Complete guide to knitting abbreviations
See more from Simply Knitting magazineNew to knitting or need a quick reminder of a knitting term? You've come to the right place! Here's our guide to the common abbreviations you'll find in our patterns.
Want to know your K from your P and your k2tog from your ssk? We’ve got them all and more in our list of commonly used knitting abbreviations!
Need crochet abbreviations? We’ve got them here.
Click here for yarn weights and needle size conversions.
*
work instructions immediately following *, then repeat as directed
alt
alternate
approx
approximately
b&t
(break and tighten) break off the yarn and thread the end through the st(s) left on the needle. Pull the end of the yarn to tighten the st(s) together
beg
beginning
C2B
slip next stitch to cn & hold at back, K1; K1 from cn
C2F
slip next stitch to cn & hold at front, K1; K1 from cn
C4B
slip next 2 stitches to cn & hold at back, K2; K2 from cn
C4F
slip next 2 stitches to cn & hold at front, K2; K2 from cn
C6B
slip next 3 stitches to cn & hold at back, K3; K3 from cn
C6F
slip next 3 stitches to cn & hold at front, K3; K3 from cn
cb
cable back
CC
contrast colour
cf
cable forward
cn
cable needle
co
cast on
cont
continue
dec
decrease(ing) (by working two stitches together)
est
established
DK
double knitting
DPNs
double-pointed needles
foll/s
following/follows
g st
garter stitch (knit every row)
inc
increase (usually knit into same stitch twice)
K/k
knit
k2tog
knit the next two stitches together
kfb
knit into front and back of stitch
kwise
knitwise; by knitting the stitch
k(1)tbl
knit (1) into back loop
LH
left hand
LT
left twist
M1
make one by knitting into back of loop between two stitches (increase 1 stitch)
M1pw
make 1 st purlwise: with LH needle lift the strand between next and last st from front to back and purl through the back loop
M1L
(left leaning increase) with left needle tip, lift strand between needles from front to back. Knit lifted loop through back of loop
M1R
(right leaning increase) with left needle tip, lift strand between needles from back to front. Knit lifted loop through front of loop
M1P
make one purlwise by purling into back of loop between two stitches (increase 1 stitch)
MB
make a bobble
MC
main colour
meas
measure(s)
mrk
marker
P/p
purl
p(1)tbl
purl (1) into back of the loop
P2tog
purl 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
P3tog
purl 3 stitches together (2 stitches decreased)
patt(s)
pattern(s)
PB
place bead
pfb
purl into front and back of stitch
PM
place marker
prev
previous
psso
pass slipped stitch(es) over
pwise
(purlwise) by purling the stitch
rem
remain/remaining
rep(s)
repeat(s)
rev st st
reverse stocking stitch
RH
right hand
rib2tog
either k2tog or p2tog dep on what next stitch in ribbing should be (keeps ribbing looking neat on buttonholes)
rnd(s)
round(s) (on a circular needle/DPNs)
RS
right side
RT
right twist
skpo
slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over (1 stitch decreased)
sk2po
slip 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stitch over (2 stitches decreased)
s2kpo
slip 2 tog kwise, knit 1, pass slipped sts over (2 stitches decreased)
sl
slip
sl st
slip stitch
SM
stitch marker
ssk
slip 2 stitches one at a time, knit 2 slipped stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
sssk
slip 3 stitches one at a time, knit 3 slipped stitches together (two stitches decreased)
ssp
slip 2 stitches one at a time, purl 2 slipped stitches together through back loops (1 stitch decreased)
st(s)
stitch(es)
st st
stocking stitch
T2B
slip next stitch to cn & hold at back, K1; P1 from cn
T2F
slip next stitch to cn & hold at front, P1; K1 from cn
tbl
through the back of the loop
tog
together
W3
(wrap 3 stitches) with yarn held at back of work, slip next 3 sts to cn and hold at front of work. Wrap yarn 3 times around these 3 sts, being careful not to pull it too tight and ending up with yarn at back of work. Slip the 3 sts to right needle without knitting them
w&t
(wrap and turn) slip next st from LH to RH needle, take yarn between needles to other side of work, slip st back to LH needle, take yarn between needles to its starting point, then turn. On next row, knit or purl the wrapped stitch together with the strand wrapping around it
WS
wrong side
wyib
with yarn in back
wyif
with yarn in front
ybk
yarn to the back
yfwd
yarn forward
yo
yarn over
yrn
yarn round needle
yon
yarn over needle
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