Support
Knitting Abbreviations
Jan
Useful Knitting Abbreviations
Below you can find the most common knitting abbreviations.
They are used in knitting in order to save time while writing a pattern.
I personally prefer to make my knitting instructions as easy as possible for you to follow so I usually use the most important ones.
| Abbreviations | Description |
|---|---|
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximately |
| beg | beginning |
| bet | between |
| BO | bind off |
| byo | backward yarn over |
| CC | contrasting color |
| cn | cable needle |
| CO | cast on |
| cont | continue |
| dec | decrease |
| dpn | double-pointed needles |
| foll | follow |
| inc | increase |
| k | knit |
| k1B | knit stitch in row below |
| kfb | knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase |
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease |
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH | left hand |
| lp | loop |
| m | marker |
| M1R | make one right; single right-leaning knit increase
Insert the left needle under the strand between two stitches from back to front, pick it up, and knit it off the needle. |
| M1L | make one left; single left-leaning knit increase
Insert the left needle under the strand between two stitches from front to back, pick it up, and knit it off the needle through the back loop |
| M1rp | make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase
Insert the left needle under the strand between two stitches from back to front, pick it up, and purl it off the needle |
| M1lp | make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase
Insert the left needle under the strand between two stitches from front to back, pick it up, and purl it off the needle through the back loop |
| MC | main color |
| p | purl |
| pat or patt | pattern |
| pfb | purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase |
| pm | place marker |
| p2tog | purl 2 stitches together; single decrease |
| prev | previous |
| psso | pass slipped stitch 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 1 knitwise, knit 1 pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease |
| SK2P | slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease |
| sl | slip |
| sl1k | slip 1 knitwise |
| sl1p | slip 1 purlwise |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sm | slip marker |
| ssk | slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
| ssp | slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
| sssk | slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops;double left-leaning decrease |
| sssp | slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle 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 |
| 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 |
| yfwd or yf | yarn forward |
| yo | yarn over |
| yon | yarn over needle |
| yrn | yarn round needle |
Terms & Common Measurements
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| * * | repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat at specified locations |
| { } | work instructions within brackets as many times as directed |
| [ ] | 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 |
| Measurement | Description |
|---|---|
| ” or in | inch |
| cm | centimeter |
| gr | gram |
| m | meter |
| mm | millimeter |
| oz | ounce |
| yd | yard |
Find more helpful information in the support section.
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