Standard Knitting Abbreviations
Use this key as a reference for new and unfamiliar abbreviations found in knitting patterns.
| [ ] |
Work instructions within brackets as many times as directed |
| ( ) | Work instructions within parentheses in the place directed |
| * | Repeat instructions following the asterisk as directed |
| * to ** | Repeat instructions between the * and ** as directed |
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximate |
| beg | beginning/begin |
| bet | between |
| BO | bind off |
| CO | cast on |
| cont | continue |
| dec | decrease/decreases/decreasing |
| dpn | double-pointed needles |
| foll | follow/follows/following |
| g st | garter stitch |
| inc | increase/increases/increasing |
| k or K | knit |
| k1,p1 | knit 1, purl 1 |
| k2tog | knit 2 together
|
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH
|
left-hand |
| m1
|
make 1 stitch |
| m1 p-st | make 1 purl stitch |
| p or P | purl |
| p2tog | purl 2 stitches together |
| pm | place marker |
| prev | previous |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over |
| pwise | purlwise |
| rem | remain/remaining
|
| rep | repeat(s) |
| rev St st | reverse stockinette stitch |
| RH
|
right-hand
|
| rnd(s) | round(s) |
| RS | right side |
| sk | skip |
| skp | slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over-1 stitch decreased |
| sk2p | slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over the knit 2 together -- 2 stitches decreased |
| sl | slip |
| sl1k | slip 1 knitwise
|
| sl1p | slip 1 purlwise |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| ssk
|
slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together -- a decrease |
| sssk | slip, slip, slip, knit these 3 stitches together -- a 2-stitch decrease |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| St st | stockinette stitch |
| tbl | through back loop |
| tog | together |
| WS | wrong side |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| yfwd | yarn forward |
| yo | yarn over |
| yon | yarn over needle |
You've learned the basics of knitting -- but there's always room to improve. Keep working on the techniques detailed in this article and your projects will soon have a professional look.
