Excited to show off your latest FO, HOTH? Yearning for a trip to your LYS? Too many WIP’s have you down? Not sure what all this means, or how frogs factor into crochet? Come along with me as we go over some of the fun, crochet slang terms, acronyms or lingo that are commonly used in crochet blogs or groups.*
What is frogging in crochet?
One of the most asked about crochet slang terms is “frogging”, and while it’s not an acronym, it’s common enough that I’ll cover it here too. 🐸 Frogging refers to having to rip out, or undo your hard work. It could be a few rows of a blanket**, or an entire cowl**.
Frogs don’t typically associate with yarn, you say, so why is it called frogging? Because of the sound “rip-it, rip-it” makes when you say those words quickly! Personally, I think the sound of ripping sounds more like a cat purr, but that’s beside the point. On to the list, and their explanations!
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Crochet Slang Terms Explained:
Word abbreviations have been around since the early days of the internet and seem to have only grown in popularity, especially among the younger generations. If you spend any time in online crochet groups you’ve almost certainly come across many of these fun crochet slang terms before, and if you’ve ever stopped to wonder what having a SABLE was (note: it’s not an antelope in this case) you’re in the right place!
HOTH/FOTH = Hot off the hook/fresh off the hook
The piece you just finished, and are excited to show off.
C2C = Corner to corner
Crochet squares or blankets that are worked on the diagonal, and often use graphs to create an image. They also have a million and one ends to weave in, so crochet at your own risk.
CAL = Crochet-a-long
A group of people crocheting the same pattern at the same time. It’s like a crafting circle, but online, and with emojis! 😀😍🎁
LYS = Local Yarn Shop
Where you could spend all your time and money.
WIP = Work in progress
What you’ve either been pouring your heart and soul into for weeks, or what’s been sitting in your projects basket, or bag for months.
FO = finished object
What your hoping your WIP turns into.
UFO = Unfinished object
Similar to a WIP. This one might be destined to the donation pile.
PHD = projects half-done
I have many PHD’s in crochet. Unfortunately they don’t come with a cap and gown, or a diploma.
TOAD = Trashed object abandoned in disgust
Things have to be pretty bad for this to happen. I recommend a trip to the LYS to help you cool down.
SABLE = Stash accumulated beyond life expectancy
What any die-hard crocheter has hidden away in their craft room, or attic. If you relate, take a look at this picture. I need one for my craft room, and you might too!
OCD = Obsessive crocheting disorder
What lead to all those WIP’s, UFO’s, PHD’s, and trips to the LYS.
PIGS = Projects in grocery sacks
May take up most of the available free floor space in your craft room, or is that just me?
NCR = Not crochet related
Be careful of this kind of conversation in crochet groups. Some allow it and some don’t.
ISO = In search of
This may be the perfect skein of yarn, comfortable crochet hooks, your scissors, or a pattern (see also TIA)
CROJO = Crochet mojo
Also what you could be ISO.
PABLE = Patterns accumulated beyond life expectancy
SO. MANY. PRETTY. PATTERNS! Gotta have them all!
YAP = Yet another project
…And another. Oh! and another! Hey look, it’s another… May be caused by Crochet-DD.
Crochet-DD = Crochet ADD
The inability to focus on your current WIP’s, PHD’s, and UFO’s because there’s just so much pretty pattern inspiration out there! Pinterest may be the underlying culprit.
TALC = Take a-long crochet
A crochet project (or 20) that you take with you on trips. May require their own separate suitcase. <–This one is so cute!
Want to find out what successful crocheters do that is different than you? The industry’s top crochet bloggers share some tips for improving your crochet quality, over here.
Crochet slang terms on blogs or social media/Facebook
DH/SO = Dear Husband/Significant Other
Your other half who is your hat tester (he might even be willing to model your work, occasionally), and patiently/begrudgingly accepts your growing piles of PIGS, but wishes he could forget that this crochet hobby was a “thing”. Mostly he just misses having free storage space, and secretly cries when tripping over yarn as he’s getting dressed every morning.
FS = For Sale
eg: My DH (or SO) says I have too many hats/scarves/blankets laying around. Please buy my new pretty so I don’t get in any more trouble! 🤣
TIA = Thank you In Advance
eg: I’ve been looking all over the ‘net for this blasted pattern and am about to tear my hair out/ugly cry. HALP!? TIA.
DD/DS = Dear Daughter/Dear Son
The sweet little people you have created that are forever playing in your stash, and misplacing those hooks that you are always ISO. Also hat/scarf testers and models.
MIL/FIL/BIL/SIL = Mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law
These are the lucky recipients of your crochet pieces. May also be talked into modeling, or providing good reviews of your work to others.
CIP/KIP = Crochet in public/knit in public
Share your love of crochet with everyone around you on National Crochet/Knit in Public Day (June 12, 2021)! Or be a rebel and do it the other 364 days of the year.
Now that you know some of the most popular crochet slang terms, go out and abbreviate in style!
If you have a favorite PG crochet-related slang acronyms that I didn’t mention, please comment below, and let me know! This article doesn’t cover stitch abbreviations, though I do plan to do that in a future blog post.
*There is more crochet lingo that I haven’t covered here, but in the interest of trying to keep things clean and above board, I’ve omitted it.
**These link to projects that I actually had to frog some, or all of the project, when first making them! Designers—we’re just like you.
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