Knitting Abbreviations List

Hi there!  This page is all about knitting abbreviations and what they mean.

Abbreviations in knitting are a kind of knitting language or shorthand versions of a word or words.

In order to shorten a very long and tedious knitting pattern, abbreviations are made to help make the pattern more interesting. 

For a new knitter though it may feel a little intimidating at first but don't worry they aren't very difficult to figure out once you get going with them.

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 plus some not so common ones at the bottom.

There's always going to be new ones popping up so get used to the basic ones, the rest will come later.

Basic abbreviations in knitting...

 ...are just short forms of the word itself, for instance k for knit, p for purl and tog for together

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.

Knitting Abbreviations List

Take a look at the list below. Some have links that you can click on for a little extra help and will show you how to various knitting stitches.

knitting abbreviations list

abbreviation

What it Means

alt

alternate

approx

approximately

beg

beginning

bet

between

BO

bind off or cast off

cn

cable needle

CO

cast on

cont

continue

dec

decrease

dpn(s)

double pointed needle(s)

EON

EOR

foll

end of needle

end of row/round

following

frog or frogging

To remove your needle and rip out your knitting or unravel it. 

inc(s)

increase(s)

incl

including

K or k

k-b; k1b

knit stitch in row below

k2tog

knit two stitches together

kfb or kf&b

knit in the front then in the back of same stitch

k tbl; ktbl

knit through the back loop of stitch

kwise

knitwise

LC

left cross (cable stitch)

LH

left hand

LT


left twist - it's formed by crossing one stitch over another

LYS

Local yarn shop

MB

make bobble - decorative stitch pattern

Make 1, M1, Make 1 Left, M1L


Make 1, Make 1 Left is made by lifting the yarn in the space between the stitches from front to back with your left needle and knitting that bar thru the back loop

Make 1 Right, M1R


Make 1 Right, M1R is made by lifting the yarn between the stitches with left needle from back to front then knitting that bar thru the front loop

P or p

purl

p2tog

purl two stitches together

pat or pats

pattern, patterns

p-b

purl into front and then into back of stitch

pfb

purl into front and then into back of same stitch

pm

place marker

prev

previous

psso

pass slipped stitch over

ptbl; p tbl

purl through back loop

pwise

purlwise

RC

right cross is a cable stitch where stitches are held in back of work

rem

remaining

rep(s)

repeat(s)

RH

right hand

rib

ribbing

rnd; rnds

round; rounds

RS

right side

RT

A right twist is formed by crossing one stitch over another

SKP

slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (slip as if to purl)

SK2P

slip 1, k2tog, pass slip stitch over

sl 

slip a stitch. Remeber always slip as if to purl unless it tells you differently

sl st

slip 1 stitch to right needle without knitting it

sm

slip marker

ssk

slip, slip, knit  slip 1 stitch as if to knit, slip another stitch as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together

ssp

slip, slip, purl - slip 1 as if to knit, slip 1 as if to knit, purl them together through back loop

st(s)

stitch(es)

St st

Stockinette stitch

tbl

through back loop

tfl

through front loop

tog

together

w&t

wrap and turn

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

yo2, yo twice

yarn over 2 times

*

repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed

**

repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed

{}

work instructions in brackets as many times as directed

[]

work instructions in brackets as many times as directed

()

work instructions in parentheses as many times as directed

Not common Abbreviations in knitting

Over the years I've had people contact me about various abbreviations that they've never seen before and these are listed here.

I've never seen them before either but do want to share them with you just in case you come across one or two in your knitting journey.

These abbreviations for knitting may look complicated however if you read how to do them they're quite simple to create.

Take a deep breath and break it down into smaller steps to figure it out.

Cr2BP  =  cross 2 back purl

Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in back of work, K1 then P1 from cable needle

Cr2FP     =  cross 2 front purl

Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in front of work. P1 then k1 from cable needle

Cr2F       = cross 2 front knit

Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in front of work, knit 1 then k1 from cable needle

Cr2B       =  cross 2 back knit

Slip next stitch onto cable needle, leave in back of work, knit 1 then knit 1 from cable needle

T3B = 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

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 = Twist 4 back

*Further explanation below*

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 = Twist 4 front

*Further explanation below*

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.

*Further Explanations For The T4B And T4F*

*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.

Hope this helps, make sure to check out my page on Knitting Terms as well. If it isn't here it might be over there.

Happy Knitting!



Like This Page?  Please Share it



Comments