Knitting Abbreviations Explained

Why do knitting patterns use abbreviations?

Written out in full, a single row could take a whole paragraph. Abbreviations keep instructions tight and easy to scan. They are also close to standard across US patterns, so learning them once carries over from a dishcloth to a sweater.

One note before the list: US and UK knitting terms mostly match, which is a relief. This is different from crochet, where a US single crochet is a UK double crochet. In knitting, "k" and "p" mean the same thing on both sides of the Atlantic. The main differences show up in yarn weight names and a few cast-on terms, so this guide flags those as they come up.

What are the basic knitting abbreviations?

These are the ones you will see in almost every pattern.

1. k: knit
2. p: purl
3. st / sts: stitch / stitches
4. st st: stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side). UK term: stocking stitch.
5. garter st: garter stitch (knit every row)
6. RS / WS: right side / wrong side of the work
7. CO: cast on (put the starting stitches on your needle)
8. BO: bind off (finish and remove stitches). UK term: cast off.
9. rep: repeat
10. rnd: round (used for circular knitting)

What do increase abbreviations mean?

Increases add stitches to make your knitting wider.

1. yo: yarn over. Wrap the yarn over the needle to make a new stitch, which also leaves a small hole. Common in lace.
2. kfb: knit front and back. Knit into one stitch twice to turn it into two.
3. m1: make one. Lift the bar between two stitches and knit it to add a stitch.
4. m1L / m1R: make one that leans left or right, so your increases look neat and mirrored.
5. inc: a general "increase" instruction when the pattern does not specify a method.

What do decrease abbreviations mean?

Decreases remove stitches to make your knitting narrower. The lean of a decrease matters for shaping, so patterns often pair them.

1. k2tog: knit two together. Knit two stitches as one. It leans right.
2. ssk: slip, slip, knit. Slip two stitches, then knit them together through the back. It leans left and is the mirror of k2tog.
3. p2tog: purl two together.
4. k3tog: knit three together, which removes two stitches at once.
5. sk2p or sl1-k2tog-psso: a double decrease that removes two stitches and leans left.
6. dec: a general "decrease" instruction.

What do the technique abbreviations mean?

These describe moves rather than single stitches.

1. sl: slip a stitch from one needle to the other without working it.
2. pm / sm: place marker / slip marker. Markers help you track where a section starts.
3. pu or pick up: pick up and knit stitches along an edge, often for a collar or button band.
4. tbl: through the back loop, which twists the stitch.
5. wyif / wyib: with yarn in front / with yarn in back.
6. w&t: wrap and turn, used in short rows for shaping things like sock heels.

How do you read a full line of a pattern?

Put the pieces together and a line like "K2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2" is just a short recipe. Read it left to right, one instruction at a time.

An asterisk usually marks a repeat. "Rep from * to end" means do that section again until the row runs out. Brackets or parentheses group stitches that repeat a set number of times, like "(k1, p1) 3 times."

One more habit keeps you on track: count as you go, and keep a running tally. Count stitches after tricky rows to catch a missed yarn over or an extra decrease early, while it is easy to fix. Count rows and rounds so your two sleeves or sock legs end up the same length. Some knitters use a paper checklist or a click counter. Others use an app like Worsted to count rows, hold the pattern PDF, and note which yarn from their stash they used, so picking a project back up after a week is less of a guessing game.

Start with the basics, add a few increases and decreases, and the rest will fill in as you knit. Keep this list nearby for your first several patterns, and soon you will read "ssk" and just do it without a second thought.

1. Knit 2 stitches.
2. Knit 2 together (one right-leaning decrease).
3. Yarn over (one increase, which makes a small eyelet).
4. Knit 2 together again.
5. Knit the last 2 stitches.