Translation guide
The craft or activity of making fabric by looping yarn with needles. In Japanese, the general term is 編み物, while the act of knitting is 編む. There are also specific terms for hand knitting, machine knitting, and related techniques.
編み物が好きです。
I like knitting.
彼女はマフラーを編んでいます。
She is knitting a scarf.
Referring to knitting as a hobby, skill, or general activity.
The most common word for knitting as a craft or activity. It can also refer to knitted items.
編み物が趣味です。
Knitting is my hobby.
冬は編み物をするのにいい季節です。
Winter is a good season for knitting.
Loanword from English, often used for knitted fabric or garments, but can also refer to the activity in some contexts, especially in fashion.
ニットのセーターを買った。
I bought a knit sweater.
Describing the action of making something by knitting.
The verb 'to knit'. Used for both hand and machine knitting. Transitive verb; the object is the item being made.
セーターを編んでいます。
I am knitting a sweater.
母がマフラーを編んでくれた。
My mother knitted a scarf for me.
Literally 'to do knitting', a common way to say you are engaging in the activity.
昨日は一日中編み物をしていた。
Yesterday I was knitting all day.
Distinguishing between knitting by hand and by machine.
Hand knitting. Often used to emphasize the handmade quality.
このセーターは手編みです。
This sweater is hand-knitted.
Machine knitting. Used for items produced by knitting machines.
Referring to something that has been knitted.
Can also mean knitted goods or a piece of knitting.
この編み物は祖母が作ったものです。
This knitted item was made by my grandmother.
Commonly used for knitted fabric or knitwear in fashion contexts.
ニット素材のワンピース
a knit dress
編み物 refers to the craft or activity of knitting, while ニット is a loanword used mainly for knitted fabric or garments. In casual conversation, ニット can sometimes refer to the activity, but 編み物 is more precise.
編み物教室に通っています。
I go to a knitting class.
このニットは肌触りがいい。
This knit feels nice on the skin.
Crochet is かぎ針編み (かぎばりあみ) or simply レース編み. Knitting uses two needles, while crochet uses a hook. If you say 編み物, it can include both, but to be specific, use 棒針編み for knitting and かぎ針編み for crochet.
機械編みのニット帽は安い。
Machine-knitted beanies are cheap.