Here you will find an extensive list of knitting abbreviations and terms.
If you want to learn more about how to start knitting, please visit this post – knitting for beginners.
- There are also links to video tutorials.
- Download an easy to print out PDF at the bottom of this page.
- Take a look at the general terms below to get started.
General
[ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
( ) work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed
* repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
** repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions
” inch(es)
A
alt – alternate
approx – approximately
B
beg – begin, beginning
bet – between
bk2tog – brioche knit 2 together; knit next knit stitch together with its paired yarnover
bk3tog – right-slanting brioche decrease
bp2tog – brioche purl 2 together; purl next purl stitch together with its paired yarnover
bsk2p – left-slanting brioche decrease
C
cable – a decorative stitch that looks like a twisted rope or braid
CC – contrast color
cco – cable cast on
cm – centimeter(s)
cn – cable needle
CO – cast on
cont – continue
D
dec – decrease, decreases, decreasing
dpn – double pointed needles
F
fl – front loop(s)
foll – follow, follows, following
G
g – gram(s)
I
inc – increase, increases, increasing
K
k or K – knit (Video Tutorial)
k1b – knit 1 below
k1fb – knit one front and back; a single-stitch increase (Video Tutorial)
k2tog – knit 2 stitches together; a right-slanting, single-stitch decrease (Video Tutorial)
kitchener stitch – method of grafting lives stitches together
kwise – knitwise
L
LH – left hand
lp(s) – loop(s) (Video Tutorial)
M
m – meter(s)
M1 – make 1 stitch
m1L – make 1 left; left-slanting, single-stitch increase
m1R – make 1 right; right-slanting, single-stitch increase
M1 p-st – make 1 purl stitch
MC – main color
mm – millimeter(s)
O
oz – ounce(s)
P
p or P – purl (Video Tutorial)
p tbl – purl through the back loop
p1b – purl 1 below
p2tog – purl 2 stitches together; a single-stitch decrease
p2tog tbl – purl 2 stitches together through the back loops; also known a ssp; a one-stitch decrease
pat(s) or patt – pattern(s)
pm – place marker
pop – popcorn
prev – previous
psso – pass slipped stitch over
pwise – purlwise
R
rem – remain, remaining
rep(s) – repeat(s)
rev St st – reverse stockinette stitch
RH – right hand
Rib – Knit1, Purl 1 (Video Tutorial)
rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
S
s2kp – slip 2 together knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitches over (psso); a centered two-stitch decrease
sk – skip
sk2p – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over (psso), then knit 2 together; a two-stitch decrease
skp – slip, knit, pass stitch over; a single-stitch decrease
sl – slip
sl st – slip stitch(es)
sl1k – slip 1 knitwise
sl1p – slip 1 purlwise
sl1, k1, ppso – slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over; a single-stitch decrease
ssk – slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together; a left-slanting, single-stitch decrease
ssp – slip, slip, purl; one-stitch decrease; also known as p2tog tbl
sssk – slip, slip, slip, knit these 3 stitches together; a left-slanting, two-stitch decrease
st(s) – stitch(es)
St st – stockinette stitch, stocking stitch (Video Tutorial)
T
tbl – through back loop
tog – together
W
WS – wrong side
wyib – with yarn in back
wyif – with yarn in front
Y
yd(s) – yard(s)
yf or yfwd – yarn forward
yo – yarn over
yrn – yarn around needle
yon – yarn over needle
