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Here is a rather extensive list of common knitting abbreviations that I compiled to help you out with knitting terminology. This list would be a great resource to print out and keep in your knitting bag for handy reference.
Any beginning knitter will tell you the importance of knowing the common knitting abbreviations. Generally, you will find definitions for the knitting abbreviations used in a pattern at the beginning. Below are the most common abbreviations used by the knitting industry in pattern writting. These definitions reflect U.S. knitting terminology. Chart adapted from Craft Yarn Council.
You can check out my Common Crochtet Abbreviations here.
Abbreviation/Description
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximately |
| beg | beginning |
| bet | between |
| BO | bind off |
| byo | backward yarn over |
| CC | contrasting color |
| cn | cable needle |
| CO | cast on |
| cont | continue |
| dec | decrease |
| dpn | double-pointed needles |
| fol | follow |
| inc | increase |
| k | knit |
| k1B | knit stitch in row below |
| kfb | knit 1 into front and back of a stitch |
| ksp | knit 1 stitch, slip this stitch from right needle to left needle, pass second stitch on left needle over first stitch and off left needle; return stitch to right needle |
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together |
| kwise | knitwise |
| LH | left hand |
| lp | loop |
| m | marker |
| M1 or M1K | make one stitch knitwise |
| M1R | make one right |
| M1L | make one left |
| M1p | make one purlwise |
| M1rp | make one right purlwise |
| M1lp | make one left purlwise |
| MC | main color |
| p | purl |
| pat | pattern |
| pfb | purl 1 into front and back of a stitch |
| pm | place marker |
| p2tog | purl 2 stitches together; single decrease |
| prev | previous |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over |
| p2sso | pass 2 slipped stitches over |
| pwise | purlwise |
| rem | remaining |
| rep | repeat |
| rev St st | reverse stockinette stitch |
| RH | right hand |
| rnd | round |
| RS | right side |
| SKP | slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch |
| SK2P | slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together |
| sl | slip |
| sl1k | slip 1 knitwise |
| sl1p | slip 1 purlwise |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sm | slip marker |
| ssk | slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops |
| ssp | slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops |
| sssk | slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
| sssp | slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
| S2KP2 | slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch |
| SSPP2 | slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and then slip them as if to p2tog through back loops, purl 1, pass 2 |
| st | stitch |
| St st | stockinette stitch |
| tbl | through back loop |
| tfl | through front loop |
| tog | together |
| WS | wrong side |
| w&t | wrap and turn |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| yb | yarn back |
| yfwd or yf | yarn forward |
| yo | yarn over |
| yon | yarn over needle |
| yrn | yarn round needle |
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Be sure to check out our common crochet abbreviations post to help you with your crochet work.