Knitting Dictionary

Here is a bunch of knitting abbreviations or a so-called knitting dictionary for you of the most commonly used knitting phrases.

Knitting Dictionary

[ ]   – work instructions within brackets as many times as directed

( ) –  work instructions within parentheses in the place directed

pm – place marker

– inch(es)

* * – repeat instructions following the asterisks as directed

  • – repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed

alt – alternate

approx – approximately

b&t – (break and tighten) break off the yarn and thread the end through the st(s) left on the needle. Pull the end of the yarn to tighten the st(s) together.

beg – begin/beginning

bet – between

BO – bind off

C4R – cross 4 right: slip next 2 sts on cable needle, leave at back, k2, then k2 from cable needle.

C4L – cross 4 left: slip next 2 sts on cable needle, leave at the front, k2, then k2 from cable needle.

C5R – Cable 5 right worked thus. Sl 3 sts onto cn and leave at back of work, k2. Replace 3rd st from cn back onto the left needle and brink cn to front. P1 then k sts from cn.

CA – color A

cable 6 back (or front) – slip next 3 sts on cable needle, leave at the back (or front), k3 then k3 from cable needle.

CB – color B

CC – contrasting color

cm – centimeter(s)

cn – cable needle (Read about cable knitting here)

CO – cast on

cont – continue

Cr2L – cross 2 left worked thus: k into back of second st on the left needle, then k into back of first st and slip both sts off the needle tog.

Cr3L – cross 3 left worked thus: sl 2 sts onto cn and leave at front of work, k1, then k sts from cn.

Cr3R – cross 3 right worked thus: sl 1 st onto cn and leave at back of work, k2, then k st from cn. (You can see a video here)

dec – decrease/decreases/decreasing

dpn – double-pointed needle(s)

fl – front loop(s)

foll – follow/follows/following

g – gram

gs or g st– garter stitch

inc(s) – increase/increases/increasing

k or K – knit

kfb – knit into front and back of the stitch

k2b – knit into the back of the next 2 stitches

k2tog – knit 2 stitches together

KFB – knit into the front and back of the stitch

kwise – knitwise

LC – Left Cross – used on cabling patterns (see video)

LH – left hand

lp(s) – loop(s)

m – meter(s)

M – Marker

M1 – make one stitch by knitting into the back of the loop between two stitches. This increases the row by 1 stitch.

M1 p-st – make one purl stitch

M1L – This is a left-leaning increase. Insert the left hand N from the front to the back into the horizontal loop between the last st worked and the next st on left-hand N, knit this loop through the back to twist the st, creating an inc that slants to the left.

M1R – This is a right-leaning increase. Insert the left-hand N from the back to front into the horizontal loop between the last st worked and the next st on left-hand N, knit this loop through the front to twist the st, making an inc that slants to the right.

MB – make bobble – into next stitch, k3, (knit into front, back and front of stitch again). Turn, P3, Turn, K3tog.

MC – main color

mm – millimeter(s)

n – needle

ndl(s) – needles(s)

no. – number

oz – ounce(s)

p or P – purl

p2tog – purl 2 stitches together

P2togtbl – insert the right needle up into the back loops of the two stitches and purl them together

pat(s) or patt  – pattern(s)

prev – previous

psso – pass slipped stitch over

PU – pick up

PUK – pick up and knit

pwise  – purlwise

rem – remain/remaining

rep – repeat(s)

rev – reverse

rev st st – reverse stockinette stitch, so purl side is right side

RC – Right Cross – Used on cabling (See Video)

RH – right hand

rnd(s) – round(s)

RS – right side

RSF – one row k

R(W)SF – right (wrong)side facing

R(W)SR – right(wrong)side row

r(s) – row(s)

rw – ribwise

r(w)sf – right (wrong) side facing

S1PW – slip the next stitch purlwise.

sk – skip

skp – slip, knit, pass stitch over—one stitch decreased

sk2p – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together;
2 stitches have been decreased

sl – slip

sl1k – slip 1 knitwise

SKPO – knit 1, yarn fwd, slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over (1 stitch is decreased).

SKTPO – Slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over.

sk2po – Slip 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches tog, pass the slipped stitch over (2 stitches are decreased).

SKP – sl, k, psso; 1 st dec

SSK – Slip the next stitch and then the following one knitwise, insert the left needle into the front of the 2 slipped stitches and knit them together (see link below).

SSP – Slip the next stitch and then the following one knitwise, return the slipped stitches to the left needle.

SSK – slip the next 2 sts one at a time from the left hand N to the right-hand N, insert the tip of the left-hand N into the front of both sts and k2 tog.

SSSK – sl, sl, sl, k these 3 sts tog.

sl1p – slip 1 purlwise

ssk – slip, slip, knit

sl st – slip stitch(es)

ss – slip stitch (Canadian) or stocking stitch

ssk – slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together—a decrease

sssk – slip, slip, slip, knit 3 stitches together

st(s) – stitch(es)

St st – stockinette stitch/stocking stitch

tbl – through the back of the loop

tog – together

tw2 – knit into the front of 2nd st on the left needle then into 1st st and slip both sts off needle tog.

Tw2L – twist 2 left worked thus: p second st on the left needle tbl, then k first st and slip both sts off the needle tog.

Tw2R – twist 2 right worked thus: k second st on the left needle, the p first st and slip both sts off the needle tog.

W&T – wrap and turn

WS – wrong side

WSF – one row P

wyif – with yarn in front

wyib – with yarn in back

YB – yarn to back of work

yfwd or YF or yfd – yarn forward

yrn – yarn around the needle

yd(s) – yard(s)

yo – yarn over

yon – yarn over the needle

In most cases, the knitting pattern will have a list of the abbreviated terms listed and what they mean. I keep adding to this knitting dictionary as and when the need arises.knitting dictionary