Prefer a printable copy? Download the Knitting Abbreviations PDF
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| approx | approximately |
| C4B | cable 4 back – slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle |
| C4F | cable 4 front – slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle |
| C6B | cable 6 back – slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle |
| C6F | cable 6 front – slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle |
| CC | contrasting colour |
| circ | circular |
| cm | centimetre(s) |
| cn | cable needle |
| cont | continue(s), continuing |
| dec | decrease, decreasing |
| dpn(s) | double-pointed needle(s) |
| est | establish, established |
| g | gram(s) |
| inc | increase, increasing |
| k | knit |
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together (decrease) |
| k2tog tbl | knit 2 stitches together through the back loops (decrease) |
| k3tog | knit 3 stitches together (decrease) |
| k tbl | knit through the back loop |
| kfb | knit into the front & back of the stitch (increase) |
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH | left hand |
| LLI | Left Lifted Increase – knit one stitch, insert the left hand needle from back to front under the left leg of the second stitch below the stitch just worked and knit that stitch through the back loop (increase) see tutorial |
| m | metre(s) |
| M1 | make 1 (increase) |
| M1L | make 1 by inserting LH needle from front to back under the strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on LH needle, knit into the back loop |
| M1R | make 1 by inserting LH needle from back to front under the strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on LH needle, knit into the front loop |
| M1P | make 1 by inserting LH needle from front to back under the strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on LH needle, purl into the back loop |
| MC | main colour |
| mm | millimetre(s) |
| oz | ounce(s) |
| p | purl |
| p2tog | purl 2 stitches together (decrease) |
| patt | pattern |
| pm | place marker |
| psso | lift slipped stitch over stitch(es) just worked (decrease) |
| pwise | purlwise – as if to purl |
| rem | remain(ing) |
| rep | repeat |
| rev St st | reverse Stockinette stitch |
| RH | right hand |
| rnd(s) | round(s) |
| RS | right side |
| RT | right twist – K2tog, leaving stitches on LH needle, insert RH needle between the two stitches and knit into the first stitch again, slip both stitches to the RH needle see tutorial |
| SKP | slip 1 stitch knitwise (sl1), knit next stitch (k1), lift slipped stitch over the knitted stitch and off the needle (psso) (decrease) |
| SK2P | slip 1 st knitwise (sl1), knit next 2 sts together (k2tog), lift slipped st over the k2tog and off the needle (psso) (decrease) |
| sl | slip |
| sl1 | slip 1 stitch |
| sl1, k1, psso | slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit next stitch, lift slipped stitch over the knitted stitch and off the needle (decrease) |
| sl1, k2tog, psso | slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit next 2 stitches together, lift slipped stitch over the k2tog and off the needle (decrease) |
| slm | slip marker |
| ssk | slip the next 2 stitches knitwise, one by one, insert LH needle from left to right into the fronts of the 2 stitches and knit them together (decrease) |
| ssp | holding yarn in front, slip the next 2 stitches knitwise, one by one, slip them back onto the left hand needle and purl the two stitches together through the back loops (decrease) |
| st(s) | stitch(s) |
| St st | Stockinette stitch |
| tbl | through the back loop |
| tog | together |
| w&t | wrap & turn |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| WS | wrong side |
| yd(s) | yard(s) |
| yo | yarn over |