Knitting Glossary

"

inch(es)

( )

work instructions between parentheses, in the place directed

*

repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed

* *

repeat instructions between asterisks, as directed

alt

alternate

approx

approximately

beg

begin(ning)

bet

between

BO

bind off

CA

color A

CB

color B

CC

contrasting color

cdd

centered double decrease. sl2 tog, K1, pass the slipped stitches over (together)

ch

chain (using crochet hook). Start with a slip knot.

cm

centimeter(s)

cn

cable needle: short knitting needle, used as an aid in the twisting of a cable.

CO

cast on

cont

continue

cross 2 L

cross 2 stitches to the left (to work a cable). Slip 2 stitches p-wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle hang in front of work as you knit the next couple of stiches; then knit stitches off of cable needle.

cross 2 R

cross 2 stitches to the right (to work a cable). slip 2 stitches p-wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle hang in back of work as you knit the next couple of stiches; then knit stitches off of cable needle.

dc

double crochet

dec(s)

decrease(s)

DK

Double Knitting weight yarn. Slightly finer than worsted weight.

dpn aka dp

double pointed needle(s). A short needle with points at both ends, used in sets or 4 or 5, for knitting in the round.

EON

end of needle

EOR

end of row

FC

front cross (in working a cable)

fl

front loop(s)

foll

follow; follows; following

g aka gr

gram

g st

garter stitch

grp(s)

group(s)

hdc

half double crochet

hk

hook

in(s)

inch(es)

inc(s)

increase(s)

incl

including

k

knit

k tbl aka K1 tbl, K1b

Knit stitch through the back loop

k-b

knit stitch in row below. (Infrequently used for knit through the back loop; see K tbl)

k-wise

knit-wise. Insert right needle into the stitch as if to knit it

k1 f&b aka kfb

knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back. This is also called a Bar Increase

k2tog

knit 2 stitches together

k2tog tbl

knit 2 stitches together, through the back loops

kll

knit left loop. An increase

krl

knit right loop. An increase

LC

left cross (to work a cable). As in: cross 2 L

LH

left hand

lp(s)

loop(s)

LT

left twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible)

m

meter(s)

M1

Make 1. This means to increase a stitch. If the method isn't specified, use whichever increase you like, for instance M1F.

M1A

make 1 away. An Increase

M1L aka M1, M1F

make 1 (front)(left). An increase. From the front, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back of loop

M1R aka M1B

make 1 (back) (right). An increase. From the back, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into front of loop

M1T

make 1 towards. An Increase

MB

make bobble

mc

main color

mm

millimeters(s)

no

number

oz

ounce(s)

p

purl

p tbl aka P1 tbl, P1b

purl through the back loop

p-b

purl stitch in the row below. (infrequently used to mean purl stitch in the back loop; see p tbl)

p-wise

purl wise: Insert right needle down into the front loop, or up into the back loop for tbl

p1 f&b aka pfb

purl the front of a stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch

p2tog

purl 2 together

p2tog tbl

purl 2 together through the back loops

pat(s) aka patt(s)

pattern(s)

pm

place marker

pnso

pass next stitch over

pop

popcorn stitch

prev

previous

psso

pass the slipped stitch over (as in slip 1, knit 1, psso)

pu

pick up stitches

RC

right cross (to work a cable), as in: cross 2 R

rem

remaining

rep

repeat(s)

rev St st

Reverse stockinette/stocking stitch. The "purl" side of plain, stockinette stitch. Purled on RS, knitted on WS

RH

right hand

rib

ribbing: vertical columns of knit and purl stitches, side by side, as in K1, P1 ribbing

rnd(s)

round(s). In circular knitting, a "row" is called a "round."

RS

right side, for instance the outside of a sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions

RT

right twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible)

sc

single crochet

sk

skip

sk2p

slip1, knit 2 tog, pass slipped stitch over. (a double decrease)

SKP aka skpo

"Slip, Knit, Pass." Slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one. The same as: sl1, k1, psso

sl aka s

slip a stitch. If they don't specify, slip the stitch purl-wise....Unless you are decreasing: then, slip it knit-wise on the knit rows, and purl-wise on the purl rows. (According to Vogue Knitting)

sl st

slip stitch(es)

sl1, k1, psso

slip1, knit1, pass the slipped stitch over. The same as SKP

sl1k aka sl 1 k-wise

slip a stitch knit-wise

sl1p aka sl 1 p-wise

slip a stitch purl-wise

slip knot

an adjustable loop, used to begin many cast-on methods

sp(s)

space(s)

ss

slip stitch (Canadian)

ssk

slip, slip, knit slipped stitches tog. A decrease

ssk (improved)

sl 1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped sts tog

ssp

slip, slip, purl. A decrease, usually done on the purl-side

sssk

slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together. A double decrease

st (s)

stitch(es)

St st

Stockinette/Stocking stitch

tbl

through the back loop

tog

together

won

wool over needle

wrn

wool round needle

WS

wrong side, for instance the inside of the sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions

wyib

with yarn in back

wyif

with yarn in front

yb aka ybk

yarn to the back

yd(s)

yard(s)

yfon

yarn forward and over needle. Same as yo

yfrn

yarn forward and 'round needle. Same as yo

yfwd aka yf

yarn forward

yo

yarn over: wrap the yarn around right needle

yo2 aka yo twice

yarn over twice

yon

yarn over needle. Same as yo

yrn

yarn 'round needle. Same as yo

[ ]

work instructions between brackets, as many times as directed