Cross Stitch Glossary: WIP, FFO, SAL, Frogging & More

The first time I read a stitching forum, I felt like I’d stumbled into a secret club. Someone had three new WIPs and a UFO, someone else was frogging a BAP, and everyone was excited about an SAL. It’s all friendly, it’s just a lot of shorthand. This cross stitch glossary explains the terms and definitions you’ll meet most, in plain English.

The short answer: the abbreviations you’ll see most are WIP (work in progress), FO (finished object), FFO (fully finished object), SAL (stitch-along), PK (Pattern Keeper) and frogging (unpicking mistakes). Below you’ll find those and many more, grouped so they’re easy to scan.

If you’re brand new, my complete beginner guide to cross stitch is the best place to start. Keep this page open in another tab for the jargon.

The abbreviations everyone uses (WIP, FO, FFO, UFO, SAL, PK, LNS, HAED)

Term	Stands for	What it means
WIP	Work in progress	A project you’ve started and not finished
FO	Finished object	All the stitching is done
FFO	Fully finished object	Stitched and made into something: framed, an ornament, a pillow
UFO	Unfinished object	A WIP that’s been abandoned or forgotten for a long time
SAL	Stitch-along	A pattern released in parts on a schedule, stitched together by a group
PK	Pattern Keeper	An Android app for tracking progress on PDF charts
LNS	Local needlework shop	An independent shop that sells stitching supplies
HAED	Heaven and Earth Designs	A company known for very large, full-coverage charts; often used as shorthand for that style
BAP	Big a** project	A huge chart that takes months or years
TUSAL	Totally useless stitch-along	A fun monthly ritual of photographing your jar of thread scraps

A few more you’ll bump into: DMC is the most widely used brand of six-strand embroidery floss, and its color numbers are used in most pattern keys. Q-snap is a brand of square plastic frame many stitchers use instead of a hoop.

My guide to Pattern Keeper and PDF patterns explains PK properly, and if an SAL sounds fun, the 2027 temperature cross stitch is a gentle year-long one.

Stitch types (full, half, quarter, three-quarter, backstitch, French knot)

• Full cross stitch: the classic X, two diagonal legs from corner to corner of one square. Most charts are almost all full crosses.
• Half stitch: just one diagonal leg. Used for soft shading or backgrounds that look lighter.
• Quarter stitch: a short leg from one corner to the center of the square.
• Three-quarter stitch: a half stitch plus a quarter stitch in the same square. Used to make smoother curves and points.
• Fractionals: the general name for quarter and three-quarter stitches.
• Backstitch: straight lines worked hole to hole, used for outlines, details and lettering. Usually 1 strand.
• French knot: a little raised dot made by wrapping floss around the needle. Used for eyes, centers and sparkle.
• Long stitch: a single straight stitch spanning several squares, often for whiskers or rays.

My guide to backstitch and French knots shows how to do both, step by step.

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Fabric words (count, aida, evenweave, over one/over two)

• Aida: the most common cross stitch fabric. Its threads are woven in little blocks with clear holes, so it’s easy to count.
• Count: how many stitches fit in one inch. 14 count aida gives 14 stitches per inch. Higher count = smaller stitches.
• Evenweave: a fabric with single, evenly spaced threads (no blocks). Smoother look, usually stitched over two threads.
• Linen: like evenweave but woven from linen fibers, with natural slubs and character.
• Over two: each stitch covers 2 x 2 threads. 28 count evenweave over two gives 14 stitches per inch, the same size as 14 count aida.
• Over one: each stitch covers a single thread. Twice as small, very fine and detailed.
• Full coverage: every square of the design is stitched, so no fabric shows through.
• Partial coverage: only the motif is stitched, and the fabric is part of the design.

The aida fabric count guide goes deeper, with a size table and my picks for beginners.

Technique words (loop start, parking, frogging, railroading)

• Loop start: a neat way to start without a knot, using one strand folded in half. Here’s how to start cross stitch without a knot.
• Waste knot / away knot: two more knotless starts. The knot sits on the front, away from the stitching, and is snipped off later.
• Frogging: unpicking mistakes. “Rip it, rip it.” See how to fix cross stitch mistakes.
• Parking: for charts with lots of colors, you bring each thread up at its next stitch outside the area you’re working, and leave it waiting.
• Cross-country: stitching one color across a bigger area before switching. The opposite approach to parking.
• Confetti: single, isolated stitches of a color. Slow to stitch. Read what confetti is in cross stitch.
• Railroading: passing the needle between your two strands as you stitch, so they lie flat and parallel. It gives a smoother, shinier finish.
• Danish method: stitching a row of half stitches one way, then crossing them all on the way back.
• English method: completing each X before moving to the next.
• Gridding: drawing a 10 x 10 grid on your fabric with removable thread or a wash-out pen, to match the chart.
• Kitting up: gathering fabric, floss and chart for a new project in one bag.

Community words (stash, haul, rotation, start-itis, orts, WIPGO)

• Stash: your collection of supplies and patterns. Usually larger than you’d admit.
• Haul: a show-and-tell of new supplies you’ve bought.
• Rotation: a system for switching between WIPs, for example a week each.
• Start-itis: the irresistible urge to start a new project instead of finishing one.
• Orts: the little thread scraps you trim off. Many stitchers keep an ort jar.
• WIPGO: a bingo-style game for choosing which WIP to work on. My 2027 stitching planner post explains how to play.
• Needle minder: a decorative magnet that holds your needle on the fabric.
• Pattern mill: a shop selling huge numbers of auto-generated or copied charts, usually with lots of confetti and no stitched photos.
• Comfort stitch: an easy, relaxing project for tired evenings.

FlossTube 101

FlossTube is the community of stitchers sharing their hobby on YouTube. If you like a chatty, cozy video while you stitch, it’s a lovely rabbit hole. Common video types:

1. WIP updates: progress on current projects since the last video.
2. Finishes: new FOs and FFOs.
3. Hauls: new patterns, fabric and floss.
4. Stitch with me: a long, relaxed video of someone stitching and chatting.
5. SAL check-ins: progress on a stitch-along.

You’ll hear all the words on this page used in FlossTube videos, and after a few episodes they’ll feel completely natural.

Ready to put the vocabulary to use? The beginner patterns are a good first step, and my quick-start cheat sheet keeps the basics on one page.

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