Ever find patterns a little bit cryptic? (Don’t worry! You’re not alone.) Whether you’re new to the knitting game or just need a refresh, we’ve put together an encyclopedia of all those nifty abbreviations and what they mean so you won’t be left scratching your head.

Knitting AbbreviationExplanation
inches
()work instructions between parentheses as many times as directed
[]work instructions between brackets as many times as directed
*repeat instructions from the single asterix as directed
**repeat instructions until double asterix as directed
altalternate
approx.approximately
begbegin(ning)
betbetween
BObind off (continental or English)
CAcolour A
CBcolour B
CCcontrasting colour
cddcentered double decrease. sl2 tog, K1, pass the slipped stitches over (together) English or Continental
chchain (using crochet hook). Start with a slip knot.
cmcentimeters
cncable needle: short knitting needle, used as an aid in the twisting of a cable.
COcast on / off
contcontinue
cross2 L 2 stitches to the left (to work a cable). Slip 2 stitches p­url wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle hang in front of work as you knit the next couple of stitches; then knit stitches off of cable needle.
cross2 R 2 stitches to the right (to work a cable). slip 2 stitches purl ­wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle hang in back of work as you knit the next couple of stitches; then knit stitches off of cable needle.
dcdouble crochet
dec(s)decrease(s)
DKDouble Knitting weight yarn. Slightly finer than worsted weight.
dpnaka dp double pointed needle(s). A short needle with points at both ends, used in sets or 4 or 5, for knitting in the round.
EONend of needle
EORend of row
FCfront cross (when working a cable)
flfront loop
followfollows; following
gaka gr gram
g stgarter stitch
hdchalf double crochet
hkhook
in(s)inch(es)
inc(s)increase(s)
inclincluding
kknit
k tblaka K1 tbl, K1b Knit stitch through the backloop English or Continental
k1 f&baka kfb knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back. This is also called a Bar Increase English or continental
k2togknit 2 stitches together
k2tog tblknit 2 stitches together, through the back loops
k­bknit stitch in row below English or Continental (Infrequently used for knit through the back loop; see K tbl)
kllknit left loop. An increase
krlknit right loop. An increase
k­wiseknit­wise. Insert right needle into the stitch as if to knit it
LCleft cross (to work a cable). As in: cross 2 L
LHleft hand
lp(s)loop(s)
LTleft twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible)
mmeter(s)
M1Make 1. This means to increase a stitch. If the method isn’t specified, use whichever increase you like, for instance M1F
M1Amake 1 away. An Increase English or Continental
M1Laka M1, M1F make 1 (front)(left). An increase. From the front, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back of loop English or Continental
M1Raka M1B make 1 (back) (right). An increase. From the back, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into front of loop
M1Tmake 1 towards. An Increase
MBmake bobble
mcmain color
mmmillimeters(s)
nonumber
ozounce(s)
ppurl English or Continental
p tblaka P1 tbl, P1b purl through the back loop
p-bpurl stitch in the row below. (infrequently used to mean purl stitch in the back loop; see p tbl)
p-wisepurl wise: Insert right needle down into the front loop, or up into the back loop for tbl
p1 f&baka pfb purl the front of a stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch
p2togpurl 2 together
p2tog tblpurl 2 together through the back loops
pat(s)aka patt(s) pattern(s)
pmplace marker
pnsopass next stitch over
poppopcorn stitch
prevprevious
pssopass the slipped stitch over (as in slip 1, knit 1, psso)
pupick up stitches
RCright cross (to work a cable), as in: cross 2 R
remremaining
reprepeat(s)
rev StStReverse stockinette/stocking stitch. The “purl” side of plain, stocking stitch. Purled on RS, knitted on WS
RHright hand
ribribbing: vertical columns of knit and purl stitches, side by side, as in K1, P1 ribbing
rnd(s)round(s). In circular knitting, a “row” is called a “round.”
RSright side, for instance the outside of a sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions
RTright twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible)
scsingle crochet
skskip
sk2pslip1, knit 2 tog, pass slipped stitch over. (a double decrease)
SKPaka skpo “Slip, Knit, Pass.” Slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one. The same as: sl1, k1, psso
slaka s slip a stitch. If they don’t specify, slip the stitch purl-wise….Unless you are decreasing: then, slip it knit-wise on the knit rows, and purl-wise on the purl rows
sl stslip stitch(es)
sl1, k1, pssoslip1, knit1, pass the slipped stitch over. The same as SKP
sl1paka sl 1 p-wise slip a stitch purl-wise
slipknot an adjustable loop, used to begin many cast-on methods
sp(s)space(s)
ssslip stitch (Canadian)
sskslip, slip, knit slipped stitches together. A decrease
ssk (improved)sl 1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped stitches together
sspslip, slip, purl. A decrease, usually done on the purl-side
ssskslip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together. A double decrease
st (s)stitch(es)
st StStockinette/Stocking stitch
tblthrough the back loop
togtogether
wonwool over needle
wrnwool round needle
WSwrong side, for instance the inside of the sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions
wyibwith yarn in back
wyifwith yarn in front
ybaka ybk yarn to the back
yd(s)yard(s)
yfonyarn forward and over needle. Same as yo
yfrnyarn forward and ’round needle. Same as yo
yfwdaka yf yarn forward
yoyarn over: wrap the yarn around right needle
yo2aka yo twice yarn over twice
yonyarn over needle. Same as yo
yrnyarn ’round needle. Same as yo