Ever find patterns a little bit cryptic? (Don’t worry! You’re not alone.) Whether you’re new to the knitting game or just need a refresh, we’ve put together an encyclopedia of all those nifty abbreviations and what they mean so you won’t be left scratching your head.

Knitting abbreviation

Explanation

"

inches

()

work instructions between parentheses as many times as directed

[]

work instructions between brackets as many times as directed

*

repeat instructions from the single asterix as directed

**

repeat instructions until double asterix as directed

alt

alternate

approx.

approximately

beg

begin(ning)

bet

between

BO

bind off (continental or English)

CA

colour A

CB

colour 4

CC

contrasting colour

cdd

centered double decrease. sl2 tog, K1, pass the slipped stitches over (together) English or Continental

ch

chain (using crochet hook). Start with a slip knot.

cm

centimeters

cn

cable needle: short knitting needle, used as an aid in the twisting of a cable.

CO

cast on / off

cont

continue

cross

2 L 2 stitches to the left (to work a cable). Slip 2 stitches p­url wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle hang in front of work as you knit the next couple of stitches; then knit stitches off of cable needle.

cross

2 R 2 stitches to the right (to work a cable). slip 2 stitches purl ­wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle hang in back of work as you knit the next couple of stitches; then knit stitches off of cable needle.

dec(s)

decrease(s)

DK

Double Knitting weight yarn. Slightly finer than worsted weight.

EON

end of needle

EOR

end of row

FC

front cross (when working a cable)

fl

front loop

g

aka gr gram

g st

garter stitch

in(s)

inch(es)

inc(s)

increase(s)

incl

including

k

knit

k tbl

aka K1 tbl, K1b Knit stitch through the backloop English or Continental

k1 f&b

aka kfb knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back. This is also called a Bar Increase English or continental

k2tog

knit 2 stitches together

k2tog tbl

knit 2 stitches together, through the back loops

k­b

knit stitch in row below English or Continental (Infrequently used for knit through the back loop; see K tbl)

kll

knit left loop. An increase

krl

knit right loop. An increase

k­wise

knit­wise. Insert right needle into the stitch as if to knit it

LC

left cross (to work a cable). As in: cross 2 L

LH

left hand

lp(s)

loop(s)

LT

left twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible)

m

meter(s)

M1

Make 1. This means to increase a stitch. If the method isn't specified, use whichever increase you like, for instance M1F

M1A

make 1 away. An Increase English or Continental

M1L

aka M1, M1F make 1 (front)(left). An increase. From the front, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back of loop English or Continental

M1R

aka M1B make 1 (back) (right). An increase. From the back, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into front of loop

M1T

make 1 towards. An Increase

MB

make bobble

MC

main colour

mm

millimeters(s)

no

number

oz

ounce(s)

p

purl English or Continental

p tbl

aka P1 tbl, P1b purl through the back loop

p-b

purl stitch in the row below. (infrequently used to mean purl stitch in the back loop; see p tbl)

p-wise

purl wise: Insert right needle down into the front loop, or up into the back loop for tbl

p1 f&b

aka pfb purl the front of a stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch

p2tog

purl 2 together

p2tog tbl

purl 2 together through the back loops

pat(s)

aka patt(s) pattern(s)

PM

place marker

PNSO

pass next stitch over

pop

popcorn stitch

prev

previous

PSSO

pass the slipped stitch over (as in slip 1, knit 1, psso)

pu

pick up stitches

RC

right cross (to work a cable), as in: cross 2 R

rem

remaining

rep

repeat(s)

rev StSt

Reverse stockinette/stocking stitch. The "purl" side of plain, stocking stitch. Purled on RS, knitted on WS

RH

right hand

rib

ribbing: vertical columns of knit and purl stitches, side by side, as in K1, P1 ribbing

rnd(s)

round(s). In circular knitting, a "row" is called a "round."

RS

right side, for instance the outside of a sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions

RT

right twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible)

sk

skip

sk2p

slip1, knit 2 tog, pass slipped stitch over. (a double decrease)

SKP

aka skpo "Slip, Knit, Pass." Slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one. The same as: sl1, k1, psso

sl

aka s slip a stitch. If they don't specify, slip the stitch purl-wise....Unless you are decreasing: then, slip it knit-wise on the knit rows, and purl-wise on the purl rows

sl st

slip stitch(es)

sl1, k1, psso

slip1, knit1, pass the slipped stitch over. The same as SKP

sl1p

aka sl 1 p-wise slip a stitch purl-wise

slip

knot an adjustable loop, used to begin many cast-on methods

sp(s)

space(s)

ss

slip stitch (Canadian)

ssk

slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together. A decrease

ssk (improved)

sl 1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped stitches together

ssp

slip, slip, purl. A decrease, usually done on the purl-side

sssk

slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together. A double decrease

st (s)

stitch(es)

st St

Stockinette/Stocking stitch

tbl

through the back loop

won

wool over needle

wrn

wool round needle

WS

wrong side, for instance the inside of the sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions

wyib

with yarn in back

wyif

with yarn in front

yb

aka ybk yarn to the back

yd(s)

yard(s)

yfon

yarn forward and over needle. Same as yo

yfrn

yarn forward and 'round needle. Same as yo

yfwd

aka yf yarn forward

yo

yarn over: wrap the yarn around right needle

yo2

aka yo twice yarn over twice

yon

yarn over needle. Same as yo

yrn

yarn 'round needle. Same as yo