Versed in the VOCABULARY

Like so many other hobbies, knitting has a vocabulary of its own. Words that are common in other interests often have a somewhat different meaning when used in connection with the craft. A cable is normally a strong cord or wire made out of rope or wire. In knitting it's used in reference to a certain type of twisted stitch pattern. A ladder is a tool for climbing up or down and consists of two sidebars connected by metal or wood rungs hung at regular intervals between them, but in knitting it's the gap in a knitted piece left by a stitch that has dropped several rows down into the work. Garter is a type of stitch, not something worn around a leg.

Abbreviations for certain actions often only add to the confusion, and are often unique to the pattern itself. Sk2p, wyif, m1p, and pfb are not typos that somehow slipped through the spellcheck on my computer but common knitting techniques or yarn positions used in many patterns.

When I first started knitting, such uncommon words and strange abbreviations intimidated me to the point that I wisely would not even attempt a pattern if I couldn't decipher the directions. Today there are so many internet helps and videos that trying something new is much easier, fun and educational.

Communication with others about one's current passion is difficult if they aren't versed in the vocabulary that goes with the territory. It's especially common among Christians who try to talk to unbelievers about their faith. Terms such as born again, slain in the spirit, anointed, and speaking in tongues rather than with tongues can be confusing and may cause the listener to abandon the subject completely rather than struggle to understand. Communication involves more than merely talking; it's connecting with another in a way that gets an idea across rather than sounding like so much gibberish.

“If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”

(1 Corinthians 14:11-12 NIV)