knitting

IPA/ˈnɪtɪŋ/
KK[nˈɪtɪŋ]IPA/ˈnɪtɪŋ/

knitting — noun

1. the craft or hobby of using long needles or a machine to turn wool or yarn into

1.nounB1
Definition

the craft or hobby of using long needles or a machine to turn wool or yarn into clothing such as sweaters and scarves; also, the piece of work you are making in this way

Example

Anjali keeps her knitting in a blue bag next to the sofa.

possessive: her knitting = the item being knitted

Every Tuesday, Noa teaches knitting to a group of students at the local library.

teach + knitting + to + [group]

Common collocations
  • knitting needles
  • knitting pattern
  • knitting wool
  • do some knitting
  • a piece of knitting
  • finish your knitting
Synonyms
  • needlework

    broader term that includes embroidery and other hand-sewing crafts

  • crocheting

    similar hobby that uses a hooked tool instead of two needles

  • stitching

    general term for joining fabric with thread, not limited to yarn crafts

Grammar Patterns

usually uncountable

can be used with possessive determiner (my/her knitting)

Usage Note

This noun is uncountable, so you cannot say 'a knitting' or 'two knittings'. Use 'some knitting' or 'my knitting' instead. The phrase 'do some knitting' is a common beginner expression.

Common Mistakes

She is doing a knitting.
She is doing some knitting.
knitting is uncountable and cannot follow the indefinite article 'a'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe crafts that create fabric or decorative items, but they use different tools and techniques. Knitting uses two long needles to form loops of yarn, while crocheting uses a single hooked tool and produces a thicker, more textured fabric. Needlework is the broadest term, covering embroidery, cross-stitch, and other sewing-based crafts. Weaving differs from all of these — it interlaces two sets of threads (warp and weft) on a loom, creating flat cloth. For example: 'My aunt does knitting and crocheting, but she finds weaving too complicated.'

needlework ↗crocheting ↗weaving ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • do some knitting
  • take up knitting
  • a piece of knitting

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word comes from the Old English verb 'cnyttan', meaning to tie or make knots. It is related to similar words in German ('knütten') and Dutch ('knütten'). The noun form 'knitting' appeared in the 1300s to describe both the action and the work produced by it.