Knitting abbreviations explained
Published on May 29, 2026
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 abbreviation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| " | 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 |
| alt | alternate |
| approx. | approximately |
| beg | begin(ning) |
| bet | between |
| BO | bind off (continental or English) |
| CA | colour A |
| CB | colour 4 |
| CC | contrasting colour |
| cdd | centered double decrease. sl2 tog, K1, pass the slipped stitches over (together) English or Continental |
| ch | chain (using crochet hook). Start with a slip knot. |
| cm | centimeters |
| cn | cable needle: short knitting needle, used as an aid in the twisting of a cable. |
| CO | cast on / off |
| cont | continue |
| cross | 2 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. |
| cross | 2 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. |
| dec(s) | decrease(s) |
| DK | Double Knitting weight yarn. Slightly finer than worsted weight. |
| EON | end of needle |
| EOR | end of row |
| FC | front cross (when working a cable) |
| fl | front loop |
| g | aka gr gram |
| g st | garter stitch |
| in(s) | inch(es) |
| inc(s) | increase(s) |
| incl | including |
| k | knit |
| k tbl | aka K1 tbl, K1b Knit stitch through the backloop English or Continental |
| k1 f&b | aka kfb knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back. This is also called a Bar Increase English or continental |
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together |
| k2tog tbl | knit 2 stitches together, through the back loops |
| kb | knit stitch in row below English or Continental (Infrequently used for knit through the back loop; see K tbl) |
| kll | knit left loop. An increase |
| krl | knit right loop. An increase |
| kwise | knitwise. Insert right needle into the stitch as if to knit it |
| LC | left cross (to work a cable). As in: cross 2 L |
| LH | left hand |
| lp(s) | loop(s) |
| LT | left twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible) |
| m | meter(s) |
| M1 | Make 1. This means to increase a stitch. If the method isn't specified, use whichever increase you like, for instance M1F |
| M1A | make 1 away. An Increase English or Continental |
| M1L | aka 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 |
| M1R | aka M1B make 1 (back) (right). An increase. From the back, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into front of loop |
| M1T | make 1 towards. An Increase |
| MB | make bobble |
| MC | main colour |
| mm | millimeters(s) |
| no | number |
| oz | ounce(s) |
| p | purl English or Continental |
| p tbl | aka P1 tbl, P1b purl through the back loop |
| p-b | purl stitch in the row below. (infrequently used to mean purl stitch in the back loop; see p tbl) |
| p-wise | purl wise: Insert right needle down into the front loop, or up into the back loop for tbl |
| p1 f&b | aka pfb purl the front of a stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch |
| p2tog | purl 2 together |
| p2tog tbl | purl 2 together through the back loops |
| pat(s) | aka patt(s) pattern(s) |
| PM | place marker |
| PNSO | pass next stitch over |
| pop | popcorn stitch |
| prev | previous |
| PSSO | pass the slipped stitch over (as in slip 1, knit 1, psso) |
| pu | pick up stitches |
| RC | right cross (to work a cable), as in: cross 2 R |
| rem | remaining |
| rep | repeat(s) |
| rev StSt | Reverse stockinette/stocking stitch. The "purl" side of plain, stocking stitch. Purled on RS, knitted on WS |
| RH | right hand |
| rib | ribbing: 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." |
| RS | right side, for instance the outside of a sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions |
| RT | right twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in the smallest cable stitch possible) |
| sk | skip |
| sk2p | slip1, knit 2 tog, pass slipped stitch over. (a double decrease) |
| SKP | aka 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 |
| sl | aka 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 st | slip stitch(es) |
| sl1, k1, psso | slip1, knit1, pass the slipped stitch over. The same as SKP |
| sl1p | aka sl 1 p-wise slip a stitch purl-wise |
| slip | knot an adjustable loop, used to begin many cast-on methods |
| sp(s) | space(s) |
| ss | slip stitch (Canadian) |
| ssk | slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together. A decrease |
| ssk (improved) | sl 1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped stitches together |
| ssp | slip, slip, purl. A decrease, usually done on the purl-side |
| sssk | slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together. A double decrease |
| st (s) | stitch(es) |
| st St | Stockinette/Stocking stitch |
| tbl | through the back loop |
| won | wool over needle |
| wrn | wool round needle |
| WS | wrong side, for instance the inside of the sweater. Stated to indicate which side is facing you when carrying out instructions |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| yb | aka ybk yarn to the back |
| yd(s) | yard(s) |
| yfon | yarn forward and over needle. Same as yo |
| yfrn | yarn forward and 'round needle. Same as yo |
| yfwd | aka yf yarn forward |
| yo | yarn over: wrap the yarn around right needle |
| yo2 | aka yo twice yarn over twice |
| yon | yarn over needle. Same as yo |
| yrn | yarn 'round needle. Same as yo |