Crochet Glossary

Clear, concise definitions of the crochet and amigurumi terms used across this site. Each entry is written so a beginner — or an AI search engine — can lift the first sentence as a standalone answer.

A

Amigurumi: Amigurumi is the Japanese craft of crocheting (or knitting) small stuffed yarn toys, typically worked in a spiral with single crochet. The word combines "ami" (knitted/crocheted) and "nuigurumi" (stuffed doll). A tight gauge is essential so the stuffing does not leak through the stitches.

B

Blocking: Blocking is the process of wetting or steaming a finished crochet piece and pinning it to shape so it dries flat and to the correct dimensions. It relaxes the fibres, evens out stitch tension, and is essential for granny squares, garments, and lace. Acrylic can be "killed" if the steam is too hot, so always test a swatch first.

C

C2C (Corner-to-Corner): C2C is a crochet technique where the piece is worked diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner in blocks, rather than in straight rows or rounds. Each block is a small "tile" of chain-3 plus 3 double crochet. C2C is popular for pixel-art blankets and graphghans because each block maps cleanly to one pixel.
Color Quantization: Color quantization is the process of reducing the number of distinct colours in an image to a smaller palette that can be reproduced in yarn. AeternaCraft Studio uses perceptual colour-distance algorithms to map millions of photo pixels to a manageable set of yarn colours (e.g. 8, 16, or 24) while preserving the visual identity of the original image.

D

DK Weight: DK (Double Knitting) weight is a medium-thin yarn classified as CYC Category 3, typically knit at 21–24 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm). It is lighter than worsted and commonly used for amigurumi, baby items, and lightweight garments. The "double knitting" name is historical and does not mean the yarn must be knitted double.
Double Crochet (DC): Double crochet is a tall crochet stitch made by yarning over, inserting the hook, pulling up a loop, and completing the stitch in three yarn-over-pull-through steps. It is roughly twice as tall as single crochet and is the primary stitch used in C2C blocks and granny squares.

F

Frogging: Frogging is the slang term for unravelling crochet or knit work by pulling the yarn out, named because "rip it, rip it, rip it" sounds like a frog croaking. Crafters frog to fix mistakes or reclaim yarn from a abandoned project. "Tinking" is the gentler opposite — un-knitting one stitch at a time.
Front Loop Only (FLO): Front Loop Only means inserting the hook under only the front loop of the stitch (the loop closer to you), leaving the back loop free. FLO creates a textured ridge on the back of the work and is used for ribbing, fold lines, and decorative detail. The opposite, Back Loop Only (BLO), creates the ridge on the front.

G

Gauge Swatch: A gauge swatch is a small test square (usually 10×10 cm / 4×4 in) crocheted with the exact yarn and hook you plan to use, used to measure your stitches-per-inch before starting a project. Matching the designer gauge ensures the finished size is correct. For amigurumi, a tight gauge (stitches so close that stuffing cannot leak) matters more than matching a specific count.
Granny Square: A granny square is a crochet motif worked in rounds from the centre outward, built from clusters of 3 double crochet separated by chain spaces. It is the most recognisable crochet shape and the building block of classic granny-square blankets. Squares are joined (sewn or slip-stitched) and often edged with a final round.

H

Half Double Crochet (HDC): Half double crochet is a medium-height stitch made by yarning over, inserting the hook, pulling up a loop, and pulling through all three loops on the hook at once. It is taller than single crochet but shorter than double crochet, and produces a tight, warm fabric popular for hats, scarves, and blankets.

M

Magic Ring (Magic Circle): A magic ring is a technique for starting crochet-in-the-round that lets you pull the centre closed so there is no hole, unlike starting with a chain ring. Wrap the yarn around your fingers, crochet the first round over the loop, then pull the tail to close. Essential for amigurumi.

S

Single Crochet (SC): Single crochet is the shortest and densest basic stitch, made by inserting the hook, pulling up a loop, and pulling through both loops on the hook in one step. It is the primary stitch used in amigurumi because its tightness prevents stuffing from showing through and holds shape well.
Slip Stitch (Sl St): A slip stitch is the shortest crochet stitch, used to join rounds, move the working position without adding height, or create a chain foundation. Insert the hook, pull up a loop, and pull that loop through the loop already on the hook. It adds almost no height and is mostly a joining or positioning tool.
Stitch Marker: A stitch marker is a small clip or ring placed in a specific stitch to mark the start of a round, a pattern repeat, or a point to return to. For amigurumi worked in a spiral, a locking stitch marker in the first stitch of each round is the only way to count rows and track progress.

T

Tapestry Crochet: Tapestry crochet is a colourwork technique where two or more yarns are carried inside the stitches as the work progresses, producing a firm fabric with a clean single-side colour pattern. It is worked in single crochet and is ideal for bags, baskets, and graphghans. The carried yarn adds structure and thickness.
Tension: Tension is how tightly or loosely you hold the yarn and form each stitch, and it directly determines your gauge and finished size. Consistent tension is the single biggest factor in whether a piece matches the pattern. Tension varies with mood, time of day, and hook material, so always swatch in the same session you plan to crochet.

W

Worsted Weight: Worsted weight is a medium-thickness yarn classified as CYC Category 4, the most common weight for crochet and the default for amigurumi and blankets. It is typically worked at 16–20 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm) with a 5.0mm (H/8) hook. "Worsted" can also refer to a spinning method, which causes confusion.

Y

Yarn Over (YO): Yarn over is the action of wrapping the yarn over the hook from back to front before completing the next step of a stitch. It is the building block of every taller stitch (HDC, DC, treble). "Yarn under" (wrapping from front to back) is a variant some amigurumi makers use for tighter, rounder stitches.

Put these terms to work

Every glossary entry links to the free tool that uses it. Try the Amigurumi Calculator for gauge and resizing, or the Photo-to-Pattern Studio for C2C and tapestry crochet patterns.

Browse all free tools → Read the blog →