Knitting abbreviations: learn the language of knitting

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New to knitting or need a quick reminder of a knitting term? You've come to the right place! Here's our guide to the common knitting abbreviations you'll find in our patterns.

You’ll notice that knitting patterns are presented differently in every publication. All the different components can look quite confusing, with what seems like a code to be cracked before you can knit!

Don’t worry, though – learning how to read knitting abbreviations is really quite simple. While it can be frustrating to encounter all these strange knitting terms when you’re first starting out, rest assured that you’ll soon become fluent.

And if you ever need a reminder, we have a handy guide that you can return to again and again. Just bookmark this page so it’s easy to find!

In our complete guide to knitting abbreviations, we’ll cover:

Why do we use knitting abbreviations?
Are there standard knitting abbreviations?
Our knitting abbreviations list

Oh, and if you’re confused by other knitting lingo, or want to know your “frogging” from your “Fair Isle”, we can help with that too! Take a look at our knitter’s glossary.

Knitting abbreviations

To a beginner, knitting patterns can look like they’re written in another language. And in a way they are!

Most patterns use knitting abbreviations to represent the stitches, actions and techniques you encounter as you knit.

This special shorthand is easy to understand once you know how, but it can be very confusing if you’re reading a pattern for the first time. How would you b&t on a K rnd, or C4B after mrk on alt rows? We’ll help you find out!

Why do we use knitting abbreviations?

Knitting patterns use abbreviations for two main reasons: clarity and brevity.

Instead of saying, “Knit one, then purl one, then knit another one and purl another one, and carry on doing this until you run out of stitches”, which is difficult to follow at a glance and takes up a lot of space on the page, your pattern might read: “*K1, P1; rep from * to end of row.” Simpler, shorter, and much clearer.

If we didn’t use abbreviations, patterns would be extremely long and dense, and the lack of consistency could baffle even experienced knitters.

Some patterns – particularly complex lace, cable or colourwork ones – will still be long or hard to follow even with abbreviations included. This is where knitting charts come in. Sometimes a visual representation of the pattern is a better option!

You’ll usually find charts included alongside written instructions, though you’ll occasionally see a pattern marked as “charted only”. If you’re new to charts, learn how to read charts in knitting patterns with our guide.

Are there standard knitting abbreviations?

The short answer is no! While there are similarities in the knitting abbreviations used across different pattern writers and even different countries, there are no fixed standards and variations are widespread.

However, there are common abbreviations that you’ll see used in lots of patterns, such as K for knit and P for purl. These letters are usually followed by a number that tells you how many stitches to work – so K2 means “knit two stitches”.

You’ll also spot similar-sounding terms that you may be able to figure out from context (such as “knitwise” and “knitways”).

Most patterns will either have their own abbreviations somewhere on the page or refer to a set of definitions elsewhere. Some publications may only mention abbreviations that are unusual or specific to that pattern, and then send you to their own standard terms for the rest.

Knitting abbreviations list

The abbreviations you’ll see below are the ones we use and reflect UK knitting terms, but they should also help you to decode any other patterns you find around the web.

work instructions immediately following *, then repeat 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

beginning

C2B

slip next stitch to cn & hold at back, K1; K1 from cn

C2F

slip next stitch to cn & hold at front, K1; K1 from cn

C4B

slip next 2 stitches to cn & hold at back, K2; K2 from cn

C4F

slip next 2 stitches to cn & hold at front, K2; K2 from cn

C6B

slip next 3 stitches to cn & hold at back, K3; K3 from cn

C6F

slip next 3 stitches to cn & hold at front, K3; K3 from cn

cable back

contrast colour

cable forward

cable needle

cast on

cont

continue

dec

decrease(ing) (by working two stitches together)

est

established

double knitting

DPNs

double-pointed needles

foll/s

following/follows

g st

garter stitch (knit every row)

inc

increase using method of your choice (usually knit into same stitch twice)

K/k

knit

k(1)tbl

knit (1) into back loop

k2tog

knit the next two stitches together

kfb

knit into front and back of stitch

kwise

knitwise; by knitting the stitch

left hand

left twist

make one by knitting into back of loop between two stitches (increase 1 stitch)

M1L

(left leaning increase) with left needle tip, lift strand between needles from front to back. Knit lifted loop through back of loop

M1R

(right leaning increase) with left needle tip, lift strand between needles from back to front. Knit lifted loop through front of loop

M1P

make one purlwise by purling into back of loop between two stitches (increase 1 stitch)

M1pw

make 1 st purlwise: with LH needle lift the strand between next and last st from front to back and purl through the back loop

make a bobble

main colour

meas

measure(s)

mrk

marker

P/p

purl

p(1)tbl

purl (1) into back of the loop

P2tog

purl 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)

P3tog

purl 3 stitches together (2 stitches decreased)

patt(s)

pattern(s)

place bead

pfb

purl into front and back of stitch

place marker

prev

psso

pass slipped stitch(es) over

pwise

(purlwise) by purling the stitch

rem

remain/remaining

rep(s)

repeat(s)

rev st st

reverse stocking stitch

right hand

rib2tog

either k2tog or p2tog dep on what next stitch in ribbing should be (keeps ribbing looking neat on buttonholes)

rnd(s)

round(s) (on a circular needle/DPNs)

right side

right twist

s2kpo

slip 2 tog kwise, knit 1, pass slipped sts over (2 stitches decreased)

skpo

slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over (1 stitch decreased)

sk2po

slip 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stitch over (2 stitches decreased)

slip

sl st

slip stitch

stitch marker

ssk

slip 2 stitches one at a time, knit 2 slipped stitches together (1 stitch decreased)

sssk

slip 3 stitches one at a time, knit 3 slipped stitches together (two stitches decreased)

ssp

slip 2 stitches one at a time, purl 2 slipped stitches together through back loops (1 stitch decreased)

st(s)

stitch(es)

st st

stocking stitch

T2B

slip next stitch to cn & hold at back, K1; P1 from cn

T2F

slip next stitch to cn & hold at front, P1; K1 from cn

tbl

through the back of the loop

tog

together

(wrap 3 stitches) with yarn held at back of work, slip next 3 sts to cn and hold at front of work. Wrap yarn 3 times around these 3 sts, being careful not to pull it too tight and ending up with yarn at back of work. Slip the 3 sts to right needle without knitting them

w&t

(wrap and turn) slip next st from LH to RH needle, take yarn between needles to other side of work, slip st back to LH needle, take yarn between needles to its starting point, then turn. On next row, knit or purl the wrapped stitch together with the strand wrapping around it

wrong side

wyib

with yarn in back

wyif

with yarn in front

ybk

yarn to the back

yfwd

yarn forward

yarn over

yrn

yarn round needle

yon

yarn over needle

Learn to knit with us!

If you’re picking up your needles for the first time, check out our how to start knitting guide for everything a newbie needs to know.

Print out and keep our knitting abbreviations guide:

Know your knitting abbreviations!

Now you know the most common knitting abbreviations, but there’s still a chance you’ll come across patterns that use their own custom abbreviations. This is normally only done when there’s a special or unusual stitch used, or a combination of stitches that are repeated.

If this is the case, the pattern will usually give you full instructions for what the abbreviation means in the pattern notes.

Learn to read patterns today

As well as knowing all about knitting abbreviations, it’s also wise to familiarise yourself with the other features of knitting patterns before starting your first project.

Our how to read knitting patterns guide will get you up to speed.

Sarah Winsper

Sarahis a craft writer with more than 15 years’ experience in the publishing industry, starting as author of The Good Nutrition Guide, and working on magazines including 3D World, The Simple Things and Simply Knitting. She’s also a knitting designer with a passion for making cosy accessories – you can check out her latest patterns on Ravelry.

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