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The Secret Language of Knitters

The Secret Language of Knitters

The Real Secret?

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More than one third of U.S. women knit, and the number of them age 25 to 35 increased 150% within the last five years. With the proliferation of online communities where knitters congregate, it's no longer just a fad or a hobby. Knitting is a lifestyle. But with this lifestyle comes a whole set of jargon and terminology that can seem like a secret language.

Now there's a remarkable new book to clue any knitting newcomer in to the secret circle—of knitters, that is. In The Secret Language of Knitters by Mary Beth Temple (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $9.95), definitions of words such as "tink" and "qiviut" can be found in a flash, and the handy size makes this knitting-to-English glossary the perfect pocket translator.

With over 140 terms, an experienced knitter is bound to learn some new lingo. Yet even those who've mastered this secret language will appreciate the humor with which Mary Beth defines the world of knitting. Her explorations of—and confessions about—the highs and lows of this popular obsession make The Secret Language of Knitters a great read cover-to-cover as well a helpful field guide; this book is every bit as entertaining as it is useful.

A Quick Lingo Lesson

CROCHET verb: The other craft with yarn. No, really, crochet is a wonderful craft that also makes fabric out of yarn, although crocheters use a hook rather than two or more needles.

DESIGN MODIFICATION noun: Mistake. As in, "The fact that one sleeve is five inches longer than the other is not a mistake, it's a design modification."

DEVIL INCARNATE noun: See moth.

KNIT verb: An activity that brings us closer to nirvana by providing an outlet for our creativity, hostility, and any spare cash we might have lying around...sometimes all at the same time.

MOTH noun: The devil incarnate, eater of both stash and finished objects. Should be treated with a zero tolerance attitude. Loving one's fellow creatures is all well and good, until they get near my yarn. You eat my yarn, you are going to have a very short life span indeed, sucker!

Mary Beth Temple

QIVIUT noun: Qiviut is the designer drug for the hand knitter—wildly expensive, hard to find, and instantly addictive, so that once you have tried it, you will do everything in your power to use it again. Specifically, qiviut is fiber from the undercoat of a musk ox. It is as soft as clouds, wonderfully warm, and comes in a range of warm brown colors. I heart qiviut.

STASH noun: The yarn that will eventually be knitted up. The key word here is eventually. Stash yarn never expires and has an infinite shelf life, so the amount of time between purchase and use can span decades.

About Mary Beth Temple

Author Mary Beth Temple has been knitting since she was seven years old, so she knows a thing or two about the craft. She is the author of five books and writes for Yarn Market News. She knits in Tenafly, NJ.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Contact: Shelly Barkes, (800) 851-8923, ext. 6818, sbarkes@amuniversal.com

The Secret Language of Knitters

Author: Mary Beth Temple
ISBN: 978-0-7407-6873-6
Format: Paperback: 4 x 6, 160 pages
Price: $9.95 ($12.95 Canada)