Knitting Abbreviations

When you first start to work with patterns they can be confusing, seeing all the abbreviations and not knowing what they all mean. Here we will list and describe the most common terms you will run across as you learn to knit with patterns. Some designers may have some other abbreviations not listed here but they are usually listed at the beginning of the pattern.



[ ] - work instructions within brackets as many times as directed

( ) - work instructions within parentheses in the place directed
 
* * - repeat instructions following the asterisks as directed

* - repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed

" - inch[es]

alt - alternate

approx - approximately

beg - begin/beginning

bet - between

BO - bind off

CA - color A

CB - color B

CC - contrasting color

ch - chain

cm - centimeter(s)

cn - cable needle

CO - cast on

cont - continue

dec - decrease/decreases/decreasing
  
dpn - double pointed needle(s)

fl -front loop(s)

foll - follow/follows/following

g/gr - gram

g st - garter stitch

in/ins - inch[s]

inc - increase/increases/increasing

k or K - knit

k-b - knit stitch in row below 

kfb - knit into the front and back of a stitch

k2tog -  knit 2 stitches together

kwise - knitwise

LH - left hand

lp(s)  - loop[s]

m - meter[s]

M1 - make one stitch

M1 p-st - make one purl stitch

MC - main color

mm - millimeter[s]

no - number

oz - ounce[s]

p or P - purl

pat[s] or patt - pattern[s]

pm - place marker

pop - popcorn

p2tog - purl 2 stitches together

prev - previous

psso - pass slipped stitch over

pwise - purlwise

rem - remain/remaining

rep - repeat[s]

rev St st - reverse stockinette stitch

RH - right hand

rib - ribbing

rnd[s] - round[s]

RS - right side

sk - skip

skp - slip, knit, pass stitch over - one stitch decreased

sk2p - slip 1, knit 2 together, pas slip stitch over the knit 2 together;
           2 stitches have been decreased

sl - slip

sl1k - slip 1 knitwise

sl1p - slip 1 purlwise

sl st - slip stitch[es]

ss - slip stitch [Canadian]

ssk - slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together - a decrease

sssk- slip, slip, slip, knit 3 stitches together

st[s] - stitch[s]

St st - stockinette stitch/stocking stitch

tbl - through back loop

tog - together

WS - wrong side

wyib - with yarn in back 

wyif - with yarn in front

yd[s] - yard[s]

yfwd - yarn forward

yo - yarn over

yrn - yarn around needle

yon - yarn over needle



Happy Knitting!