Basic knitting abbreviations:
CO cast on (video tutorial)
BO bind off. Also known as cast off (video tutorial)
K knit (video tutorial)
P purl (video tutorial)
st(s) stitch(es)
st st stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl)
garter st knit every row
RS right side of the work
WS wrong side of the work
[ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
( ) work instructions inside parentheses in the place directed
* repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed
* *repeat instructions following the asterisks as directed
Decreasing knitting abbreviations:
dec decrease
k2tog knit 2 together (right leaning decrease)
p2tog purl 2 together (right leaning decrease on right side of work)
sl slip stitch from one needle to the other without knitting it
psso pass slipped stitch over the stitch(es) just worked
ssk slip, slip, knit – slip first stitch knitwise, slip second stitch knitwise, insert left needle into slipped stitches from left to right and knit these two stitches together (left leaning decrease)
Increasing knitting abbreviations:
inc increase
kfb knit into the front and the back of the same stitch. Knit into the stitch, then before slipping it off the needle, twist the right-hand needle behind the left-hand one and knit again into the back of the loop then slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle. (video tutorial)
M1 Make one stitch. Insert right-hand needle from front to back under the horizontal strand that runs between the stitches, insert the left-hand needle under the strand from front to back and knit (or purl) through the back of the loop, slip new stitch off the left-hand needle.
M3 Make three. [Knit one, purl one, knit one] all into the same stitch
yf yard forward. Bring yarn forward as if to purl a stitch, but then knit the stitch taking the yarn over the top of the needle (increase between 2 knit stitches)
yon yarn over needle. Take the yarn over the top of the needle, then between the needles to the front again and then purl the next stitch (increase between 2 purl stitches)
Other knitting abbreviations:
beg begin(ning)
cont. continue
alt alternate
foll following
est established
patt pattern
rem remaining
rep repeating
tbl through back of loop(s)
w+t wrap and turn (short row shaping technique). Slip the next stitch, bring yarn from back to front, slip the stitch back to the left-hand needle, turn the work.
K1B Knit one below. Insert the right-hand needle through the centre of the stitch below the next stitch on the left-hand needle and knit in the usual way slipping the stitch above off the needle at the same time.
Cable stitch knitting abbreviations:
C2B Cable 2 back. Slip 1 stitch onto cable needle and hold at back, knit 1, knit 1 from cable needle.
C2F Cable 2 front. Slip 1 stitch onto cable needle and hold at front, knit 1, knit 1 from cable needle.
C4B Cable 4 back. Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold at back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle.
C4F Cable 4 front. Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold at back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle.
Colourwork knitting abbreviations:
MC main colour
CC contrast colour
