Pattern
A knitting pattern is the written instructions for a project, specifying yarn, needle size, gauge, finished measurements, and knitting instructions.
Explanation
A knitting pattern contains everything you need to complete a project: recommended yarn and amount, needle size, stated gauge, finished measurements, and the instructions themselves, either written out in text or as abbreviations and charts. Many patterns are graded into multiple sizes, and it's important to read through the entire pattern and knit a gauge swatch before starting, so you know your own gauge matches the designer's. Patterns from different countries often use different abbreviations and terminology.