Knitting Abbreviations And Terms (US and UK)
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.Here you will find an extensive list of knitting abbreviations and terms including both US and UK terminology.
When you first read a knitting pattern you may think that it has been written in another language.
And it sort of has been – but it is a simple enough language to understand.
Patterns use abbreviations that are shortened ways of telling you what techniques to do.
Knitting Abbreviations Explained
For example, knit is abbreviated to K, and purl is abbreviated to P.
The letters are often next to a number that will tell you how many stitches you should knit.
For example, K6 means ‘knit 6 stitches’.
This shorthand makes the patterns shorter and simpler for you to follow.
If the instructions were all written in full, then the patterns would be pages and pages long!
Weekly news, free patterns, tutorials, and more.
What Is The Difference Between US and UK Knitting Terms?
Once you start to learn how to read knitting patterns and practice knitting techniques you will become more and more used to the shortened abbreviations.
If you see an abbreviation that you don’t understand, you can check the reference guide below (see the free downloadable PDF of the most common abbreviations at the bottom of this page).
Knitters in the UK and the US use slightly different terms such as ‘stocking stitch’ in the UK and ‘stockinette stitch’ in the US.
But the biggest difference is that the US and the UK use different systems for yarn weights and needle sizes.
Apart from that, the differences are small so you can use patterns from anywhere!
Get Started – Knitting Abbreviations + Terms List
If you want to learn more about how to start knitting, please visit this post – Knitting Lessons
The list below is a starter guide to common knitting abbreviations and terms.
- There are links to video tutorials for some of the techniques below.
- Download the free 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
bo – bind off
C
cable – a decorative stitch that looks like a twisted rope or braid
CC – contrast color
cco – cable cast on
cdd – centered double decrease
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
f&b – knit one front and back
G
g – gram(s)
g st – garter stitch
I
inc – increase, increases, increasing
incl – knitting into the stitch below
K
k or K – knit (Video Tutorial)
k1b – knit 1 below
k1fb – knit one front and back; a single-stitch increase (Video Tutorial)
kfb – knit front and back (knit one front and back; a single-stitch increase)
k2tog – knit the next 2 stitches together; a right-slanting, single-stitch decrease (Video Tutorial)
kitchener stitch – method of grafting live stitches together
ktbl – knitting through the back loop
kwise – knitwise
L
lc – the left cross
LH – left hand
lh needle – left hand needle
lp(s) – loop(s)
LT – Left twist – The left twist stitch is a mock cable.
M
m – meter(s)
mb – make bobble
M1 – make 1 stitch
m1a – make one away increase
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 the next 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
pu or puk – pick up and knit stitches
pwise – purlwise
R
rem – remain, remaining
rc – the right cross
rep(s) – repeat(s)
rev St st – reverse stockinette stitch
RH – right hand
rh needle – right hand needle
Rib – Knit1, Purl 1(Video Tutorial)
rli – right lifted increase
rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
RT – Right twist – The right twist stitch is a mock cable.
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
ss – slip stitch
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
tfl – knit through the front and back loops
tbl – through back loop
tog – together
W
WS – wrong side
wyib – with yarn in back
wyif – with yarn in front
w&t or w+t – wrap and turn
Y
yd(s) – yard(s)
yf or yfwd – yarn forward
yo – yarn over
yrn – yarn around needle
yon – yarn over needle
Download your Knitting Abbreviations and Terms (US + UK) PDF here – Knitting Abbreviations and Terms
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
More Knitting Tutorials
- Knitting cast-on methods.
- Knitting cast-off methods.
- How to cast on knitting.
- How to cast off knitting.
- How to knit garter stitch.
- How to knit the purl stitch.
- How to knit stockinette stitch.
- How to read knitting patterns.
- How to knit rib stitch.
- Mattress Stitch Tutorial.
If abbreviations were not used in patterns, they would be really long. Having the abbreviations makes things more condensed and easier for all knitters to follow.
K2tog is a knitting abbreviation that means you should knit the next two stitches together. This is a decrease.
RS means right side and WS means wrong side. You will see this in your pattern instructions referring to the right side of your work (normally the front of work) and the wrong side of your work (normally the back of work).
K1, P1 is a form of simple ribbing also known as 1×1 ribbing. You knit one stitch, purl one stitch and repeat to the end of the row.
They are both ways to decrease. K2tog means to knit the next two stitches together and is a right leaning decrease. SSK means slip slip knit and is a left leaning decrease.
SS in knitting means to slip stitch(es). To slip a stitch, the next stitch or knit slipped stitches together.
KFB is the knitting abbreviation for knitting into the front and back of the next stitch. This is to make an increase in the work. It works best in garter stitch as the new stitch is not easily seen in the knitted fabric.
