| Following is a list of knitting abbreviations commonly used by yarn industry designers and publishers. In addition, designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, which you might not find on this list. Generally, a definition of special abbreviations is given at the beginning of a book or pattern. These definitions reflect U.S. knitting terminology. | ||||
| Abbreviation | 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 | |||
| ksp | knit 1 stitch, slip this stitch from right needle to left needle, pass second stitch on left needle over first stitch and off left needle; return stitch to right needle; single right-leaning decrease | |||
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease | |||
| kwise | knitwise | |||
| LH | left hand | |||
| lp | loop | |||
| m | marker | |||
| M1 or M1K | make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase | |||
| M1R | make one right; single right-leaning knit increase | |||
| M1L | make one left; single left-leaning knit increase | |||
| M1p | make one purlwise; single purl increase | |||
| M1rp | make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase | |||
| M1lp | make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase | |||
| 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 and 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 and 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 | |||
| SSPP2 | slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and then slip them as if to p2tog through back loops, purl 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over purl 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 | Measurement | Description | |
| * | repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed | ” or in | inch | |
| * * | repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat at specified locations | cm | centimeter | |
| { } | work instructions within brackets as many times as directed | g | gram | |
| [ ] | work instructions within brackets as many times as directed | m | meter | |
| ( ) | work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed or work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space | mm | millimeter | |
| U.S. | U.K./Canada | |||
| bind off | cast off | |||
| gauge | tension | |||
| slip stitch (sl st) | slip stitch (ss) | |||
