One of the most frustrating things for beginning knitters is trying to decipher patterns that are filled with abbrevations. It can feel like a code you'll never be able to decipher. But this chart can help: it has all of the standard abbreviations used in knitting patterns, as well as their "translations."
| alt |
alternate |
psso |
pass slipped stitch over |
| beg |
begin/beginning |
pwise |
purlwise |
| bet |
between |
rem |
remain/remaining |
| BO |
bind off |
rep |
repeat(s) |
| CA |
color A |
rev St st |
reverse stockinette stitch |
| CB |
color B |
RH |
right hand |
| CC |
contrasting color |
rnd(s) |
round(s) |
| cm |
centimeters |
sk |
skip |
| cn |
cable needle |
skp |
slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over |
| CO |
cast on |
sk2p |
slip one stitch, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over |
| cont |
continue |
sl |
slip |
| dec |
decrease/decreases/decreasing |
sl1k |
slip one knitwise |
| dpn |
doulbe-pointed needle(s) |
sl1p |
slip one purlwise |
| fl |
front loop(s) |
sl st |
slip stitch(es) |
| foll |
follows/following |
ss |
slip stitch (in Canadian patterns) |
| g |
gram |
ssk |
slip, slip, knit those two stitches together |
| inc |
increase |
sssk |
slip, slip, slip, knit three slipped stitches together |
| K |
knit |
st(s) |
stitch(es) |
| k2tog |
knit two together |
St st |
stockinette stitch |
| kwise |
knitwise |
tbl |
through back loop |
| LH |
left hand |
tog |
together |
| lp(s) |
loop(s) |
WS |
wrong side |
| m |
meters |
wyib |
with yarn in back |
| M1 |
make one stitch |
wyif |
with yarn in front |
| M1 p-st |
make one purl stitch |
yds |
yards |
| MC |
main color |
yfwd |
yarn forward |
| mm |
millimeters |
yo |
yarn over |
| oz |
ounce |
yrn |
yarn around needle |
| P (or p) |
purl |
yon |
yarn over needle |
| pat(s) or patt |
pattern(s) |
yo |
yarn over |
| pm |
place marker |
[ ] |
work instructions in brackets as many times as directed |
| pop |
popcorn bauble |
( ) |
work instructions in parenthesis as directed (also used to indicate size changes) |
| p2tog |
purl two together |
** |
repeat instructions after asterisks as directed |
| prev |
previous |
* |
repeat pattern following asterisk as directed |
