Knitting: Principles: General knitting concepts
This principle has as a goal to ensure that I use a consistent nomenclature throughout.
The text should generally use the following nouns (rather than other similar descriptions):
“elastic” (or “elasticity”): When describing if a rib/texture stretches.
“length”: When describing the total number of stitches in a row or a part thereof. We should always specify the unit (“stitches”). It is OK to give a number of stitches (without mentioning “length”) when this is clear. Examples:
- “Each row should have a length of 4n stitches.”
- “This section measures 30 stitches.”
“DPNs”: Every mention of double-point-needles should be given in this abbreviation.
“in the round”: To describe the act of knitting in the round (e.g., with DPNs).
“flat”: To describe the act of knitting “back-and-forth” (as opposed to “in the round”).
“texture”: To describe a row-by-row sequence of stitches such as Stockinette, Mistake Rib, or Seed stitch. In other contexts, “pattern” is used; in this context, “pattern” must NOT be used for this meaning.
“K” or “P”: To describe a single knit or purl stitch. Specifically, the word “knit” or “purl” should not appear with this meanning (it is OK for “knit” to appear when the meaning is not an individual stitch movement).