Knitting Abbreviations

Knitting Abbreviations List

Abbreviation Description Video Examples
( ) work instructions within parentheses in the place directed
[ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
* repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed
* * repeat instructions following the asterisks as directed
approx, app approximately
bpdc back post double crochet; Make a double crochet on the back of the post
beg begin/beginning
bet between
btwn between
bo bind off Bind Off
CA color A
CB color B
CC contrasting color
ch-space the space where a ch was made previously in a row
cm centimeter(s)
cn cable needle
co cast on Two Strand Cast On
Knitted Cast On
Left Hand Knitted Cast On
cont continue
dec decrease
dbl double
dpn double pointed needle(s)
est established; often referring to repetitive patterns with an established number of stitches
ext extension
fl front loop(s)
foll follow or follows or following
fpdc front post double crochet
fpsc front post single crochet
fptr front post triple crochet
g gram
inc increase or increases or increasing
k or K knit Knit Stitch
Knit Left Handed
k1b knit through back loop; same as kbl
k2tog knit 2 stitches together
k2togb knit 2 together through back loops
k3tog knit 3 stitches together
k3togb knit 3 stitches together through the back loop
kbl knit through back loop; same as k1b
kwise knitwise, knit-wise
LH left hand
LHN, lhn Left hand needle
lp(s) loop(s)
m meter(s)
M1 make one stitch
M1 p-st make one purl stitch
M2 make 2
MC main color
meas measures
mm millimeter(s)
ndls needles
opp opposite
oz ounce(s)
p purl Purl Stitch
Purl Stitch Left Handed
p1b purl 1 through the back loop
p2sso pass 2 slipped stitches over knitted stitch
p2tog purl 2 stitches together
p2togb purl 2 together through back loops
p3tog purl 3 together
pat pattern
pm place marker
pop popcorn
psso pass slipped stitch over
pwise purlwise, purl-wise
rem remain/remaining
rep repeat(s)
rev St st reverse stockinette stitch
rf right front
RH, rh right hand
RHN, rhn Right hand needle
rnd(s) round(s)
RS, rs right side
rsc reverse single crochet
sc2tog single crochet 2 together
sc3tog single crochet 3 together
sk skip
sk2p slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together;
2 stitches have been decreased
skp slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch – one stitch decrease
sl slip
sl st slip stitch(es)
sl1k slip 1 knitwise
slip1-k1-psso same as skp: slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch – one stitch decrease
sl1-k1-psso same as skp: slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch – one stitch decrease
sl1p slip 1 purlwise
ss slip stitch (Canadian)
sm slip marker
sp, sps space, spaces
sq, sqs square, squares
ssk slip, slip, then knit 2 those stitches together
sssk slip, slip, slip, knit those 3 stitches together
St st stockinette stitch/stocking stitch
st(s) stitch(es)
tbl through back loop
tog together
wl.fwd. wool forward (same as yarn forward)
WS, ws wrong side
wyib with yarn in back
wyif with yarn in front
yd(s) yard(s)
yfwd yarn forward
yo yarn over Yarn Over Left Handed

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