111 Knitting Abbreviations Every Knitter Should Know

Knitting abbreviations are used in knitting patterns to save space when printing and to make patterns easier to read. But if you don’t know what an abbreviation means, it’s like you’re reading an unfamiliar language.

While many knitting abbreviations make sense to people who been knitting for a while, they can be confusing and frustrating to new knitters. And when long-time knitters come across an unfamiliar abbreviation, they can be just as confused and have no idea how to do the next stitch in the pattern.

Common Knitting Abbreviations

Here are 111 common abbreviations you will find in knitting patterns. Whether you’re looking for knitting abbreviations for ssk, pm, kfb, tbl, sm, psso, yo, or rs, you’re sure to find what you need and a little more.

1. alt – alternate
2. approx – approximately
3. beg – beginning
4. bet – between
5. bo – bind off
6. cable – move number of stitch(es) as indicated in the pattern to the cable needle, hold cable needle in the front of or back of work as indicated in pattern and work next set of stitches per pattern, then work stitch(es) off of cable needle
7. cc – contrasting color
8. ch – chain
9. cm – centimeter
10. cn – cable needle
11. cont – continue
12. cross – move number of stitch(es) as indicated in the pattern to the cable needle, hold cable needle in the front of back of work as indicated in pattern and work next set of stitches per pattern, then work stitch(es) off of cable needle
13. dc – double crochet
14. dec – decrease
15. dec(d) – decreased
16. dec(s) – decrease(s)
17. dp – double pointed needles
18. dpn – double pointed needles
19. foll – follow, follows, following
20. g st – garter stitch
21. hdc – half double crochet
22. in – inch
23. inc(d) – increased
24. inc(s) – increase(s), increasing
25. incl – including
26. k – knit
27. k1-b – knit 1 stitch in row below
28. k1b-tbl – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
29. k1-f/b – knit the next stitch but do not remove the stitch from the left needle, then knit through the back loop of the same stitch and remove the stitch from the needle
30. k1tbl – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
31. k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
32. k3tog – knit 3 stitches together
33. kfb – knit the next stitch but do not remove the stitch from the left needle, then knit through the back loop of the same stitch and remove the stitch from the needle
34. kfbf – knit the next stitch but do not remove the stitch from the left needle, then knit through the back loop of the same stitch and remove the stitch from the needle
35. kkyopsso – knit 2 stitches, make a yarn over, pass the two knit stitches over the yarn over
36. k-p-k – knit the next stitch but do not remove the stitch from the left needle, purl through the back loop of the same stitch, knit into the same stitch and remove the stitch from the needle
37. krb – knit in the row below
38. k-yo-k – knit the next stitch but do not remove the stitch from the left needle, make a yarn over, then knit into the stitch again and remove the stitch from the needle
39. lh – left hand
40. lp(s) – loop(s)
41. lt – left twist
42. m – marker
43. m1 – make 1 by inserting the left needle from front to back lifting a strand of yarn between the stitches on each needle then knit the strand through the back loop
44. m1L – make 1 by inserting the left needle from front to back lifting a strand of yarn between the stitches on each needle then knit the strand through the back loop
45. m1p – make 1 by inserting the left needle from back to front lifting a strand of yarn between the stitches on each needle then purl strand through the front loop
46. m1pR – make 1 by inserting the left needle from back to front lifting a strand of yarn between the stitches on each needle then purl strand through the front loop
47. m1R – make 1 by inserting the left needle from front to back lifting a strand of yarn between the stitches on each needle then knit the strand
48. mb – make bobble
49. mc – main color
50. mk – make knit
51. p – purl
52. p1-b – purl 1 stitch in row below
53. p2sso – pass 2 slipped stitches over number of stitches indicated in the pattern
54. p2tog – purl 2 stitches together
55. p3tog – purl 3 stitches together
56. pat(s) – pattern(s)
57. pfb – purl into the front of the stitch but do not remove the stitch from the left needle, then purl through the back loop of the same stitch and remove the stitch from the needle
58. pm – place marker
59. psso – pass slipped stitches over number of stitches indicated in the pattern
60. rem – remaining
61. rep – repeat
62. rev – reverse
63. rev st st – reverse stockinette stitch
64. rh – right hand
65. rnd – round
66. rpt – repeat
67. rs – right side
68. rt – right twist
69. s2kp2 – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stiches over knitted stitch
70. sc – single crochet
71. sk – skip
72. sk2p – slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stich over
73. sk2psso – slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stitch over
74. skp – slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over
75. sl – slip
76. sl st – slip stitch
77. sl1k – slip 1 stitch knitwise
78. sl1p – slip 1 stitch purlwise
79. sm – slip marker
80. sp(s) – space(s)
81. ss – slip stitch
82. ssk – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, place left needle through front of 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together through back loop
83. ssp – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, pass the 2 stitches back to the left needle, purl the 2 stitches together through the back loops
84. sssk – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit the 3 stitches together
85. sssp – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, pass the 3 stitches back to the left needle, purl the 3 stitches through the back loops
86. st – stitch
87. st st – stockinette stitch
88. tbl – through the back loop
89. t-ch – turning chain
90. tog – together
91. tr – treble crochet stitch
92. w&t – wrap and turn
93. wb – move yarn between the needles to the back of the work
94. wf – move yarn between the needles to the front of the work
95. wl bk – move yarn between the needles to the back of the work
96. wl fwd – move yarn between the needles to the front of the work
97. wrn – wrap yarn around needle
98. ws – wrong side
99. wyib – with yarn in back
100. wyif – with yarn in front
101. yb – yarn in back
102. yd – yard
103. yf – yarn in front
104. yfon – yarn forward and over needle
105. yfrn – yarn forward and round needle
106. yfwd – move yarn between the needles to the front of the work
107. yo – yarn over
108. yo twice – yarn over twice
109. yo2 – yarn over twice
110. yon – yarn over needle
111. yrn – yarn round needle

What Does it Mean When Knitting Instructions are in Brackets?

When knitting instructions are in brackets, it means that you should work the instructions within the brackets as many times as directed.

What do Asterisks ** Mean in Knitting Instructions?

When knitting instructions are in asterisks, it means you should work the stitches between the asterisks as many times as directed.

Why are Crochet Abbreviations Used in Knitting Patterns?

Some knitting patterns call for crochet edgings and will use crochet abbreviations in the instructions for the edging.

Also, some methods for the provisional cast-on use a crochet chain as part of the cast-on. A chain is crocheted, with the cast-on stitches knitted directly into the crochet chain. The crochet chain keeps the knitting stitches “live” until they are ready to be worked later in the pattern.

What Does K1 Mean in Knitting?

K1 means knit one. The abbreviation k means knit. Numbers after the letter k represent how many stitches to knit. Thus, k1 means knit one, k2 means knit two, and so on.

What Does P2 Mean in Knitting?

Just as k2 means knit 2, p2 means purl 2. The abbreviation p means purl. Numbers after the p tell you how many stitches to purl. Thus p1 means purl 1, p2 means purl 2, and so on.

I hope these knitting abbreviations and meanings make your knitting patterns easy to understand.