Knitting abbreviations
Every common knitting abbreviation in plain English. Start typing to find one.
Updated
50 abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
alt | alternate |
approx | approximately |
beg | begin, beginning |
BO | bind off UK: cast off |
C4B | cable 4 back: slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold at back, k2, then k2 from cable needle |
C4F | cable 4 front: slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold at front, k2, then k2 from cable needle |
CC | contrast colour |
CDD | centred double decrease: slip 2 together knitwise, k1, pass the 2 slipped sts over |
cn | cable needle |
CO | cast on |
cont | continue |
dec | decrease |
dpn | double-pointed needle(s) |
foll | following |
g st | garter stitch: knit every row |
inc | increase |
k | knit |
k2tog | knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease) |
kfb | knit into the front and back of the same stitch (increase) |
kwise | knitwise |
LH | left hand |
M1 | make one: pick up the bar between stitches and knit it (increase) |
M1L | make one left (left-leaning increase) |
M1R | make one right (right-leaning increase) |
MC | main colour |
p | purl |
p2tog | purl 2 stitches together |
patt | pattern |
pm | place marker |
psso | pass slipped stitch over |
pwise | purlwise |
rem | remaining |
rep | repeat |
RH | right hand |
rnd(s) | round(s) |
RS | right side |
sk2p | slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over (double decrease) |
sl | slip |
sm | slip marker |
ssk | slip, slip, knit: slip 2 sts knitwise one at a time, knit them together (left-leaning decrease) |
ssp | slip, slip, purl (left-leaning decrease on the purl side) |
St st | stockinette stitch: knit RS rows, purl WS rows UK: stocking stitch |
st(s) | stitch(es) |
tbl | through the back loop |
tog | together |
w&t | wrap and turn (short rows) |
WS | wrong side |
wyib | with yarn in back |
wyif | with yarn in front |
yo | yarn over (increase that makes a hole) UK: yfwd, yrn |
Reading a knitting pattern
Patterns use abbreviations to keep rows short. Numbers after an abbreviation say how many times to work it: "k3" means knit three stitches. Asterisks and brackets mark repeats: "*k2, p2; rep from * to end" means keep working k2, p2 until the row is finished.
Designers sometimes define special abbreviations at the start of a pattern. Those always take priority over this list.
Common questions
What does k2tog mean in knitting?
Knit two stitches together as if they were one. It decreases by one stitch and leans to the right.
What is the difference between k2tog and ssk?
Both decrease by one stitch. k2tog leans right and ssk leans left, so patterns often pair them on either side of a raglan line or a V-neck to make the decreases mirror each other.
What does "rep from *" mean?
Repeat the instructions that come after the asterisk (*), as many times as the pattern says or to the end of the row.
Are UK knitting abbreviations different?
Mostly they are the same. The main differences are "cast off" for bind off, "stocking stitch" for stockinette, and "yfwd" or "yrn" for a yarn over.