Knitting Abbreviations Glossary
This is a comprehensive glossary of common knitting abbreviations that you are likely to find in a pattern. Wherever it's relevant, I've included links to videos which cover the technique.
- "
- inch(es)
- ( )
- work instructions between parentheses, in the place directed
- [ ]
- work instructions between brackets, as many times as 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
- view continental video
- view english video
- CA
- color A
- CB
- color B
- CC
- contrasting color
- cdd
- centered double decrease. sl2 tog, K1, pass the slipped stitches over (together)
- view english video
- view continental video
- ch
- chain (using crochet hook). Start with a slip knot.
- view video
- cm
- centimeter(s)
- cn
- cable needle: short knitting needle, used as an aid in the twisting of a cable.
- CO
- cast on
- view video
- 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
- view continental video
- view english video
- k tbl aka K1 tbl, K1b
- Knit stitch through the back loop
- view continental video
- view english video
- k-b
- knit stitch in row below. (Infrequently used for knit through the back loop; see K tbl)
- view continental video
- view english video
- 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
- view english video
- view continental video
- k2tog
- knit 2 stitches together
- view english video
- view continental video
- k2tog tbl
- knit 2 stitches together, through the back loops
- view english video
- view continental video
- kll
- knit left loop. An increase
- view english video
- view continental video
- krl
- knit right loop. An increase
- view english video
- view continental video
- 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
- view english video
- view continental video
- 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
- view continental video
- view english video
- M1R aka M1B
- make 1 (back) (right). An increase. From the back, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into front of loop
- view continental video
- view english video
- M1T
- make 1 towards. An Increase
- view english video
- view continental video
- MB
- make bobble
- mc
- main color
- mm
- millimeters(s)
- no
- number
- oz
- ounce(s)
- p
- purl
- view english video
- view continental video
- p tbl aka P1 tbl, P1b
- purl through the back loop
- view continental video
- view english video
- p-b
- purl stitch in the row below. (infrequently used to mean purl stitch in the back loop; see p tbl)
- view continental video
- view english video
- 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
- view english video
- view continental video
- p2tog
- purl 2 together
- view continental video
- view english video
- p2tog tbl
- purl 2 together through the back loops
- view english video
- view continental video
- 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
- view video
- 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)
- view english video
- view continental video
- 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
- view continental video
- view english video
- 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
- view english video
- view continental video
- sl1k aka sl 1 k-wise
- slip a stitch knit-wise
- view continental video
- view english video
- sl1p aka sl 1 p-wise
- slip a stitch purl-wise
- view continental video
- view english video
- slip knot
- an adjustable loop, used to begin many cast-on methods
- view video
- sp(s)
- space(s)
- ss
- slip stitch (Canadian)
- ssk
- slip, slip, knit slipped stitches tog. A decrease
- view continental video
- view english video
- ssk (improved)
- sl 1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped sts tog
- view english video
- view continental video
- ssp
- slip, slip, purl. A decrease, usually done on the purl-side
- view continental video
- sssk
- slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together. A double decrease
- view continental video
- view english video
- 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
- view continental video
- view english video
- yo2 aka yo twice
- yarn over twice
- yon
- yarn over needle. Same as yo
- yrn
- yarn 'round needle. Same as yo
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