Crochet Slang
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Get a bunch of crocheters together and they’re bound to come up with their own language. If you’ve spent anytime in an online crochet group, maybe you’ve run across these abbreviations and crochet slang. Here’s the lingo you need to know.
Ami – Amigurumi
Bistitchual – Someone who crochets and knits
C2C – Corner to Corner crochet technique
CAL – Crochet-A-Long
CROJO – Crochet Mojo
De-Stash – Reducing the size of your yarn hoard
FO – Finished Object
FOTH – Fresh Off The Hook
Freehand, Freeform, Freestyle – Making a project without a pattern
Frog (Frogging) – “Rip It, Rip It, Rip It”; to rip out rows or rounds
HOTH – Hot Off The Hook
HSPY – Haven’t Started Project Yet
ISO – In Search Of
JAYGO – Join As You Go
JOTH – Just Off The Hook
LYS – Local Yarn Store
MAM – Mile A Minute Afghan
MGBTC – Must Get Back To Crocheting
OCD – Obsessive Crocheting Disorder
PABLE – Pattern Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy
Pat/Patt – Pattern
PHD – Projects Half Done
PIGS – Projects in Grocery Sacks
SABLE – Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy
STASH – Special Treasures All Secretly Hidden
TALC – Take Along Crochet
TIA – Thanks In Advance
TOAD – Trashed Object Abandoned In Disgust
UFO – Unfinished Object
USO – Unstarted Object
WIP – Work In Progress
WIVSP – Work in Very Slow Progress
YAP – Yet Another Project
Yarn Barf – Tangled mess of yarn (as from the center of a skein)
Yarn Bomb – Crochet or Knit decorative art in a public location
Yarn Chicken – Attempting to finish row/project with last bit of yarn
YART – Yarn Acquisition Road Trip
Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments and I’ll keep adding to our list!
I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Thanks for this list. A lot of them I’ve never heard. Now I know!!!
Just learned a new one: jaygo-join as you go
That’s a good one… I added it!
I have heard another word: Yarn vomit = yarn barf= tangaled mess of yarn. Don’t know whether this is widely used in US or UK.
YEMM – Your eyes might melt.
This made me laugh and laugh! Thanks!
I have a few TOADs – glad to know I’m not alone!
What is that awful thick blob of roving-like stuff in the middle of a skein? it always appears only when you haven’t taken the time to rewind the yarn into your own ball or cake. It has to be related to the dreaded knot. What are these yarn-oopses called?
I think most call that yarn barf! But you could pop into our Facebook Group and ask there! If there’s another name, I will add it to our list!
How about a yarn headache