There are many steps involved in learning how to knit. For instance, a person would need to gain knowledge of knitting abbreviations found on patterns.
Because there are so many, even expert knitters use a reference guide.
In looking over the list provided it might seem like overkill but in truth, it is always better to have too much information opposed to not enough.
Becoming familiar with the language makes it easier to learn but also makes it possible to develop stronger skills.
In fact, understanding abbreviations would help when buying supplies and tools for any given project.
Mastering the various terms and abbreviations can be quite difficult but rather than a person feeling overwhelmed, we recommend using the information provided as a personal reference.
Reference Guide
| Abbreviation | Description |
| alt | Alternate |
| approx | Approximately |
| beg | Begin or Beginning |
| bet | Between |
| BO | Bind Off |
| CA | Color A |
| CB | Color B |
| CC | Contrasting Color |
| cdd | Centered Double Decrease, sl2tog, k1, pass the slipped stitches over together |
| ch | Chain – Starts with a slip knot using a crochet hook |
| cm | Centimeter or centimeters |
| cn | Cable needle |
| CO | Cast On |
| cont | Continue |
| cross 2 L | Cross two stitches to the left, slip two stitches purl-wise onto a cable needle with needle hanging in front of work while knitting several stitches, knit stitches off the needle |
| cross 2 R | Cross two stitches to the right, slip two stitches purlwise onto a cable needle with the needle hanging in front of work while knitting several stitches, knit stitches off the needle |
| de | Double Crochet |
| dec | Decrease, decreases, or decreasing |
| DK | Double Knitting weight yarn |
| dp or dpn | Double Pointed Needle or needles |
| EON | End of Needle |
| EOR | End of Row |
| FC | Front Cross (when working a cable) |
| fl | Front Loop or loops |
| foll | Follow, follows, or following |
| Frogging | Tearing out or unraveling yarn |
| g or gr | Gram |
| g st | Garter stitch |
| grp(s) | Group or groups |
| hdc | Half Double Crochet |
| hk | Hook |
| in(s) | Inch or inches |
| inc(s) | Increase, increases, or increasing |
| incl | Include, includes, or including |
| inst | Instruction or instructions |
| k | Knit |
| k1f&b or kfb | Knit one stitch in the front and then one stitch in the back |
| k2tog | Knit two stitches together |
| k-b | Knit stitch in the row below |
| kll | Knit left loop (stitch decrease) |
| krl | Knit right loop (stitch increase) |
| ktbl, k1tbl, or k1b | Knit stitch through the back loop |
| kwise | Knitwise |
| LC | Left Cross (when working a cable) |
| LH | Left Hand |
| lp(s) | Loop or loops |
| LT | Left Twist where two stitches cross over each other |
| m | Meter or meters |
| M1 | Make on stitch |
| M1A | Make one away (stitch increase) |
| M1L, M1, or M1F | Make one stitch from the front, lift loop between stitches with the left needle, knit into the back of the loop (stitch increase) |
| M1 p-st | Make one purl stitch |
| M1R or M1B | Make one stitch from the back, lift loop between stitches with the left needle, knit into the front of the loop (stitch increase) |
| M1T | Make one stitch towards (stitch increase) |
| MB | Make Bobble |
| mc | Main color |
| mm | Millimeter or millimeters |
| ndl(s) | Needle or needles |
| no | Number |
| oz | Ounce or ounces |
| P or p | Purl |
| p1f&b or pfb | Purl the front of a stitch, then purl the back of the same stitch |
| p2tog | Purl two together |
| p2tog tbl | Purl two together through the back loops |
| p-b | Purl stitch in the row below |
| pat(s) or patt(s) | Pattern or patterns |
| pm | Place marker |
| pnso | Pass next stitch over |
| pop | Popcorn |
| prev | Previous |
| psso | Pass slipped stitch over |
| ptbl, p1tbl, or p1b | Pull through the back loop |
| pu | Pick up stitches |
| pup | Pick up and purl |
| pwise | Purlwise |
| r | Row |
| RC | Right Cross |
| rem | Remain, remains, or remaining |
| rep | Repeat, repeats, or repeating |
| rev St st | Reverse Stockinette stitch |
| RH | Right Hand |
| rib | Ribbing (vertical columns consisting of knit and purl stitches, side-by-side as in k1, p1 ribbing) |
| md(s) | Round or rounds (in circular knitting rows are called “rounds”) |
| RS | Right Side |
| RT | Right Twist |
| sc | Single crochet |
| sk | Skip |
| sk2p | Slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (double stitch increase) |
| SKP or skpo | Slip, Knit, Pass – Slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch (same as sl1, k1, and psso) |
| sl or s | Slip |
| sl1, k1, psso | Slip one, knit one, pass the slipped stitch over (same as SKP or skpo) |
| sl1k or sl 1 k-wise | Slip one stitch knitwise |
| sl1p or sl 1 p-wise | Slip one stitch purlwise |
| sl st | Slip stitch or stitches |
| slip knot | Adjustable loop used to start several of the cast on methods |
| sp(s) | Space of spaces |
| ss | Slip stitch (used in Canadian patterns) |
| ssk | Slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together (stitch decrease) |
| ssk/improved | Sl1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped stitches together |
| sssk | Slip, slip, slip, knit three stitches together (double stitch decrease) |
| ssp | Slip, slip, purl (stitch decrease) |
| st(s) | Stitch or stitches |
| ST st | Stockinette Stitch |
| tbl | Through the back loop |
| tfl | Through the front loop |
| tog | Together |
| WE | Work Even |
| won | Wool over needle |
| wrn | Wool round needle |
| WS | Wrong Side |
| wy1b | With yarn in back |
| wy1f | With yarn in front |
| yb or ybk | Yarn to the back |
| yd(s) | Yard or yards |
| yfon | Yarn forward and over needle (same as yo) |
| yfrn | Yarn forward and round needle (same as yo) |
| yfwd or yf | Yarn forward |
| yo | Yarn over (wrapped tightly around the needle) |
| yo2 or yo twice | Yarn over twice |
| yon | Yarn over needle (same as yo) |
| yrn | Yarn round needle (same as yo) |
| [ ] | Work the instructions listed in brackets the number of times directed |
| ( ) | Work the instructions listed in parenthesis the number of times directed |
| ( ) | Also indicates change in size |
| ** | Instructions listed after the asterisks are to be repeated as directed |
| * | The pattern listed after the asterisk is to be repeated as directed |
| “ | Single quote represents inch or inches |