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.
- alt – alternate
- approx – approximately
- beg – beginning
- bet – between
- bo – bind off
- 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
- cc – contrasting color
- ch – chain
- cm – centimeter
- cn – cable needle
- cont – continue
- 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
- dc – double crochet
- dec – decrease
- dec(d) – decreased
- dec(s) – decrease(s)
- dp – double pointed needles
- dpn – double pointed needles
- foll – follow, follows, following
- g st – garter stitch
- hdc – half double crochet
- in – inch
- inc(d) – increased
- inc(s) – increase(s), increasing
- incl – including
- k – knit
- k1-b – knit 1 stitch in row below
- k1b-tbl – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
- 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
- k1tbl – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
- k3tog – knit 3 stitches together
- 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
- 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
- kkyopsso – knit 2 stitches, make a yarn over, pass the two knit stitches over the yarn over
- 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
- krb – knit in the row below
- 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
- lh – left hand
- lp(s) – loop(s)
- lt – left twist
- m – marker
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- mb – make bobble
- mc – main color
- mk – make knit
- p – purl
- p1-b – purl 1 stitch in row below
- p2sso – pass 2 slipped stitches over number of stitches indicated in the pattern
- p2tog – purl 2 stitches together
- p3tog – purl 3 stitches together
- pat(s) – pattern(s)
- 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
- pm – place marker
- psso – pass slipped stitches over number of stitches indicated in the pattern
- rem – remaining
- rep – repeat
- rev – reverse
- rev st st – reverse stockinette stitch
- rh – right hand
- rnd – round
- rpt – repeat
- rs – right side
- rt – right twist
- s2kp2 – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stiches over knitted stitch
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sk2p – slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stich over
- sk2psso – slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stitch over
- skp – slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over
- sl – slip
- sl st – slip stitch
- sl1k – slip 1 stitch knitwise
- sl1p – slip 1 stitch purlwise
- sm – slip marker
- sp(s) – space(s)
- ss – slip stitch
- ssk – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, place left needle through front of 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together through back loop
- 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
- sssk – slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit the 3 stitches together
- 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
- st – stitch
- st st – stockinette stitch
- tbl – through the back loop
- t-ch – turning chain
- tog – together
- tr – treble crochet stitch
- w&t – wrap and turn
- wb – move yarn between the needles to the back of the work
- wf – move yarn between the needles to the front of the work
- wl bk – move yarn between the needles to the back of the work
- wl fwd – move yarn between the needles to the front of the work
- wrn – wrap yarn around needle
- ws – wrong side
- wyib – with yarn in back
- wyif – with yarn in front
- yb – yarn in back
- yd – yard
- yf – yarn in front
- yfon – yarn forward and over needle
- yfrn – yarn forward and round needle
- yfwd – move yarn between the needles to the front of the work
- yo – yarn over
- yo twice – yarn over twice
- yo2 – yarn over twice
- yon – yarn over needle
- 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.
