How to Understand Knitting Abbreviations

Unsure what the abbreviations in our free knitting patterns mean? Check out our handy knitting abbreviations guide to answer your questions. Abbreviations are listed in alphabetical order.

Looking for crochet abbreviations? See our guide to crochet abbreviations.

Abbreviation

Description

alt

alternate(ing)

approx

approximately

beg

beginning

C4B

Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at back of work. K2, then K2 from cable needle

C4F

Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at front of work. K2, then K2 from cable needle

CL

K2tog. Keep stitches on left-hand needle. P2tog into the same stiches. Slip off left-hand needle

cm

centimeter(s)

co

cast on

cast on

continue(ity)

dec

decrease(ing)

dtr

double treble

g

gram(s)

inc

increase 1 stitch by knitting into front and back of next stitch

K

knit

K1below

knit into next stitch 1 row below

K1tbl

Knit next stitch through back of loop

K2tog

Knit 2 stitches together

K2togtbl

Knit 2 stitches together through back loops

K3(4,n)tog

Knit next 3(4, n)stitches together

kfb

increase 1 stitch by knitting into front and back of next stitch

M1

Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch andknitting into back of loop.

M1P

Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and purling into back of loop.

MB

Make bobble: [(K1. yfwd) 3 times. K1] all in next st. Turn. P7. Turn. Sl1. K1. psso. K3. K2tog. Turn. P2tog. P1. P2togtbl. Turn. Sl1. K2tog. psso - bobble made

mm

millimeter(s)

oz

ounce(s)

p

purl

P2tog

P2togpurl two stitches together

P3(4,n)tog

purl next 3(4,n) stitches together

P2togtbl

purl 2 stitches together through back loops

pat

pattern

psso

pass slipped stitch over

rem

remain(ing)

rep

repeat

rnd(s)

round(s)

RS

right side

Sl st

Slip stitch

Sl1

Slip next stitch knitwise

Sl1K

Slip next stitch knitwise

Sl1P

Slip next stitch purlwise

ssk

Slip next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto left-hand needle, then knit through back loops together

st st

stocking stitch

st(s)

stitch(es)

tog

together

WS

wrong side

yb

bring yarn into back of work

yf

bring yarn into front of work

yfwd

yarn forward (makes 1 extra stitch)

yo

yarn over theneedle (makes 1 extra stitch)

yon

yarn over needle (same as yo -makes 1 extra stitch)

yrn

yarn round needle (makes 1 extra stitch)