Knitting Abbreviations Dictionary
Complete reference guide to knitting abbreviations and symbols. Master pattern reading with our searchable dictionary.
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k
knit
Insert needle through stitch and pull yarn through
p
purl
Insert needle from back to front and pull yarn through
st(s)
stitch(es)
Individual loop on needle
CO
cast on
Create initial stitches on needle
BO
bind off
Remove stitches from needle to finish edge
k2tog
knit 2 together
Decrease by knitting 2 stitches as one (right-leaning)
ssk
slip, slip, knit
Decrease by slipping 2 stitches then knitting together (left-leaning)
yo
yarn over
Increase by wrapping yarn around needle
kfb
knit front and back
Increase by knitting into front and back of same stitch
M1
make 1
Increase by picking up bar between stitches
sl
slip
Move stitch from left to right needle without working
psso
pass slipped stitch over
Lift slipped stitch over worked stitches
tbl
through back loop
Work stitch through the back loop instead of front
RS
right side
Public side of work that will show
WS
wrong side
Private side of work that won't show
pm
place marker
Put stitch marker on needle
sm
slip marker
Move marker from left to right needle
rep
repeat
Work instructions again
rem
remaining
Stitches or rows left to work
beg
beginning
Start of row or round
dec
decrease
Reduce number of stitches
inc
increase
Add more stitches
rnd
round
One complete circle in circular knitting
dpn
double-pointed needle
Needle with points on both ends
cn
cable needle
Short needle for holding cable stitches
C4F
cable 4 front
Cross 4 stitches with cable needle in front
C4B
cable 4 back
Cross 4 stitches with cable needle in back
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