Abbreviations

Knitting patterns are written using abbreviations in order to condense a lot of information into a small space. If you know what the abbreviations mean, you can understand any pattern.

  • alt

    alternative

  • approx

    approximately

  • beg

    beginning

  • bet

    between

  • bo

    bind off / cast off

  • byo

    backward yarn over

  • cable

    put as many stitches as your pattern says on a cable needle and place it in the front or back depending on the pattern. Work the next set of stitches and then work stitches off the cable needle

  • CC

    contrasting colour

  • ch

    chain

  • cm

    centimeter

  • cn

    cable needle

  • CO

    cast on

  • con

    continue

  • cross

    put as many stitches as your pattern says on a cable needle and place it in front or back depending on the pattern. Work the next set of stitches and then work stitches off the cable needle

  • dec

    decrease

  • dpn

    double pointed needles

  • foll

    follow

  • g

    gram

  • g st

    garter stitch

  • in

    inches

  • inc

    increase

  • incl

    including

  • k

    knit

  • k1B

    knit 1 stitch in row below

  • kfb

    knit front and back loop

  • ksp

    knit 1 stitch, slip stitch from right to left needle, pass second stitch on left needle over first stitch and off left needle; return stitch to right needle; single right-leaning decrease

  • k2tog

    knit two stitches together, single right-leaning decrease

  • kwise

    knitwise

  • LH

    left hand

  • lp

    loop

  • m

    marker or meter

  • M1 / M1k

    make one stitch knitwise, single right-leaning increase

  • M1R

    make one right, single right-leaning knit increase

  • M1L

    make one left; single left-leaning knit increase

  • M1p

    make one purlwise; single purl increase

  • M1rp

    make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase

  • M1lp

    make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase

  • MC

    main colour

  • mm

    millimeter

  • oz

    ounce

  • p

    purl

  • pat / patt

    pattern

  • pfb

    purl into front & back of a stitch, single purl increase

  • pm

    place marker

  • p2tog

    purl stitches together; single decrease

  • prev

    previous

  • psso

    pass slipped stich over

  • p2sso

    pass 2 slipped stitches over

  • pwise

    purlwise

  • rem

    remaining

  • rep

    repeat

  • rev St st

    reverse stockinette stitch

  • RH

    right hand

  • rnd

    round

  • RS

    right side

  • SKP

    slip one knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease

  • SK2P

    slip one knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease

  • sl

    slip

  • sl1k

    slip one knitwise

  • sl1p

    slip one purlwise

  • sl st / ss

    slip stitch

  • sm

    slip marker

  • ssk

    slip, slip, knit (slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops), single left-leaning decrease

  • ssp

    slip, slip, purl (slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops), single left-leaning decrease

  • sssk

    slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through the back loops, double left-leaning decrease

  • sssp

    slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease

  • S2KP2

    slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch; centered double decrease

  • SSPP2

    slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and then slip them as if to p2tog through back loops, purl 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over purl stitch; centered double decrease

  • st

    stitch

  • St st

    stockinette stitch

  • tbl

    through back loop

  • tfl

    through front loop

  • tog

    together

  • WS

    wrong side

  • w&t

    wrap and turn

  • wyib

    with yarn in back

  • wyif

    with yarn in front

  • yb

    yarn back

  • yd

    yard

  • yfwd / yf

    yarn forward

  • yo

    yarn over

  • yon

    yarn over needle

  • yrn

    yarn around needle

  • *

    repeat the instructions following the * as directed

  • * *

    repeat instructions between * and * as many times as directed or repeat at specified locations

  • ( ) or [ ]

    work instructions within brackets as many times as directed

  • { }

    work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed or work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space

Website created by Christian Mizon