Knitting Abbreviations

Working through a knitting pattern can sometimes be like decoding hieroglyphics when you first start out. Did you know that there are standard abbreviations that are to be used in patterns to make it easier? I say easier but it only becomes that when you know what the abbreviations mean. Bookmark this page to use on your next knitting pattern when you run across a term you don’t know!

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Knitting Abbreviations

Although there is no standard for how a pattern needs to be formatted there are standards on what terminology to use in the pattern. Below is a list of the most common abbreviations you will find in your knitting patterns. Bookmark this page so that you can refer back to it when you have a question.

Most of these should be explained in the pattern if it is used. I will continue to update this page with videos as I make them to show you how to do most of these knitting moves.

List of Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Description
alt	alternate
beg	beginning
BO	bind off
byo	backward yarn over
CC	contrasting color
cn	cable needle
CO	cast on
cont	continue
dec	decrease
dpn	double-pointed needles
inc	increase
k	knit
k1B	knit stitch in row below
kfb VIDEO	knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase
ksp	knit 1 stitch, slip this stitch from right needle to left needle, pass second stitch on left needle over first stitch and off left needle; return stitch to right needle; single right-leaning decrease
k2tog	knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease
kwise	knitwise
M1 or M1K VIDEO	make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase
M1R	make one right; single right-leaning knit increase
M1L	make one left; single left-leaning knit increase
M1p	make one purlwise; single purl increase
M1rp	make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase
M1lp	make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase
MC	main color
p	purl
pfb	purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase
pm	place marker
p2tog	purl 2 stitches together; single decrease
prev	previous
psso	pass slipped stitch over
p2sso	pass 2 slipped stitches over
pwise	purlwise
rem	remaining
rep	repeat
rev St st	reverse stockinette stitch
rnd	round

RS	right side
SKP	slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease
SK2P	slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease
sl	slip
sl1k	slip 1 knitwise
sl1p	slip 1 purlwise
sl st	slip stitch
sm	slip marker
ssk	slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
ssp	slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
sssk	slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease
sssp	slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease
S2KP2	slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch; centered double decrease
SSPP2	slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and then slip them as if to p2tog through back loops, purl 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over purl stitch; centered double decrease
st	stitch
St st	stockinette stitch
tbl	through back loop
tfl	through front loop
tog	together
WS	wrong side
w&t	wrap and turn
wyib	with yarn in back
wyif	with yarn in front
yb	yarn back
yfwd or yf	yarn forward
yo	yarn over

5 Knitting Technique Videos

1. How to cable without a needle
2. Knitting Backwards
3. 3 Ways to add a lifeline
4. Perfect 2×2 Ribbing
5. Italian Cast on