Knitting Abbreviations - tips, ideas and such...

Knitting Abbreviation

Standard knitting abbreviations, terms and symbols are used in order to reduce knitting instructions length. If it were not for these shortened abbreviations and symbols, knitting patterns could take several pages. Below is the terminology and knitting pattern abbreviations to learn before you begin to knit.


alt

alternate
approx
approximately

beg

begin, beginning

CC

contrasting color

ch

chain

cm(s)

centimeter(s)

cn

cable needle

cont continue, continuing
c2b cable to back
c4b cable 4 back
c2f cable to front
c4f cable 4 front
dec(s) decrease(s), decreasing
dp double pointed
dpn double-pointed needles
foll following
g grams
inc(s)
increase(s), increasing

join attatch yarn
k knit
k2tog knit 2 stitches together
k2tog tbl knit 2 stitches together through back loop
k-wise insert needle as though to knit
LH left-hand
lp loop
m meters
M1 make 1
MC main color
oz(s) ounces
p purl
p2tog purl 2 stitches together
p2tog tbl purl 2 stitches together through back loop
pat pattern
pm place marker
psso pass slipped stitch over the knitted one
p-wise insert needle as though to purl
rem remaining
rep repeat
RH right-hand
RS right side
rnd(s) round(s)
sk skip
SKP slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over
SK2P slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together
sl slip
sl-k slip 1 stitch knitwise
sl-p slip 1 stitch purlwise
sl st slip stitch
ssk slip, slip, knit
st(s) stitch(es)
St st Stockinette stitch
thru through
tbl through back of loop
tog together
work even to keep in pattern across the row
WS wrong side
wyib with yarn in back
wyif with yarn in front
yb yarn back
yd(s) yards
yf yarn forward
yo yarn over needle
* work instructions immediately following *, then repeat as directed.
[ ] repeat instructions within brackets as many times as indicated
- the number of sts that should be on your needles or across a row is given after a dash at the end of the row. (ths serves as a check point mostly after a section of increasing or decreasing).
+ plus signs indicate that you should repeat something between the plus signs.