Crafting Knitting and Crochet 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'blocking' a finished knit or crochet project?
- Wetting or steaming a finished piece and shaping it to its final dimensions while it dries to even out stitches and set the shape (Correct answer)
- Securing yarn ends so they don't unravel
- Adding a border to finish raw edges
- Measuring gauge before beginning a project
Correct answer: Wetting or steaming a finished piece and shaping it to its final dimensions while it dries to even out stitches and set the shape
Blocking relaxes the fibers, evens out uneven tension, opens up lace patterns, and allows the piece to dry in its correct finished dimensions.
Question 2: What is a 'decrease' in knitting and why is it used?
- A technique that reduces the number of stitches on the needle, used to shape garments and form points in shaping (Correct answer)
- Adding extra yarn to increase row height
- Slipping a stitch from one needle to another without working it
- A method for joining two pieces of knitting together
Correct answer: A technique that reduces the number of stitches on the needle, used to shape garments and form points in shaping
Decreases like K2tog (knit two together) or SSK (slip, slip, knit) reduce stitch count, allowing knitters to taper sleeves, shape necklines, and form angled edges.
Question 3: What does 'amigurumi' refer to in crochet?
- A Japanese style of crocheting small stuffed animals and characters, typically worked in the round with single crochet stitches (Correct answer)
- A lace crochet pattern originating in Japan
- A type of Japanese yarn made from bamboo fiber
- A crochet hook style with an ergonomic wooden handle
Correct answer: A Japanese style of crocheting small stuffed animals and characters, typically worked in the round with single crochet stitches
Amigurumi (Japanese: 編みぐるみ) are the small, cute stuffed toys crocheted using tight single crochet worked in a continuous spiral, creating seamless three-dimensional figures.
Question 4: What is 'frogging' in knitting or crochet slang?
- Unraveling stitches to rip out mistakes — named because you 'rip it, rip it' like a frog croaks (Correct answer)
- Joining two pieces of fabric together
- Finishing a project border with a fringe edge
- A method of fixing dropped stitches without unraveling
Correct answer: Unraveling stitches to rip out mistakes — named because you 'rip it, rip it' like a frog croaks
Frogging means pulling the yarn to unravel rows or rounds of work back to a mistake, humorously named for the frog sound 'ribbit' resembling 'rip it, rip it.'
Question 5: What is a 'lifeline' in knitting, particularly useful in lace knitting?
- A smooth waste yarn threaded through all live stitches at a known-correct row, allowing safe unraveling to that point if a mistake occurs later (Correct answer)
- A guide thread that marks the center of a pattern repeat
- An extra strand of yarn held double to reinforce fragile lace stitches
- A length of yarn used to measure row height
Correct answer: A smooth waste yarn threaded through all live stitches at a known-correct row, allowing safe unraveling to that point if a mistake occurs later
A lifeline gives knitters a safety net by marking a verified correct row — if a mistake appears later, they can frog back only to the lifeline without losing all their work.
Question 6: What type of crochet hook is recommended for beginners learning crochet?
- A size 5mm (H/8) ergonomic aluminum or plastic hook paired with medium-weight (worsted) yarn (Correct answer)
- A 1mm steel hook for thread crochet
- A 10mm or larger hook for bulky projects
- A Tunisian crochet hook with a long shaft and stopper
Correct answer: A size 5mm (H/8) ergonomic aluminum or plastic hook paired with medium-weight (worsted) yarn
A medium 5mm hook with worsted weight yarn offers the easiest-to-see stitches and comfortable handling, making it the standard starting point recommended by most crochet instructors.
Crafting Knitting and Crochet 2
What is 'blocking' a finished knit or crochet project?