Knitting abbreviations are often used for brevity in describing knitting patterns.
Knitting abbreviations can be grouped by what they describe:
* | repeat between *. | Instruction between asterisks (*) should be repeated as many times as indicated. For example, "k1, *p1 k1* until end of row" means that you should knit the first stitch, then continue the pattern "p1 k1" until you reach the end of the row. |
alt | alternate. | For example, "inc 1 st at end of every alt rw" means that you need to increase by one stitch at the end of every other row. |
BO | bind off. | This is used primarily for ending a work, but can also be used for shaping or creating buttonholes. |
CO | cast on. | This is used primarily for beginning a work, but can also be used for shaping or creating buttonholes. |
g st | garter stitch. | This refers to a knitting pattern in which both the right and wrong sides are knit. |
k | knit. | Knit a stitch. A number can be added to indicate how many stitches should be knit, for example k2 means "knit two stitches." |
k2tog | Knit two together. | Indicates two stitches should be knitted together as one, used for making increases in a row. |
kb; k-b; k1b | knit one below. | This indicates that you should knit into the stitch in the row below. |
kfb | knit front and back. | This indicates that you should knit into the front and back of the same stitch. This results in an increase of stitches. |
kwise; kw | knitwise. | This term indicates that the right needle should be put through the next stitch as if to knit. It usually refers to a slip stitch. |
m1 | make one. | This indicates a knitting increase. |
MB | make bobble. | Making a bobble entails working into the same stitch more than once. Typically a pattern will indicate particular instructions for making a bobble. |
p | purl. | Purl a stitch. A number can be added to indicate how many stitches should be purled, for example p2 means "purl two stitches." |
pb; p-b; p1b | purl one below. | This indicates that you should purl into the stitch in the row below. |
pfb | purl front and back. | This indicates that you should purl into the front and back of the same stitch. This results in an increase of stitches. |
psso | pass slipped stitch over. | This indicates that a previously slipped stitch should be brought over the stitch currently on the right needle. It is seen in instructions after a slip stitch and another stitch, such as a knit or knit two together. For example, "sl1, k1, psso", means that the slipped stitch should be passed over the knit stitch. |
pwise; pw | purlwise. | This indicates that the right needle should be put through the next stitch as if to purl. It usually refers to a slip stitch. |
rem | remaining. | This indicates how many stitches are remaining. For example, "k20, 10 rem" means that after you knit 20 stitches, there should be 10 stitches remaining on the left needle. |
rev st st | reverse stockinette stitch. | This refers to a knitting pattern in which the wrong side is knit and the right side is purled. |
RS | Right side. | Indicates the right side of a work; the side that will be seen when the work is being worn/used. |
skp; skpsso | slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over. | This indicates that you should slip one stitch, knit the next one, and then pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch. This results in a decrease of stitches. |
sl | slip. | This indicates that the next stitch should be slipped to the right needle without being knitted or purled. A number can be added to indicate how many stitches should be slipped, for example sl2 means "slip two stitches." A slipped stitch can be referred to as "sl st" |
ssk | slip, slip, knit. | This indicates that you should slip two stitches knitwise individually, then knit them together through the back loop. This results in a decrease of stitches. |
st st | stockinette stitch. | This refers to a knitting pattern in which the right side is knit and the wrong side is purled. |
tbl | through back loop. | This indicates that a stitch should be worked through the back loop. For example, "p2tog tbl" indicates that two stitches should be purled together through the back loop. |
tog | together. | This modifier indicates that more than one stitch should be worked together. For example, "k2tog" means "knit two stitches together"; "p3tog" means "purl three stitches together". This results in a decrease of stitches. |
WS | Wrong side. | Indicates the wrong side of a work; the side that will be hidden when the work is being worn/used. |
wyib | with yarn in back. | This usually refers to slipping stitches, indicating that the next stitch should be slipped while holding the yarn at the back of the work. |
wyif | with yarn in front. | This usually refers to slipping stitches, indicating that the next stitch should be slipped while holding the yarn at the front of the work. |
yo | yarn over. | This indicates that the yarn should be passed over the right needle. This results in an increase of stitches. |
Knitting abbreviations are often used for brevity in describing knitting patterns.
Knitting abbreviations can be grouped by what they describe:
* | repeat between *. | Instruction between asterisks (*) should be repeated as many times as indicated. For example, "k1, *p1 k1* until end of row" means that you should knit the first stitch, then continue the pattern "p1 k1" until you reach the end of the row. |
alt | alternate. | For example, "inc 1 st at end of every alt rw" means that you need to increase by one stitch at the end of every other row. |
BO | bind off. | This is used primarily for ending a work, but can also be used for shaping or creating buttonholes. |
CO | cast on. | This is used primarily for beginning a work, but can also be used for shaping or creating buttonholes. |
g st | garter stitch. | This refers to a knitting pattern in which both the right and wrong sides are knit. |
k | knit. | Knit a stitch. A number can be added to indicate how many stitches should be knit, for example k2 means "knit two stitches." |
k2tog | Knit two together. | Indicates two stitches should be knitted together as one, used for making increases in a row. |
kb; k-b; k1b | knit one below. | This indicates that you should knit into the stitch in the row below. |
kfb | knit front and back. | This indicates that you should knit into the front and back of the same stitch. This results in an increase of stitches. |
kwise; kw | knitwise. | This term indicates that the right needle should be put through the next stitch as if to knit. It usually refers to a slip stitch. |
m1 | make one. | This indicates a knitting increase. |
MB | make bobble. | Making a bobble entails working into the same stitch more than once. Typically a pattern will indicate particular instructions for making a bobble. |
p | purl. | Purl a stitch. A number can be added to indicate how many stitches should be purled, for example p2 means "purl two stitches." |
pb; p-b; p1b | purl one below. | This indicates that you should purl into the stitch in the row below. |
pfb | purl front and back. | This indicates that you should purl into the front and back of the same stitch. This results in an increase of stitches. |
psso | pass slipped stitch over. | This indicates that a previously slipped stitch should be brought over the stitch currently on the right needle. It is seen in instructions after a slip stitch and another stitch, such as a knit or knit two together. For example, "sl1, k1, psso", means that the slipped stitch should be passed over the knit stitch. |
pwise; pw | purlwise. | This indicates that the right needle should be put through the next stitch as if to purl. It usually refers to a slip stitch. |
rem | remaining. | This indicates how many stitches are remaining. For example, "k20, 10 rem" means that after you knit 20 stitches, there should be 10 stitches remaining on the left needle. |
rev st st | reverse stockinette stitch. | This refers to a knitting pattern in which the wrong side is knit and the right side is purled. |
RS | Right side. | Indicates the right side of a work; the side that will be seen when the work is being worn/used. |
skp; skpsso | slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over. | This indicates that you should slip one stitch, knit the next one, and then pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch. This results in a decrease of stitches. |
sl | slip. | This indicates that the next stitch should be slipped to the right needle without being knitted or purled. A number can be added to indicate how many stitches should be slipped, for example sl2 means "slip two stitches." A slipped stitch can be referred to as "sl st" |
ssk | slip, slip, knit. | This indicates that you should slip two stitches knitwise individually, then knit them together through the back loop. This results in a decrease of stitches. |
st st | stockinette stitch. | This refers to a knitting pattern in which the right side is knit and the wrong side is purled. |
tbl | through back loop. | This indicates that a stitch should be worked through the back loop. For example, "p2tog tbl" indicates that two stitches should be purled together through the back loop. |
tog | together. | This modifier indicates that more than one stitch should be worked together. For example, "k2tog" means "knit two stitches together"; "p3tog" means "purl three stitches together". This results in a decrease of stitches. |
WS | Wrong side. | Indicates the wrong side of a work; the side that will be hidden when the work is being worn/used. |
wyib | with yarn in back. | This usually refers to slipping stitches, indicating that the next stitch should be slipped while holding the yarn at the back of the work. |
wyif | with yarn in front. | This usually refers to slipping stitches, indicating that the next stitch should be slipped while holding the yarn at the front of the work. |
yo | yarn over. | This indicates that the yarn should be passed over the right needle. This results in an increase of stitches. |