The first time you open a knitting pattern, it can look like a secret code: “K2, p2, rep from * to last 2 sts, k2tog, yo.” The good news is that there are only a few dozen common knitting abbreviations, and most patterns use the same handful over and over.
This chart puts the ones beginners meet most into plain English, grouped by what they do. Bookmark it, print it, or pin it, and keep it next to your next pattern. We also walk through how to read a full pattern line so the abbreviations make sense in real life.
What You’ll Need
- A printed copy of this chart or your pattern
- A highlighter for marking your place
- Sticky notes or a magnetic pattern board
- A row counter
- Locking stitch markers
Basic Stitch Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| k | knit |
| p | purl |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| CO | cast on |
| BO | bind off |
| RS | right side (the side that will show) |
| WS | wrong side (the inside or back) |
| sl | slip a stitch from the left needle to the right without working it |
| wyif / wyib | with yarn in front / with yarn in back |
| pm | place marker |
| sm | slip marker |
| tbl | through the back loop |
Increase Abbreviations
Increases add stitches, usually to shape a hat crown or a sweater sleeve.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| inc | increase (pattern will say how, or you choose) |
| kfb | knit into the front and back of the same stitch (1 stitch becomes 2) |
| yo | yarn over: wrap the yarn over the needle to make a new stitch and a small hole |
| M1 | make 1: pick up the bar between stitches and knit into it |
| M1L / M1R | make 1 left-leaning / make 1 right-leaning |
Decrease Abbreviations
Decreases remove stitches, for shaping the top of a hat or the toe of a sock.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Leans |
|---|---|---|
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together as one | Right |
| p2tog | purl 2 stitches together as one | Right on the knit side |
| ssk | slip, slip, knit: slip 2 stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops | Left |
| skp | slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over | Left |
| sk2p | slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over (2 stitches removed) | Left |
| dec | decrease | Pattern decides |
Cable and Texture Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| C4F / 2/2 LC | cable 4 front: cross 2 over 2, leaning left |
| C4B / 2/2 RC | cable 4 back: cross 2 over 2, leaning right |
| cn | cable needle |
| T3F / T3B | twist: knit stitch crosses a purl stitch, front or back |
| MB | make bobble (the pattern explains its own bobble) |
If cables are new to you, our guide on how to knit cables without a cable needle walks through C4F and C4B step by step.
Pattern Instruction Terms
These are not stitches. They tell you how to repeat and organize what you are knitting.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| rep | repeat |
| * (asterisk) | repeat the instructions after the asterisk as told |
| ( ) or [ ] | repeat what is inside as many times as stated |
| rem | remain or remaining |
| rnd(s) | round(s), used in circular knitting |
| beg | beginning |
| est | established (keep working the pattern you set up) |
| tog | together |
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximately |
| foll | following |
| patt | pattern |
| St st | stockinette stitch: knit RS rows, purl WS rows |
| g st | garter stitch: knit every row |
| DPN(s) | double-pointed needle(s) |
| WIP | work in progress (not in patterns, but you will see it online) |
For the full official list, the Craft Yarn Council keeps a Knitting Abbreviations Master List that most US designers follow.
How to Read a Pattern Line, Step by Step
Let us decode a real-looking ribbing row: “Row 1 (RS): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.”
Step 1: “Row 1 (RS)” tells you this is the first row, and the side facing you is the right side.
Step 2: “K2” means knit 2 stitches.
Step 3: The asterisk marks the start of a repeat. Everything between the asterisk and the semicolon is the repeat: purl 2, knit 2.
Step 4: “Rep from * to end” means work that purl 2, knit 2 repeat until you run out of stitches.
Now try a decrease row: “Rnd 5: *K6, k2tog; rep from * around. (42 sts)”
Step 1: “Rnd” means you are knitting in the round, so there is no wrong side row.
Step 2: Knit 6 stitches, then knit the next 2 together.
Step 3: Repeat that all the way around.
Step 4: The number in brackets at the end is your stitch count after the round. Count to check you have 42 stitches.
US vs UK Knitting Terms
Knitting abbreviations are mostly the same in the US and UK, which is a relief if you are coming from crochet. A few words do change:
| US term | UK term |
|---|---|
| Bind off | Cast off |
| Gauge | Tension |
| Stockinette stitch | Stocking stitch |
| Yarn over | Yarn forward / yarn round needle |
| Worsted weight | Aran (close, not exact) |
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
- Reading k2tog as “knit 2.” These are very different: k2tog removes a stitch. Highlight every decrease in your pattern before you start.
- Repeating the wrong section. Stop at the asterisk or bracket and count how many stitches are in one repeat. Check that your stitch count divides evenly.
- Ignoring stitch counts. The number in brackets at the end of a row is your safety net. Count every time it appears.
- Mixing up RS and WS. Clip a locking marker onto the right side of your work so you always know which side is facing you.
- Guessing at unknown terms. Most patterns include their own abbreviation list near the start. Read it before row 1, because some designers use special abbreviations.
Tips
- Read the whole pattern once before casting on and circle anything you do not know.
- Rewrite long repeats in your own words in the margin.
- Use a highlighter or sticky note under the row you are working on.
- Learn the five most common first: k, p, k2tog, ssk, yo. They cover a huge share of beginner patterns.
- If you have not started yet, our how to knit for beginners guide covers cast on, knit and purl.
FAQ
What does k2tog mean in knitting?
K2tog stands for “knit 2 together.” Insert your right needle into the next 2 stitches at once, as if to knit, and knit them as one stitch. It reduces your stitch count by 1 and creates a decrease that leans to the right. It is the most common decrease in beginner patterns.
What is the difference between k2tog and ssk?
Both are decreases that turn 2 stitches into 1. K2tog leans right and ssk leans left. Patterns often pair them on either side of a raglan line or a hat panel so the shaping looks symmetrical. If a pattern asks for ssk, using k2tog instead still works but will look a little different.
Are knitting abbreviations the same everywhere?
Most are standard across English-language patterns, thanks to guidelines like the Craft Yarn Council list. A few terms differ between US and UK patterns, such as bind off and cast off, and some designers create their own abbreviations for special stitches. Always check the abbreviation key in your pattern.
Keep this chart handy, and soon those strings of letters will read like plain instructions.
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