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.
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