Feel a little lost with those knitting abbreviations in your knitting pattern?
Knitting does seem to have it's own language especially when you're reading through a pattern. You'll see letters muddled together and terms that you may not be sure about.
I've created a list of the most common abbreviations and their meanings.
These are basic knitting abbreviations and as you continue learning to knit these will become much easier to understand.
There's always going to be new ones popping up so get used to the basic ones, the rest will come later.
You'll find a lot of the basic knitting abbreviations are just short forms of the word itself, for instance
And if an abbreviation is two words long it will be a short form of the two words, RH for right hand and you guessed it LH for left hand.
Most beginner knitting patterns will have simple abbreviations which you'll be able to familiarize yourself with as you work through the pattern.
And most well written knitting patterns will list the knitting abbreviations used plus an explanation if it's a more complicated stitch.
As you practice and become more familiar with knitting the abbreviations will start making more sense too.
Take a look at the list below. Some have links that you can click on for a little extra help.
alt
alternate
approx
approximately
beg
beginning
bet
between
cn
CO
cont
continue
Cr2BP = cross 2 back purl
Cr2FP = cross 2 front purl
Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in back of work, K1 then P1 from cable needle
Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in front of work. P1 then k1 from cable needle
Cr2F = cross 2 front knit
Cr2B = cross 2 back knit
Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in front of work, knit 1 then k1 from cable needle
Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in back of work, knit 1 then knit 1 from cable needle
dec
dpn(s)
double pointed needle(s)
foll
following
inc(s)
incl
including
K or k
kwise
knitwise
LH
left hand
M1 or m1
P or p
pat or patt
pattern
pm
place marker
prev
previous
psso
pass slipped stitch over
pwise
purlwise
rem
remaining
rep(s)
repeat(s)
RH
right hand
rnd(s)
rounds
RS
right side
SKP
slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (slip as if to purl)
SK2P
slip 1, k2tog, pass slip stitch over
sl 1 st
slip 1 stitch to right needle without knitting it
sm
slip marker
SSK
st(s)
stitch(es)
St st
T3B = twist 3 back |
Twist 3 Back - slip next st to cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 2 sts from left hand needle, then purl st from cable needle |
T3F = twist 3 front |
Twist 3 Front - slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, purl 1 stitch from your left needle, then knit 2 sts from cable needle |
T4B *Further explanation below*
Twist 4 back = Slip first 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back of work. Knit next 2 stitches off left needle, then purl 2 stitches from cable needle.
T4F *Further explanation below*
Twist 4 front = Slip first 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front of work, then purl next 2 stitches on left needle, then knit 2 stitches off cable needle.
tbl
through back loop
tfl
through front loop
tog
together
WS
wrong side
wyib
with yarn in back of work
wyif
with yarn in front of work
yd(s)
yards
yfrn
yarn forward round needle
yfrn2
yarn forward round needle twice
yfwd
yarn forward
yo
yarn over
**
repeat instructions within ** as required
( ) [ ]
repeat instructions within ( ) and [ ] as required
*T4B = twist 4 back The twist four back is used to cross two knit stitches with two purl stitches. This creates a row of stitches that lean to the right.
*T4F = twist 4 front The twist four front is used to cross two knit stitches with two purl stitches too and it creates stitches that lean to the left.
Please check out my page of knitting terms to help understand as well. If something isn't here it might be over on my knitting terms page.
Or if you can't find what you're looking for just drop me a line by clicking on the 'Contact Me' button below on the right side and I'll be happy to help.