, and still made from similar materials today.
2. Yarn — spun fiber used for knitting, historically often wool, though many other fibers are used now.
3. Stitch — a single knitted loop, the basic unit of knitted fabric.
4. Row — one complete pass of stitches across the work.
5. Pattern — the written instructions for a project (also used to describe the resulting texture or design).
6. Swatch — a small test piece of knitting used to check gauge before starting a full project.
7. Rib (ribbing) — a stretchy stitch pattern made by alternating knit and purl stitches in columns, commonly used for cuffs and edges.
8. Purl — one of the two basic stitches, often described as the “reverse” of a knit stitch.
9. Increase / decrease — techniques for adding or removing stitches to shape a piece.
10. Block / blocking — a finishing step where a knitted piece is dampened or steamed and shaped before it’s considered complete; see our complete guide to wet blocking knitting for the full process.

Vintage Pattern Abbreviations You May Still See

Older knitting patterns, especially those printed before standardized conventions became common, sometimes use abbreviations or phrasing that can look unfamiliar. Some commonly seen examples include:

• K and P for knit and purl, which have stayed consistent across most eras of printed patterns.
• St(s) for stitch(es).
• Yo for “yarn over.”
• Sl for “slip” (a stitch).
• Older patterns may also use phrasing like “make 1” or spell out instructions in fuller sentences rather than the more compact abbreviation style common in many modern patterns. Because pattern conventions varied by publisher, era, and country, it’s worth checking for an abbreviation key at the start of any older pattern rather than assuming a given shorthand matches modern usage.

What People Knit in the 1800s

What did people knit in the 1800s? Based on general, widely available accounts of knitting history, hand-knitted items in the 1800s commonly included practical, everyday pieces: stockings and socks, mittens and gloves, shawls, and undergarments or warm layers such as vests. Knitting during this period was often a practical household skill rather than purely a hobby, and wool was a common fiber given its availability and warmth. Specific regional traditions (for example, certain stitch patterns or garment styles associated with particular areas) are often discussed in knitting history writing, but exact origins and dates for many of these traditions are disputed or not well documented, so they’re best treated as general traditions rather than precisely dated inventions.

FAQ

What are some common slang terms used in knitting? Examples include “frogging” (ripping out stitches), “tink” (unknitting stitch by stitch), “stash” (a knitter’s yarn collection), and “WIP” (work in progress).

What are some common terms used in knitting? Basic terms include cast on, cast off/bind off, knit stitch, purl stitch, gauge (or tension), and selvedge.

What are 10 words related to knitting? Needle, yarn, stitch, row, pattern, swatch, rib, purl, increase/decrease, and block/blocking are all common knitting-related words.

What did people knit in the 1800s? Commonly knitted items included stockings, socks, mittens, gloves, shawls, and warm undergarments or layers, generally made from wool for practical, everyday use.