Abbreviations Guide to Knitting
All of us can use some help with all the abbreviations we need when using a knitting pattern. I’ve gathered as many of the abbreviations I could find, but let us know if we left one out!
“ Inch or inches
* Repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed
** Repeat instructions between asterisks as directed
{ } Alternate measurements or instructions
( ) Repeat directions as noted or indicated
alt Alternate
approx Approximately
beg Begin or beginning
bet Between
Bk lp Back loop
Blo Back loop only
Bp Back post
BO Bind off
C Cable
CA Color A
CB Color B
CC Contrasting color
cdd Centered double decrease
ch Chain
cl Cluster
cm Centimeter or centimeters
cn cable needle
CO Cast on
cont Continue
COR Carriage on the right
CR Cross Stitches to the right
cross 2 L Cross 2 stitches to the left
cross 2 R Cross 2 stitches to the right
dc Double crochet
dec Decrease
decs Decreases
DK Double knitting weight yarn
dp Double pointed needles
dpn Double pointed needles
ea Each
EON End of needle
EON Every other needle
EOR End of row
FC Front cross
fl Front Loops
fol Front loop only
foll Follow, follows, following
fwp Forward working position
g Gram
gr Gram
g st Garter stitch
grp Group
grps Groups
hdc Half double crochet
hk Hook
hp Holding position
in Inch
ins Inches
inc Increase
incs Increases
incl Including
k Knit stitch
k tbl Knit stitch through the back loop
K1 tbl Knit stitch through the back loop
K1b Knit stitch through the back loop
k-b Knit stitch in the row below
k-wise knit-wise
k1 f&b Knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back of the same stitch
kfb Knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back of the same stitch
k2tog Knit 2 stitches together
k2tog tbl Knit 2 stitches together through the back loops
kll Knit left loop
kp Keyplate
krl Knit right loop
LC Left cross
LH Left hand
lp Loop
lps Loops
LT Left twist
M Marker
Ms Markers
m Meter
M1 Make 1
M1A Make 1 away
M1F Make 1 front left
M1L Make 1 front left
M1B Make 1 back right
M1R Make 1 back right
M1T Make 1 towards
MB Make bobble
mc Main Color
mm millimeters
no Number
NWP Non-working position
oz Ounce or ounces
p Purl stitch
p tble Purl stitch through the back loop
P1b Purl stitch through the back loop
P1 tble Purl stitch through the back loop
p-b Purl stitch in the row below
p-wise Purl wise
pfb Purl the front of the stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch
p1 f&b Purl the front of the stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch
p2tog Purl 2 together
p2tog tble Purl 2 together through the back loops
pat Pattern
patt Pattern
pats Patterns
patts Patterns
pm Place marker
pnso Pass next stitch over
pop Popcorn stitch
prev Previous
psso Pass the slipped stitch over
pu Pick up stitches
RC Right Cross
rem Remaining
rep Repeat
reps Repeats
Rev ST st Reverse stockinette or stocking stitch
RH Right hand
rib Ribbing
rnd Round
rnds Rounds
RS Right side
RT Right twist
sc Single crochet
sk Skip
sk2p Slip 1 Knit 2 tog or pass slipped stitch over
SKP Slip, knit, pass
skpo Slip, knit, pass
s Slip a stitch
sl Slip a stitch
sl st Slip stitch or Slip stitches
sl1, k1, psso Slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over
sl1k Slip a stitch knit-wise
sl 1 k-wise Slip a stitch knit-wise
sl1p Slip a stitch purl-wise
1sl 1 p-wise Slip a stitch purl-wise
sp Space
sps Spaces
ssk Slip, slip, knit slipped stitches tog
ssp Slip, slip, purl
sssk Slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together
st Stitch
sts Stitches
St st Stockinette or stocking stitch
tble Through the back loop
tog Together
won Wool over needle
wp Working position
wrn Wool round needle
WS Wrong side
wy Waste yarn
wyib With yarn in back
wyif With yarn in front
yb Yarn to the back
ybk Yarn to the back
yd Yard
yds Yards
yfon Yarn forward and over needle
yfrn Yarn forward and round needle
yf Yarn forward
yfwd Yarn forward
yo Yarn over needle
yo2 Yarn over twice
yon Yarn over needle
yrn Yarn over needle
Read Next68 Free Scarf Knitting Patterns
Your Recently Viewed Projects
Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!
Koskipeggy 2131875
Aug 15, 2014
Need to see video demo of yon and yfwd being done. Is the yarn just held to the front or is it wrapped around??? Help! I tried to make but seems pattern is wrong or I'm not understanding how to do you, yfwd.
FaveCrafts Editor JL
Aug 18, 2014
Hi there, Have you checked out our YouTube channel? Simply search for FaveCraftsVideo and you'll find us. I also suggest checking out AllFreeKnitting's YouTube channel - it's very helpful!
pdpictureshurst 13 75264
Apr 18, 2013
on the striped scarf - which side is the 'straight' edge? Thanks, Suzy H.
mammadunn
Feb 07, 2012
I think that this list is an awesome addition! Thanks for all your hard work. Only problem I have is that I've run across an abbreviation that I found here on your extensive list (psso) but not sure that i know how to do that???? Pass slipped stich over? Few terms maybe could use some directions for dum-dums like me. lol
brenda
Mar 20, 2011
I noticed that quite a lot of the abrevations were American styled and not British standad but could still understand what they were.
guersy 7888900
Dec 01, 2010
I came across a knitting pattern, that has a knitting abbreviation ccd. What does that mean?
Crafter 1019346
Jul 09, 2010
While crocheting I came across a term I didn't know what it was. The pattern said: "working into the "nub" in the back of each chain. Didn't know what the "nub" was. I think I figured it out, I think they were referring to the bump in the back of each chain. Is that right? Diana
Cheryl Hunt
Jun 12, 2010
So many patterns do not clearly explain their abbreviations. This is very helpfull
Report Inappropriate Comment
Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.
Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.
