Knitting Abbreviations + Terms

When you’re falling in love with yarn and first learning how to knit and how to read a knitting pattern, it can feel like you’re learning a new language… So many knitting abbreviations and terms to navigate! We’re here to translate, and also, in many cases, to show you how to do it with our excellent free knitting tutorials. Next, start speaking your new language and cast on for one of our knitting patterns… Explore and get inspired! And if you’re still stuck, we’re always here to help.

Knitting Tutorials >

 

General
[ ]work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
( )work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed
*repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
**repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions
"inch(es)
A
altalternate
approxapproximately
B
begbegin, beginning
betbetween
bk2togbrioche knit 2 together; knit next knit stitch together with its paired yarnovertutorial
bk3togright-slanting brioche decreasetutorial
bp2togbrioche purl 2 together; purl next purl stitch together with its paired yarnovertutorial
bsk2pleft-slanting brioche decreasetutorial
C
cablea decorative stitch that looks like a twisted rope or braidtutorial
CCcontrast color
ccocable cast ontutorial
cmcentimeter(s)
cncable needle (aka cable stitch holder)tutorial
COcast ontutorial
contcontinue
csdcentered single decrease; a slantless single-stitch decreasetutorial
D
decdecrease, decreases, decreasingtutorial
double knit(ting)a technique for creating a reversible fabrictutorial
dpndouble pointed needle(s)tutorial
F
flfront loop(s)
follfollow, follows, following
G
graft(ing)a method of joining two sets of live stitches; see 'kitchener stitch'tutorial
ggram(s)
I
incincrease, increases, increasingtutorial
K
k or Kknittutorial
k tblknit through the back looptutorial
k1bknit 1 belowtutorial
kfb knit front and back; a single-stitch increasetutorial
k1 ulsknit 1 under loose strand; a decorative stitch techniquetutorial
k2togknit 2 stitches together; a right-slanting, single-stitch decreasetutorial
kitchener stitchmethod of grafting live stitches togethertutorial
kwiseknitwise; as if to knit
L
LHleft hand
LLIleft lifted increase; a single-stitch increasetutorial
lp(s)loop(s)
LTleft twisttutorial
M
mmeter(s)
m1make 1 stitch; either right or lefttutorial
m1 backward loopmake 1 stitch with a backward looptutorial
m1Lmake 1 left; left-slanting, single-stitch increasetutorial
m1Rmake 1 right; right-slanting, single-stitch increasetutorial
m1pmake 1 purlwisetutorial
MBmake bobbletutorial
MCmain color
mmmillimeter(s)
O
ozounce(s)
P
p or Ppurltutorial
p tblpurl through the back looptutorial
p1bpurl 1 belowtutorial
p2togpurl 2 stitches together; a single-stitch decreasetutorial
p2tog tblpurl 2 stitches together through the back loops; similar to​ ssp; a one-stitch decreasetutorial
pat(s) or pattpattern(s)
pfbpurl front and back; a single-stitch increasetutorial
pick(ing) upa method of putting more stitches on your needlestutorial
pmplace markertutorial
poppopcorn; see 'bobble'
prevprevious
pssopass slipped stitch over
pwisepurlwise; as if to purl
R
remremain, remaining
rep(s)repeat(s)
rev St streverse stockinette stitch: the purl side of stockinette stitch
RHright hand
RLIright lifted increase; a single-stitch increasetutorial
rnd(s)round(s)
RSright side
RTright twisttutorial
S
skskip
sk2pslip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over (psso); a two-stitch decreasetutorial
skpslip, knit, pass stitch over; a single-stitch decrease
slslip
sl stslip stitch(es)
sl1kslip 1 knitwise
sl1pslip 1 purlwise
sl1, k1, pssoslip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over; a single-stitch decrease
smslip marker; pass stitch marker from left needle to right needle
sskslip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together; a left-slanting, single-stitch decreasetutorial
ssp slip, slip, purl; one-stitch decrease; also known as p2tog tbltutorial
ssskslip, slip, slip, knit these 3 stitches together; a left-slanting, two-stitch decrease
st(s)stitch(es)
St ststockinette stitch, stocking stitch
s2kpslip 2 together knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitches over (psso); a centered two-stitch decreasetutorial
s2ppslip, slip, purl, pass slipped stitches over (psso); a centered two-stitch decrease worked on the wrong sidetutorial
T
tblthrough back loop
togtogether
W
wrp-twrap and turn; a short-row shaping techniquetutorial
WSwrong side
wyibwith yarn in back
wyifwith yarn in front
Y
yd(s)yard(s)
yf or yfwdyarn forward
yoyarn overtutorial
yrnyarn around needle
yonyarn over needle