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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!

Knitting Abbreviations List

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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.

Knitting Abbreviations List

List of Abbreviations

AbbreviationDescription
altalternate
begbeginning
BObind off
byobackward yarn over
CCcontrasting color
cncable needle
COcast on
contcontinue
decdecrease
dpndouble-pointed needles
incincrease
kknit
k1Bknit stitch in row below
kfb
VIDEO
knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase
kspknit 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
k2togknit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease
kwiseknitwise
M1 or M1K
VIDEO
make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase
M1Rmake one right; single right-leaning knit increase
M1Lmake one left; single left-leaning knit increase
M1pmake one purlwise; single purl increase
M1rpmake one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase
M1lpmake one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase
MCmain color
ppurl
pfbpurl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase
pmplace marker
p2togpurl 2 stitches together; single decrease
prevprevious
pssopass slipped stitch over
p2ssopass 2 slipped stitches over
pwisepurlwise
remremaining
reprepeat
rev St streverse stockinette stitch
rndround
RSright side
SKPslip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease
SK2Pslip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease
slslip
sl1kslip 1 knitwise
sl1pslip 1 purlwise
sl stslip stitch
smslip marker
sskslip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
sspslip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
ssskslip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease
ssspslip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease
S2KP2slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch; centered double decrease
SSPP2slip 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
ststitch
St ststockinette stitch
tblthrough back loop
tflthrough front loop
togtogether
WSwrong side
w&twrap and turn
wyibwith yarn in back
wyifwith yarn in front
ybyarn back
yfwd or yfyarn forward
yoyarn 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

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  1. Luann Wright says:

    Thank you! Reading the list I remember learning a lot of these through your KALS and other YouTube videos.

Marly Bird

The One and Only, Marly

Marly is a knitwear and crochet designer (and yarn addict) that is here to help you learn how to knit and crochet in a way that's fun and approachable.

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