The Complete List of Knitting Abbreviations and Terms

Here’s a complete list of knitting abbreviations and terms that are useful to know when reading knitting patterns.

Most knitting designers will include knitting abbreviations in their pattern. What they may not do is explain what the knitting instructions mean. As a knitter, it’s important to be familiar with this style of shorthand writing in case you have to make your own interpretation.

This isn’t the only reason why you should be aware of knitting abbreviations and terms though.

Let's take a minute to discuss why knitting terms and abbreviations are used in the first place and why you should know them.

Why Knitting Abbreviations and Terms Are Used

The more you knit, the more you’ll realize that knitting abbreviations are used in knitting patterns for a lot of different reasons. For one, designers will sometimes use them to condense the knitting pattern instructions in order to save space. Using knitting abbreviations can sometimes make a five page pattern fit onto a single sheet of paper. Personally, this is a pet peeve of mine, but that's neither here nor there. Back to the task at hand.

Another reason knitting abbreviations are used is to make the knitting pattern easier to read. The more you read and use this style of shorthand, the quicker and easier the pattern instructions are to read.

In other words, by using knitting abbreviations, you can do a quick scan instead of a close read. This means you can reduce your focus on reading and focus more on your knitting. Inevitably, this always leads to faster knitting. All good things, really.

Finally, if you aspire to become a knitting designer, it certainly helps to know the correct knitting terminology, especially the standardized version.

Let's talk a little about knitting industry standards before jumping into the knitting terms and abbreviations.

Knitting Industry Standard

This list includes commonly used knitting abbreviations and terms that are considered the knitting industry standard according to The Craft Yarn Council (CYC).

You will find this list includes the knitting terminology U.S. knitters use. However, to make this a more complete list, I’ve also included some regional variations as well.

You will also find some knitting abbreviations and terms included here which are not mentioned in the CYC’s industry standard list. In most cases, these knitting abbreviations are compound terms that are worth mentioning for clarity.

Alright, let’s jump right in.

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Knitting Abbreviations and Terms

alt
alternate

approx
approximately

beg
beginning

bet
between

BO
bind off
* Also known as Cast Off in Canada

This knitting tutorial shows you how to bind off your knitting.

BOR
beginning of round
This knitting term is not a standard abbreviation but is used frequently in circular knitting patterns.

Learn more about circular knitting needles and how to knit in the round.

byo
backward yarn over;
single knit increase.

CC
contrasting color/colour

You’ll find this knitting term used in patterns with stranded colorwork, mosaic knitting, slipped stitches, and others.

cn
cable needle

Learn about the different types of knitting needles.

CO
cast on

Most knitting patterns will indicate which type of cast on to use. If a pattern does not, you may choose your favorite method. Two of the most common cast on types are the long tail cast on and the knitted cast on. These knitting tutorials will show you how to cast on your knitting stitches to get started.

cont
continue

dec
decrease

dpn/dpns
double pointed needle(s)

foll
follow

inc
increase

K
knit
Learn how to knit here.

K1B
knit one stitch below

KFB
Knit into front and back of one stitch;
single knit increase.

Here's how to knit front and back (KFB).

KSP
Knit one, slip this stitch back to left needle, pass the 2nd stitch on left needle over the first stitch, then move this stitch back to right needle;
single, right leaning knitting decrease (R/).

KTBL
knit through back loop

Some knitting abbreviations or terms are compounds of other abbreviations but are not mentioned in the standard list. The KTBL is one such example: K (knit) and TBL (through back loop).

K2TOG
knit two stitches together;
single, right leaning decrease (R/).

Here's how to knit two together.

K3TOG
knit three stitches together;
right leaning double decrease. (R/)
This knitting term is not a standard abbreviation but is used frequently in lace knitting patterns.

kwise
knitwise
* Also written as kw in some patterns. Kwise is the standard, though.

LLI
left lifted increase
This knitting term is not a standard abbreviation but is used occasionally in knitting patterns. This type of increase is not as frequently used as other increases.

lp
loop

m
(stitch) marker

Here's what you need to know about stitch markers.

M1 or M1K
make one stitch knitwise

Sometimes you will find a knitting pattern which doesn't state the type of knitting increase to make. The knitting instructions may simply say: M1. In this case, you may choose to work either the M1L or the M1R as mentioned below.

M1L
make one left;
single, left leaning increase (L\)

M1LP
make one left purlwise;
single, left leaning purl increase (L\).

M1P
make one purlwise

The same rules apply to knitting the M1P as mentioned in the M1K above.

M1R
make one right;
single, right leaning increase (R/).

This knitting tutorial video shows you how to M1L and M1R.

M1RP
make one right purlwise;
single, right leaning purl increase (R/).

MC
main color/colour

You’ll find this knitting term used in patterns that use colorwork knitting which may or may not involve stranded knitting.

p
purl

Here's how to purl stitch.

pat or patt
pattern

PFB
purl into front and back of same stitch;
single purl increase.

pm
place marker

PTBL
purl through back loop
This knitting term is not a standard abbreviation and is used occasionally in knitting patterns.

P2TOG
purl two together;
single, right leaning decrease (R/).

P3TOG
purl three stitches together;
right leaning double decrease (R/).
This knitting term is not a standard abbreviation but is used often in knitting patterns.

prev
previous

PSSO
pass slipped stitch over

P2SSO
pass two slipped stitches over

You can learn how to slip stitches here.

pwise
purlwise
* Also written as pw in some patterns. Pwise is the standard, though.

R
row or round
This is not a standard knitting abbreviation but it is used frequently in knitting patterns.

rem
remaining

rep
repeat

Rev St st
reverse stockinette stitch

RH
right hand

RLI
right lifted increase
This knitting term is not a standard abbreviation but is used occasionally in knitting patterns. This type of increase is not as frequently used as other increases.

Rnd
round

Learn how to cast on in the round.

RS
right side

SKP
slip one stitch knitwise, knit one, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch;
single, left leaning decrease (L\).

This knitting tutorial shows you how to knit the SKP.

SK2P
slip one stitch knitwise, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over k2tog decrease;
left leaning double decrease (L\).

Sl
slip

Sl1K
slip one stitch knitwise

Sl1P
slip one stitch purlwise

Sl St
slip stitch
* Also known as ss (slip stitch) in Canada

Learn what you can knit with slipped stitches here.

sm
slip marker

SSK
slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, knit these two stitches through back loops;
single, left leaning decrease (L\).

Here's a knitting tutorial to show you how to knit the SSK decrease.

SSP
slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, return both stitches to left needle, purl them together through back loops;
single, left leaning decrease (L\).

SSSK
slip three stitches knitwise, move them back to left needle, knit all three stitches together through back loops;
left leaning double decrease (L\).

SSSP
slip three stitches knitwise, move them back to left needle, purl all three stitches together through back loops;
left leaning double decrease (L\).

S2KP2
slip two stitches together as if to knit, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over knit stitch; center double decrease.
* Also seen written as center double decrease (CDD) and S2KPSSO.

Here's how to knit this decrease.

SSPP2
slip 2 stitches knitwise, one at a time, move them back to left needle, then slip them as if to p2tog through back loops, purl 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over purl stitch;
centered double decrease (CDD).

st(s)
stitch or stitches

St st
stockinette stitch
* Also known as stocking stitch in the UK.

Learn how to knit stockinette stitch.

tbl
through back loop

tfl
through front loop

tog
together

WS
wrong side

w&t
wrap and turn (short rows)

Learn more about knitting wrap and turn short rows here.

wyib
with yarn in back

wyif
with yarn in front

yb
yarn back
sometimes written as YBK, but this may be regional

yfwd or yf
yarn forward

yo
yarn over;
single increase.

yon
yarn over needle

yrn
yarn round needle

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