Knitting Abbreviations
With this list, I have tried to link abbreviations with YouTube videos.
Simply click on the red YouTube icon 
and it will open the corresponding video.
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximately |
| beg | beginning |
| bet | between |
| BO or CO |
bind off - binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column (a wale) of stitches. Binding off is typically used to define the final (usually upper, taking the cast on edge as the lower) edge of a knitted fabric |
| byo |
backward yarn over |
| 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 | "CL" means Cross Left this technique is done with 2 stitches. Sometimes, they are referred to as twisted stitches and abbreviated as "LT" (left twist) and "RT" (right twist). With CL or LT, you will be crossing the next stitch in front of the following stitch. |
| CC |
contrasting color |
| cn | cable needle |
| CO |
cast on - Casting on is the art of getting yarn onto your needles. There are many methods of casting on including the Long-Tail Cast-On, the Knitted Cast-On, the Cable Cast-On, the Backwards Loop/Thumb Cast-On and the Crochet Cast-On, to name just a few. These all offer different levels of ease and provide a different look and feel to the edge of your project. |
| cont | continue |
| dec | decrease - The method of resizing or shaping a project by decreasing the number of stitches you are working. There are several styles of decreases listed on this page. |
| dpn | double-pointed needles |
| foll | follow |
| g | gram(s) |
| inc |
increase - The method of resizing or shaping a project by increasing the number of stitches you are working. There are several styles of increases that are listed on this page. |
| k |
knit - a basic knitting stitch usually made with the yarn at the back of the work by inserting the right needle into the front part of a loop on the left needle from the left side, catching the yarn with the point of the right needle, and bringing it through the first loop to form a new loop |
| k1B |
knit stitch in row below |
| kfb |
knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase |
| ksp |
knit 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 |
| k2tog |
knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease |
| K2togtbl |
Knit 2 stitches together through back loops |
| K3(4,n)tog | Knit next 3(4, n)stitches together |
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH | left hand |
| lp | loop |
| m | marker |
| M | meter - The meter is the fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 centimeters or approximately 39.37 inches. |
| M1 or M1K |
Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and knitting into back of loop. |
| M1B |
make one below. |
| M1R | make one right; single right-leaning knit increase |
| M1L |
make one left; single left-leaning knit increase |
| M1p | make one purlwise; single purl increase |
| M1rp |
make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase |
| M1lp |
make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase Make 1 Purlwise (m1p) is a very useful technique when you're increasing on the purl side of the fabric. |
| MC | main color |
| Oz | ounce(s) |
| p |
purl The knit stitch and purl stitch work together to make the pattern of your knitted fabric. Purling is often thought to be the opposite of knitting. ... Purl stitches make bumps in the knitted fabric. Combined with alternating rows of knitting, purling helps you make the famous Stockinette Stitch. |
| pat or patt | pattern |
| pfb |
purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase. Much like knitting in the front and back (KFB) of a stitch, purling in the front and back (PFB), is a way to easily increase stitches |
| pm | place marker |
| p2tog |
purl 2 stitches together; single decrease. purl two together”... With the working yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle through the next two stitches on your left-hand needle, purl wise. Then wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around your right-hand needle. Next, with your right-hand needle, pull the yarn through both stitches on your right-hand needle. |
| p3tog |
purl 3 stitches together; double decrease. purl three together”... With the yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle through the next three stitches on your main needle, purl wise. Then wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around your right-hand needle. Next, with your right-hand needle, pull the yarn through all three stitches on your right-hand needle. |
| prev | previous |
| psso |
pass slipped stitch over |
| p2sso |
pass 2 slipped stitches over. Commonly used in the Double Decrease - (SL2tog, K1, P2SSO) |
| rnd | round |
| pwise |
purlwise - To slip a stitch purlwise, you insert your needle into the next stitch as if to purl, and just slide it from your left needle to your right needle. To slip a stitch knitwise, insert your needle as if to knit, and then slip that from your left needle to your right needle |
| rem | remaining |
| rep | repeat |
| rev St st |
reverse stockinette stitch - Reverse stockinette stitch is produced in the same way as stockinette, except that the purl stitches are done on the right side and the knit stitches on the wrong side. In the round, reverse stockinette stitch is produced by purling every stitch. |
| RH | right hand |
| RS | right side |
| SKP |
slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease |
| SK2P |
slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease |
| sl | slip |
| sl1k |
slip 1 knitwise |
| sl1p |
slip 1 purlwise |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sm | slip marker |
| ssk |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
| ssp |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
| sssk |
slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
| sssp |
slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
| S2KP2 |
slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch; centered double decrease |
| SSPP2 | slip 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 |
| st | stitch - The two most basic stitches in knitting is the knit and the purl. A combination of these two stitches will yield a wide range of patterns in knitting. |
| St st |
stockinette stitch - Stockinette stitch is a basic knitting stitch. To knit stockinette stitch you alternate a knit row with a purl row. Stockinette stitch (or stocking stitch) is everywhere: scarves, socks, sweaters, blankets and hats |
| tbl |
through back loop |
| tfl |
through front loop |
| tog | together |
| WS |
wrong side |
| w&t |
wrap and turn |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| yb | yarn back |
| yd | yard(s) is an English unit of length, in both the British imperial and US customary systems of measurement, that comprises 3 feet or 36 inches. It is by international agreement in 1959 standardized as exactly 0.9144 meters. |
| yfwd or yf | yarn forward |
| yo |
yarn over |
| yon | yarn over needle |
| yrn |
yarn round needle |
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximately |
| beg | beginning |
| bet | between |
| BO or CO |
bind off - binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column (a wale) of stitches. Binding off is typically used to define the final (usually upper, taking the cast on edge as the lower) edge of a knitted fabric |
| byo | backward yarn over |
| 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 | "CL" means Cross Left this technique is done with 2 stitches. Sometimes, they are referred to as twisted stitches and abbreviated as "LT" (left twist) and "RT" (right twist). With CL or LT, you will be crossing the next stitch in front of the following stitch. |
| CC |
contrasting color |
| cn | cable needle |
| CO |
cast on - Casting on is the art of getting yarn onto your needles. There are many methods of casting on including the Long-Tail Cast-On, the Knitted Cast-On, the Cable Cast-On, the Backwards Loop/Thumb Cast-On and the Crochet Cast-On, to name just a few. These all offer different levels of ease and provide a different look and feel to the edge of your project. |
| cont | continue |
| dec | decrease - The method of resizing or shaping a project by decreasing the number of stitches you are working. There are several styles of decreases listed on this page. |
| dpn | double-pointed needles |
| foll | follow |
| g | gram(s) |
| inc |
increase - The method of resizing or shaping a project by increasing the number of stitches you are working. There are several styles of increases that are listed on this page. |
| k |
knit - a basic knitting stitch usually made with the yarn at the back of the work by inserting the right needle into the front part of a loop on the left needle from the left side, catching the yarn with the point of the right needle, and bringing it through the first loop to form a new loop |
| k1B |
knit stitch in row below |
| kfb |
knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase |
| ksp |
knit 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 |
| k2tog |
knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease |
| K2togtbl |
Knit 2 stitches together through back loops (decrease) |
| K3(4,n)tog | Knit next 3(4, n)stitches together (decrease) |
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH | left hand |
| lp | loop |
| m | marker |
| M | meter - The meter is the fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 centimeters or approximately 39.37 inches. |
| M1 or M1K |
Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and knitting into back of loop. |
| M1B |
make one below. |
| M1R |
make one right; single right-leaning knit increase. (Same video as M1L). |
| M1L |
make one left; single left-leaning knit increase. (Same video as M1R). |
| M1p |
make one purlwise; single purl increase. |
| M1rp |
make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase. (m1rp) is a very useful technique when you're increasing on the purl side of the fabric. (Same video as M1lp). |
| M1lp |
make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase Make 1 Purlwise (m1lp) is a very useful technique when you're increasing on the purl side of the fabric. (Same video as M1rp). |
| MC | main color |
| Oz | ounce(s) |
| p |
purl The knit stitch and purl stitch work together to make the pattern of your knitted fabric. Purling is often thought to be the opposite of knitting. ... Purl stitches make bumps in the knitted fabric. Combined with alternating rows of knitting, purling helps you make the famous Stockinette Stitch. |
| pat or patt | pattern |
| pfb |
purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase. Much like knitting in the front and back (KFB) of a stitch, purling in the front and back (PFB), is a way to easily increase stitches. |
| pm | place marker |
| p2tog |
purl 2 stitches together; single decrease. purl two together”... With the working yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle through the next two stitches on your left-hand needle, purl wise. Then wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around your right-hand needle. Next, with your right-hand needle, pull the yarn through both stitches on your right-hand needle. |
| p3tog |
purl 3 stitches together; double decrease. purl three together”... With the yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle through the next three stitches on your main needle, purl wise. Then wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around your right-hand needle. Next, with your right-hand needle, pull the yarn through all three stitches on your right-hand needle. |
| prev | previous |
| psso |
pass slipped stitch over |
| p2sso | pass 2 slipped stitches over. Commonly used in the Double Decrease - (SL2tog, K1, P2SSO) |
| rnd | round |
| pwise |
purlwise - To slip a stitch purlwise, you insert your needle into the next stitch as if to purl, and just slide it from your left needle to your right needle. To slip a stitch knitwise, insert your needle as if to knit, and then slip that from your left needle to your right needle |
| rem | remaining |
| rep | repeat |
| rev St st |
reverse stockinette stitch - Reverse stockinette stitch is produced in the same way as stockinette, except that the purl stitches are done on the right side and the knit stitches on the wrong side. In the round, reverse stockinette stitch is produced by purling every stitch. |
| RH | right hand |
| RS | right side |
| SKP |
slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease |
| SK2P |
slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease |
| sl | slip |
| sl1k |
slip 1 knitwise |
| sl1p |
slip 1 purlwise |
| sl st |
slip stitch |
| sm | slip marker |
| ssk |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
| ssp |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
| sssk |
slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
| sssp |
slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
| S2KP2 |
slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch; centered double decrease |
| SSPP2 | slip 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. This stitch is also called a centered double decrease. |
| st | stitch - The two most basic stitches in knitting is the knit and the purl. A combination of these two stitches will yield a wide range of patterns in knitting. |
| St st |
stockinette stitch - Stockinette stitch is a basic knitting stitch. To knit stockinette stitch you alternate a knit row with a purl row. Stockinette stitch (or stocking stitch) is everywhere: scarves, socks, sweaters, blankets and hats |
| tbl |
through back loop |
| tfl |
through front loop |
| tog | together |
| WS |
wrong side |
| w&t |
wrap and turn |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| yb | yarn back |
| yd | yard(s) is an English unit of length, in both the British imperial and US customary systems of measurement, that comprises 3 feet or 36 inches. It is by international agreement in 1959 standardized as exactly 0.9144 meters. |
| yfwd or yf | yarn forward |
| yo |
yarn over |
| yon | yarn over needle |
| yrn |
yarn round needle |
These Knitting Abbreviations were compiled after an extensive search of the Internet.
If you know of any abbreviations that I missed, please contact me so that I can update this list.