Common Knitting Abbreviations
This glossary of knitting abbreviations is the ultimate tool for beginner knitters!
Knowing how to read knitting patterns and knitting charts is something that many knitters take for granted—once you know how to do it, reading a pattern is almost second nature. For beginners, however, knitting patterns can present a little bit of a challenge. The biggest obstacle novice knitters encounter are the frequently used knitting abbreviations. At first glance, many of the symbols used in knitting patterns can look like gibberish to the untrained eye. Committing a couple of common knitting abbreviations to heart is the first step towards becoming a pattern expert.
Knitting designers use abbreviations for a very good reason—pattern length. If every word in your pattern was written out in full, many patterns would be unmanageably long! Since most knitters adhere to a standard list of abbreviations, designers are able to convey a lot of information about their pattern without writing out every single word. Once you’re familiar with knitting abbreviations, reading a knitting pattern is a breeze.
It helps that most of the abbreviations are logical in origin. “K,” for example, is the symbol for “knit” and “p” stands for “purl.” Since designers want their patterns to be easily accessible to as many people as possible, it is very much within a designer’s interest to make his or her pattern straightforward and easy to read.
Below we've included a chart of the most common knitting abbreviations with a few links to our video tutorials for how to do those stitches. If you aren't familiar with some of these terms and what they mean, be sure to check out our knitting dictionary!
Knitting Abbreviations Chart
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| alt | alternate |
| beg | beginning |
| bet | between |
| BO | bind off cast off (UK) |
| Brk | brioche knit |
| Brp | brioche purl |
| CA, CB | color A, color B |
| CC | contrasting color |
| cn | cable needle |
| CO | cast on |
| cont | continue |
| dec(s) | decrease(s) decreasing |
| dpn | double point needle(s) |
| EON | end of needle |
| EOR | end of row |
| FC | front cross |
| fl | front loop(s) |
| foll | follow(s) following |
| grp(s) | groups |
| inc | increase(s) increasing |
| K | knit |
| k2tog | knit two together |
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH | left hand |
| lp(s) | loop(s) |
| M1 | make one stitch |
| MB | make bobble |
| MC | main color |
| P | purl |
| pm | place marker |
| pop | popcorn |
| p2tog | purl two together |
| prev | previous |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over |
| pwise | purlwise |
| rem | remain(ing) |
| rep | repeat(s) |
| RH | right hand |
| rnd(s) | round(s) |
| RS | right side |
| sk | skip |
| skp | skip, knit, pass stitch over |
| sk2p | slip one, knit two together, pass slip stitch over the knit |
| sl | slip |
| sl1k | slip 1 knitwise |
| sl1p | slip 1 purlwise |
| sl st(s) | slip stitch(es) |
| ssk | slip, slip, knit |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| T2L T2R |
twist two to the left twist two to the right |
| tbl | through back loop |
| tog | together |
| won | wool over needle |
| wrn | wool around needle |
| WS | wrong side |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| yd(s) | yard(s) |
| yo yfwd (UK) |
yarn over yarn forward |
| yrn | yarn around needle |
| yon | yarn over needle |
The Knitting Dictionary
For more explanations of common knitting terms, be sure to check out our article of knitting terms explained!
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grandmafred2000 26 67322
Mar 29, 2014
what does ssk mean when knitting & how do I do it
craftedbyfox
Jan 11, 2017
ssk = slip, slip, knit. You slip two stitches from the left needle onto the right needle then insert your left needle in front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together. It is like k2tog but makes the stitch slant in the opposite direction which gives a more symmetrical finish.
Majid
Jan 23, 2019
https//www.allfreeknitting.com/video-basics/How-to == -Work-a-SSK-Knit-Decrease
marshm94 9590324
Mar 02, 2014
What does *k1tb1, p4 mean? I have never seen this before.
Majid
Jan 23, 2019
The closest one i know is this K1tbl (the last word is "L", not "1"), which means "knit through the back loop" These pages have explanation of it https//www.allfreeknitting.com/video-basics/How == -to-Make-1-Left-M1L https//www.allfreeknitting.com == /video-basics/How-to-Knit-the-KFB-Increase P4 means, Purl 4 times "" means "repeat the instructions following the asterisk as directed", how or how many times (direction) to repeat is usually explained afterwards, if it is not explained, it means to repeat until end of the row The "" abbreviation is in a booklet (PDF file) at the beginning of this page https//www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutorial == s/Knitting-Class It is titled " Download the bigginer's booklet" More info at this page, (Asterisks section) https//www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutorial == s/how-to-read-knitting-patterns
Majid
Jan 23, 2019
The closest one i know is this K1tbl (the last word is "L", not "1"), which means "knit through the back loop" These pages have explanation of it https//www.allfreeknitting.com/video-basics/Ho == w-to-Make-1-Left-M1L https//www.allfreeknitting.co == m/video-basics/How-to-Knit-the-KFB-Increase
Majid
Jan 23, 2019
The closest one i know is this ## K1tbl (the last word is "L", not "1"), which means "knit through the back loop" ## These pages have explanation of it ## https//www.allfreeknitting.com/video-basics/How == -to-Make-1-Left-M1L https//www.allfreeknitting.com == /video-basics/How-to-Knit-the-KFB-Increase ## P4 means, Purl 4 times ## " asterisk " means "repeat the instructions following the asterisk as directed", how or how many times (direction) to repeat is usually explained afterwards, if it is not explained, it means to repeat until end of the row ## The "" abbreviation is in a booklet (PDF file) at the beginning of this page ## https//www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutori == als/Knitting-Class ## It is titled " Download the bigginer's booklet" ## More info at this page, (Asterisks section) ## https//www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutori == als/how-to-read-knitting-patterns
Majid
Jan 23, 2019
The closest one i know is this ## K1tbl (the last word is "L", not "1"), which means "knit through the back loop" ## These pages have explanation of it ## https//www.allfreeknitting.com/video-basics/How == -to-Make-1-Left-M1L https//www.allfreeknitting.com == /video-basics/How-to-Knit-the-KFB-Increase ## P4 means, Purl 4 times ## "asterisk " means "repeat the instructions following the asterisk as directed", how or how many times (direction) to repeat is usually explained afterwards, if it is not explained, it means to repeat until end of the row ## The "asterisk " abbreviation is in a booklet (PDF file) at the beginning of this page ## https//www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutori == als/Knitting-Class ## It is titled " Download the bigginer's booklet" ## More info at this page, (Asterisks section) ## https//www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutori == als/how-to-read-knitting-patterns
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