Cross stitchers and FlossTubers have their own language that can be confusing to the newcomer. Here is a glossary of terms.
FlossTube — A collection of YouTube videos that deal with cross stitching, quilting and other needle arts. To get started, search YouTube for “flosstube.”
LNS — Stands for “local needle shop.” Two popular stitching stores in the Bay Area are Needle In a Haystack, http://www.needlestack.com, in Alameda, and Madonna Needle Works, madonnaneedleworks.com, in Morgan Hill.
WIP — Works In Progress. Most FlossTubers have many WIPs, which are stitching projects they are working on simultaneously.
WIP parade — Showing a collection of all your works in progress.
Monogamous stitcher — Someone who stitches only one project at a time, completing it before starting another. They are rare in the cross stitch world.
Frogging — When stitches wind up in the wrong places or are done in the wrong color, they have to be removed, requiring the stitcher to “rip it, rip it, rip it.”
Starts — Refers to new projects stitchers have started working on.
Finishes — Projects where the stitching has been completed.
FFO — Stands for Fully Finished Objects. These are projects that have been completely stitched and framed, made into pillows or otherwise finished into their final form.
UFO — Unfinished Objects. These are projects that likely will never be completed as the stitcher has given up on them.
Dough bowl — Wooden bowls that date back to colonial times; used to hold “smalls.”
Smalls — Small cross stitch projects usually made into small pillows or strawberries.
Needle minder — Decorative magnet that attaches to a WIP and holds the needle when not in use. Some FlossTubers match the design of the needle minder to the design of the WIP, because of course they do.
Floss rings — Metal rings that hold floss drops and usually have a decorative charm, which often coordinates with the WIP and the needle minder.
Floss drops — Paper or plastic tags that hold skeins of cut floss, held together on a floss ring.
Project bags — Cloth, sometimes quilted, bags that hold all the items being used for a project — the chart, floss drop, fabric, hoop and scissors. Serious stitchers also coordinate the bag with the theme of the project.
SAL — Stands for Stitch Along. FlossTubers often ask other stitchers to stitch along with them on the same, specific project. The participants then post their progress on Instagram or other social media using a specific hashtag.
Floss toss — Laying floss on top of fabric to determine if the colors will all work together.
HAED — Stands for Heaven and Earth Designs, a company that produces challenging projects because of their size and the level of detail. They are full coverage.
Full coverage — A stitching project that completely covers the design area with stitching.
