TRICK-O-TER When it come to wine and food, the French are famously wordy, but when it comes to knitting

they are tighter-lipped. In French, tricoter (to knit) is just a generic term for the action of knitting, and doesnt describe a precise stitch. In English, there is a specific term for each of the 2 basic stitches (knit/purl), in French youll be told to tricoter lendroit (literally knit on the right side) or tricoter lenvers (knit on wrong side). To make matters worse, this will be abbreviated into the quite similar looking m. endr. or m. env. . Youll just have to be very careful. Also, always keep in mind that the only system we have in France is metric. Therefore, all measurements will be in centimeters, and aiguilles n5 will always mean 5 mm needles. MATHEMATIQUES French pattern often use a representation that looks like a match formula to note increases and decreases. Knitters whove worked with Japanese patterns will scoff at these but heres an explanation. As a general rule, youll find first the number of times to repeat the action and next the number of stitches concerned by this action. For example, augm. de ch. ct (..) ts les 8 rgs : 5 x 1 m. et ts les 6 rgs : 9 x 2m. will translate : Increase at each end - every 8th row : five times one stitch, - then every 6th row : nine times 2 stitches. DICTIONARY, FRENCH TO ENGLISH A: Aig = aiguille = needle
aiguille tricoter aiguille auxiliaire aiguille droite aiguille gauche knitting needle stitch holder/cable needle right needle left needle

Ajour = lacey, or with eyelets Alternat. = alternativement = alternately Anneaux marqueurs = stitch markers Aprs = after
arrter fasten off

Arrte-mailles = stitch holder Arrondi = rounding. As in former larrondi (shape rounding). Usually for collar, or sleeve holes. Assemblage (assembler) = assemble together the pieces Astrakan = Astrakhan. Literally, a looped yarn, or a stitch pattern design to imitate

looped yarn. Can also mean bobble-stitch.

travers attente (laisser des m. en) through leave stitches on stitch holder

Attente (en attente) = on hold

augmenter augmentation to increase increase

Augm. = augmenter = increase. If no method is specified in Points dEmploi use whichever increase you thinks best suits the piece. Aux. = auxilliaire (aiguille) = for needle, can mean a stitch holder or cable needle. (literally, extra needle) Avant = before Avec = with B: Bas = bottom Bret = tam Bonnet = hat Bord(s) = edge(s). As in aug. 1 m. 2m. du bord (increase 1 st. 2 st. Away from border). Boucle = loop. For instance, le brin avant de la boucle will mean the front loop of stitch. Boutonnires = buttonholes
brin avant brin arrire front loop (of stitch) back loop (of stitch)

Broder = embroider C: Ceinture = belt Centr. = central(es) = center(ed) Ch. = chaque = each Chle = shawl, wrap Chaussette = sock Chausson = slipper, or booties (for babies) Circulaire (aig. circulaire) = circular (needle). Col. = coloris = color Commencer = start Cont. = continuer = continue

Ct = side Ctes 2/2 = 2/2 rib Coudre = sew Court(e) = short Coutures = seams Croiser = cross D: Dble = double = double Dentelle = lace Dern. = dernier(e) = last Devant = front
diminuer diminution to decrease decrease

Dim. = diminution = decrease. Dim. simple (dble) = diminutions simple (double) = simple (double) decrease. For example, dim. simple (double) 2 m. du bord droit means k2, k2tog, .. (k2, k3tog, ..) ..Yess, I know !! so much easier in english !!! Div. = diviser =divide Dos = back
derrire (par) droite () through back of loop on the right

Droit = straight. As in cont. Droit pendant 30 cm (continue straight for 30 cm) Droite ( droite) = right, right side E: Echantillon =Gauge or tension. This will tell you how many stitches and rows you should get over a 10 cm square. Change your needle size to obtain the proper gauge if you want the garment to knit up to the right size. Echarpe = scarf Emman. = emmanchure = armhole Employ = used. Youll find this word for example in the phrase points employs (stiches used). Encol. = encolure = collar
endroit (de l'ouvrage) envers (de l'ouvrage) front/right side (of work) back/wrong side (of work)

Endr. = endroit = right side. As in m. endr. ( knit stitch) or rg endr. (RS row) Ens. = Ensemble = together. As in tricoter 2 m. ens. (knit 2 stitches together)

Entre-temps = meanwhile Epaule = shoulder F: Facile = easy Faire (en faisant) = make (making). For example, faire 3 m. dans la m. suivante means make 3 stitches into the next stitch, by knitting, purling and then knitting into the same stitch. Common for bobble and some lace patterns. Fantaisie (pt fantaisie) = used to describe a somewhat uncommon stitch used in the pattern and described right at the beginning in the points employs (stitches used) section. Fermeture clair (or fermeture glissire)= zipper Fil = can mean either yarn or thread, depending on situation. Fil de couleur = stitch marker. You can use a simple tied loop of a contrasting yarn, or use store-bought stitch markers. Fleur = flower Finitions = finishing Fs = fois = times. As in rpter de * * 3 fs au tot. (repeat from * to * 3 times total) Former = shape, make Fournitures = materials G: Gant = glove
gauche on the left

Gauche = left, left side Gilet = cardigan Glisser = slip. H: Haut = high. As in 20 cm de haut aprs les ctes 1/1 (when the piece measures 20cm after the 1/1 rib) Haut. = hauteur = height I: Impair(s) = odd, as in sur ts les rgs impairs (on all odd rows) J: Jacquard = intarsia / fair-isle
jet (faire un jet) jeter (le fil) yarn around the needle take yarn round the needle

Jet = yarn over Jersey =Stockingnette or stocking stitch knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side. K: L:
lcher une maille to drop one stitch

Lcher (une m.) = to drop (a stitch) Laine = litterally, means wool, but also the generic term for yarn. Like in pelotes de laine (skeins of yarn) Laisser = leave, as in laisser les m. en attente (leave stitches on hold)
lisire lisire chanette lisire perle selvedge chain selvedge beaded selvedge

Lis. (m. lis.) = selvedge stitch Long(ue) = long Longueur = length M:

maille maille croise maille endroit cc maille envers maille glisse endroit maille glisse envers maille lisire maille rabattue maille torse stitch crossed stitch knit stitch purl stitch slip stitch knitwise slip stitch purlwise selvedge stitch stitch cast off twisted/crossed sttiches

m. = maille = stitch.This shall usually be either m. endr. (knit stitch) or m. env. (purl stitch) Manche(s) = sleeve(s) Mme = same, similar Mitaines = sleeveless gloves
montage monter casting on cast on

Monter x mailles = cast on x stiches. (but monter could also mean assemble the

different parts of a piece in finishing stage) Moufles = mittens Mousse (pt mousse) = garter stitch N: Noppe = bobble O: Obtient (on obtient) = you have (one more variant !) On a = you have (x stitches..) Ourlet = hem P: Pair(s) = even. As in sur ts les rgs pairs (on all even rows) Pel. = pelote (s) =skein(s) Pdt = pendant = for, during. pendant 10 rangs means for 10 rows. Poignet = wrist Prcdent = previous Pt = point = stitch, as in pt de riz (seed stitch) or pt envers (reverse stockinette) Pull = sweater, pullover Q: R: Rab. = rabattre = bind off/cast off Ray = striped Rgul. = rgulirement = regularly Rel. = relever = pick up. As in relever x m. (pick up x st.) Rep. = rpter = repeat. Repasser = iron, block Reprendre = take again, as in reprendre les m. laisses en attente (take back the stitches left on hold) Reste (il reste) = you have (litterally there remains ) Rg(s) = rang(s) = row (s) Riz (pt de riz) = seed stitch
rang prcdent rattraper des mailles perdues remailler relever reprendre revenir previous row to pick up dropped stitches to pick up the loops to knit up or pick up repeat from to return

S: Sac = bag, purse, tote Sans = without. For example, a pull sans manches is a sleeveless sweater. Semblable = same. As in tric. La 2me manche semblable (make second sleeve foll. same directions.) Suiv. = suivant(e) = following
sauter sous surjet simple skip/miss under slip one, knit one, pass, slip

passed stitch over

surjet double slip one, knit 2 tog., pass slip stitch over

Surjet simple = slip, knit, pass slipped st.over (skp) Surjet double = slip, k2tog, ppso T: T1 / T2 / T3 = taille 1 / 2 / 3 = size 1 / 2 / 3 Taille = means both the waist, or size for a garment
terminaison casting off/binding off

Term. = terminer (en terminant) = end(ing) with Tjs = toujours = always Torsade = cable (and thus an aiguille torsade shall be a cable needle ..) Tot. = total Trav. = travail = work. As in rpter ces 2 rgs tout au long du trav. repeat this pattern throughout work Tric. = tricoter = general term to describe the action of knitting ; can mean a combination of knit and purl rows. If not specified as in tric. 2 rgs en col. amande , just assume youre still using the same stitch as before (stockinette, lace, etc ), until it tells you to change stitch. Tricot = work, piece Ts / ttes = tous / toutes =all. As in rab. Ttes les m. (bind off all stitches)
tour (4 aiguilles) tourner l'ouvrage travail tricot tricoter work knitting to knit round (4needles) to turn the work

tricot plat tricot en rond

flat knitting round knitting

V: Vis-a-vis (en) = reversing instructions. For example, tricoter le second ct en vis-a vis workshaping as for other side, reversing shaping. Volant = ruffle