Category: Knitting

Hint: Sometimes It Means Replay This Part 🎵🧶

In knitting patterns, * * marks a repeat. Whenever you see instructions framed by asterisks, it means “do this bit again.”
👉 Example: In a pattern written as *k, p* x 4, you would knit one stitch, purl one stitch, then repeat that pair four times total.

The Real Meaning of * * in Knitting

The asterisks are shorthand for repetition. Instead of writing the same directions over and over, designers put instructions between two stars and tell you to repeat them.

This is how you get ribbing, lace, cables, and all sorts of beautiful textures without filling pages with repeated text.

👉 Want a walkthrough? Check out my free guide on reading knitting patterns.

The Twist: * * = Replay This Part

Repeats can feel like déjà vu, but think of them like hitting replay on your favorite song. You already know the beat, you already love the rhythm, and now you’re just vibing while your needles do their thing.

Each repeat brings your project closer to harmony. It is muscle memory, rhythm, and a little bit of art all rolled into one.

So when you see * *, think of your knitting whispering: Replay This Part. Because sometimes, the best parts are worth doing again. 🎶

Why Repeats Matter for Beginners

Repeats are what make patterns flow. Once you can follow the stars, you can handle anything from a simple ribbed scarf to a detailed lace shawl.

✨ Want to practice? Try these projects with easy repeats:

🧣 Beginner Ribbed Scarf

🥳 Wide Brim Ribbed Hat

🧼 Ribbed Washcloths

🛁 Seed Stitch Washcloths

These projects use knit and purl combinations with repeats, making them perfect for building confidence.

📚 Knitting Pattern Library: Explore more patterns

Find More Abbreviations

Visit the Knitting Abbreviations Main Page to see the whole series.

What’s Next?

Now that you know * * = repeat the pattern (and sometimes replay this part), you are ready to keep exploring knitting shorthand. Next up: more abbreviations that unlock advanced textures and designs.

🧭 Explore the other knitting abbreviations.

👉 Do not miss the rest of the series. Sign up for my email updates below and I will send the next lesson straight to your inbox!

Hint: Sometimes It Means Be Over 🧶

Every knitting project eventually needs to end, and that is where BO comes in. In a pattern, BO = bind off.

It is the instruction that tells you how to finish your stitches so they do not unravel. Think of it as plating up your dish after cooking—it seals everything together so it is ready to enjoy.

👉 Example: “BO all sts” means “bind off all stitches.”

The Real Meaning of BO in Knitting

Binding off closes the stitches on your needle. Without it, your work would quickly unravel. Just as casting on is the start, binding off is the finish line.

There are different bind off methods (standard, stretchy, sewn), but they all secure your stitches so your project is complete.

👉 Want to learn step by step? Learn the standard bind off in my free lesson.

The Twist: BO = Be Over

Sometimes the best part of a project is finishing it. When you bind off that last stitch, it means the counting, the tangles, and the endless rows can finally be over. 🥳

So remember: BO = Be Over. The project is done, ready to show off or wrap up as a gift.

Why BO Matters for Beginners

Binding off is what makes a project usable. Without it, you just have loose loops. With it, you have something finished, secure, and ready to wear or gift.

✨ Want to practice? Try these beginner-friendly projects:

🛁 Your First Washcloth

🧣Easy Garter Stitch Scarf

🧶 Beginner Classics Pattern Bundle

📚 Knitting Pattern Library: Explore more patterns

These easy patterns are a great place to start, knit, and bind off. They’re so simple, they’ll be over before you know it!

Find More Abbreviations

Visit the Knitting Abbreviations Main Page to see the whole series.

What’s Next?

Now that you know BO = bind off (and sometimes be over), you are ready to keep exploring the knitting shorthand. Next up: **= repeat the pattern between the asterisks.

👉 Don’t miss the rest of the series. Sign up for my email updates below and I will send the next lesson straight to your inbox!

Unraveling a Mystery 🧶

I was just working on my upcoming kids’ knitting book when I froze mid sentence. Wait a second. If you are knitting with circulars, is it one needle or two? That little question stopped me in my tracks, and it might have you wondering too.

If you are brand new to knitting, the tools can be a little confusing. People often talk about “a pair of knitting needles” (two sticks that work together to hold stitches and make fabric). That is the classic picture most of us carry in our heads when we think of knitting.

But what happens when you pick up a circular knitting needle? Technically, it is one tool: a flexible cord with two needle tips attached. You buy it as one piece, and you can knit flat projects or tubes with it. It has two ends, but it is not really a “pair.”

So is it one needle, or two? Here is the simple way to think about it:

• Straight needles: Always used in pairs, one in each hand.
• Circular needles: One tool, two working tips.

When you teach kids (or beginners of any age), circulars make life easier. No chasing runaway needles, no juggling extra sticks. You can knit small or big projects with the same tool. In fact, for my kids’ book, every single project is knit on just one circular needle from start to finish.

Why this matters

Getting the words right helps beginners feel confident. If I say “pair of needles” while holding one circular, that sounds like a trick. Instead, I explain: this is one circular needle with two ends. That way, beginners know exactly what they are holding and how it works.

A little history

Before circulars came along, knitting almost always meant two straight needles. That is why so many patterns and older books say “a pair of needles.” The first U.S. patent for a circular knitting needle was issued in 1918 (check out the patent to see the original sketches: U.S. Patent US1286125A). Those early versions looked different, but the idea took off in the mid 20th century once flexible cables were easier to make. Today, both straights and circulars are common, but the phrase “pair of needles” stuck around.

And if you have seen modern interchangeable needle sets (where you can swap tips and cords to make whatever length you need), you know the tools are still evolving. One tool, many ways to knit. No needle left behind!

The philosophy

Knitting is full of traditions, but also full of choices. You might grow up hearing one way and then find a different tool that fits you better. Neither is wrong; it just depends on what feels right in your hands. What matters is that the yarn keeps looping and you keep having fun.

So, one needle or a pair?

The answer is: it depends on the type. But if you are holding a circular, you can call it one. Your projects will turn out just as cozy either way. And honestly, no matter what you call them, the stitches do not care; they just keep lining up, happy to become something new. In the end, it is all part of unraveling a mystery that makes knitting fun to learn and even more fun to share.

Find Knitting Needles

Looking for a needle of your own… or maybe two? Find my favorite knitting needles in this Amazon collection (affiliate link).

Related Posts You’ll Love

🧣 Easy Chunky Knit Scarf Pattern: Simple, Quick, and Beautiful

🛁 How to Knit a Washcloth: A Beginner-Friendly Tutorial

🙏 Gratitude Blanket Pattern: Cozy Comfort for Every Home

☕ Easy & Quick Chunky Knit Coffee Cozy: Perfect for Beginners

Don’t Miss a Stitch! 🧶

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