Understanding knitting abbreviations can seem intimidating as a new knitter. Even if you have been knitting for years, reading a knit pattern can seem like a whole new language that you need to learn. Here's a list of knitting abbreviations to help guide any terms that you find in patterns that you may not yet know.
| *repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed. |
| A |
|
alt: alternate. |
|
approx.: approximately. |
| B |
| beg: beginning. |
| bet: between. |
| blo: back loop only. |
| bo: bind off. |
| C |
| cc: contrasting color. |
| circ: circular. |
| cn: cable needle. |
| co: cast on. |
| cont: continue. |
| D |
| dec: decrease. |
| dpns: double pointed needles. |
| E |
| est: established. |
| F |
| fl: front loop(s). |
|
fo: fasten off. |
| foll: following. |
| I |
| inc: increase. |
| incl: including. |
| inc(s): increase(s). |
| K |
| ktbl: knit through back loop. |
| k: knit. |
| k1b: knit 1 below. |
| kfb: knit one front and back; a single-stitch increase. |
| k1tbl: knit one through the back loop. |
| k2tog: knit two together. |
| kfb: knit into front and back of stitch. |
| kwise: knitwise, as if to knit. |
| L |
| lh: left hand. |
| lli: left lifted increase (insert left needle into top of stitch one row below first stitch on right needle, knit this loop). |
| lp(s): loop(s). |
| M |
| m: marker. |
| m1: make 1 stitch. |
| 1ml: make one left (insert left needle from front to back under strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on left needle; knit this loop through back). |
| m1p: make one purlwise (insert left needle from back to front under strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on left needle; purl this loop through the front). |
| m1r: make one right (insert left needle from back to front under strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on left needle; knit this loop through front). |
| mb: make bobble. A bobble is a three-dimensional stitch made by working multiple increases in one stitch, sometimes working a few rows, and then decreasing back to one stitch. |
| mc: main color. |
|
meas: measures. |
| N |
| ndl(s): needle(s). |
| P |
| p or P: purl. |
| p tbl: purl through back loop. |
| p1b: purl 1 below. |
| p1tbl: purl one through the back loop. |
| p2sso: pass two slipped stitches over. |
| p2tog tbl: purl 2 stitches together through the back loop; an one-stitch decrease. |
| p2tog: purl two together. |
| p2tog: purl 2 stitches together (one stitch decrease). |
| p3tog: purl 3 stitches together (two stitch decrease). |
| patt(s): pattern(s). |
| pfb: purl into the front and back of a stitch (one stitch increase). |
| pm: place marker. |
| pnso: pass next stitch over. |
| prev: previous. |
| psso: pass slipped stitch over. |
| pwise: purlwise, as if to purl. |
| R |
| rem: remaining. |
| rep: repeat. |
| rep(s): repeat(s). |
| rh: right hand. |
| rli: right lifted increase (insert right needle into top of stitch one row below next stitch on left needle, knit this loop). |
| rnd(s): round(s). |
| rs: right side. |
| S |
| s2kp: slip two tog, knit one, pass two slip stitches over. |
| sk: skip. |
| sk2p: slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over (psso), then knit 2 together (two stitch decrease). |
| skp: slip, knit, pass stitch over (one stitch decrease). |
| sl st: slip stitch(es). |
| sl: slip. |
| sl1, k1, ppso: slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over (one stitch decrease). |
| sl1k: slip 1 knitwise. |
| sl1p: slip 1 purlwise. |
| sm: slip marker (slip marker from left needle to right needle). |
| ssk: slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together; a left-slanting (one stitch decrease). |
| ssp: slip, slip, purl (slip two stitches purlwise, insert left needle behind two slipped stitches, purl two slipped stitches together). |
| sssk: slip, slip, slip, knit (slip three stitches knitwise, insert left needle in front of three slipped stitches, knit three slipped stitches together). |
| sssp: slip, slip, slip purl (slip three stitches purlwise, insert left needle behind three slipped stitches, purl three slipped stitches together). |
| st st: stockinette stitch (when working flat, knit all RS rows, purl all WS rows; when working in the round, knit all stitches). |
|
st(s): stitch(es). |
| T |
| tbl: through back loop. |
| tog: together. |
| W |
| w&t: wrap next stitch and turn work. |
| ws: wrong side. |
| wyib—with yarn in back. |
| wyif: with yarn in front. |
| Y |
| yb (or ybk): yarn to the back. |
| yf (or yfwd)—yarn to the front (or forward). |
| yf or yfwd: yarn forward. |
| yo twice; yo2: yarn over two times. |
| yo: yarn over. One stitch increase made by wrapping the yarn around the needle. |