Here's a Guide to All the Knitting Abbreviations You Might See

When you first begin knitting, reading patterns and charts may be the most challenging aspect. After all, to a novice, “K5 yo, k2tog, ssk, knit to end” looks like utter gibberish. But don’t stress — keep this guide close and you’ll be able to decode even the trickiest line.

Common Knitting Abbreviations

  • bo – bind off
  • co – cast on
  • dec – decrease
  • inc – increase
  • k2tog – knit two together
  • k – knit
  • kfb – knit in the front and back of the same stitch
  • kwise – knitwise
  • M1L – make a new stitch by lifting the yarn in the space between the stitches and knitting into the back loop
  • M1R – make a new stitch by lifting the yarn in the space between the stitches and knitting into the front loop
  • p2tog – purl two stitches together
  • p – purl
  • pfb – purl in the front and back of the same stitch
  • pwise – purlwise
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • ssk – slip two stitches on the right needle and knit them together
  • ssp – slip two stitches on the right needle and purl them together
  • st st – stockinette stitch
  • yo – yarn over

Less Common Knitting Abbreviations

  • dpn – double pointed needles
  • k2tog tbl – knit two together through the back loops
  • ktbl – knit through the back loop
  • p2tog tbl – purl two together through the back loops
  • pm – place marker
  • psso – pass the slip stitch over
  • ptbl – purl through the back loop
  • skpo – slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over the knitted one
  • wyib – with yarn in back
  • wyif – with yarn in front

Cable Knitting Abbreviations

  • c2b – slip stitch purlwise to a cable needle and hold that needle in the back of your work, knit the next stitch, then knit the stitch off of the cable needle.
  • c2f – slip stitch purlwise to a cable needle and hold that needle in front of your work, knit the next stitch, then knit the stitch off of the cable needle.

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89 Responses to “Here's a Guide to All the Knitting Abbreviations You Might See”

  1. Roberta

    #45652 working on your pattern # 5886, Country style. Please explain T2F T2B. Thank you so much!

  2. Sheila Lewis

    Very helpful! Appreciate more if there are more. Thanks!

  3. Nancy

    This is going to come in handy for an old beginner like myself!!!

  4. Alexis Bascus

    Good information...thanks for sharing

  5. Brenda Barnett-Johnson

    Learning to knit

  6. Daisy

    This is going help me so much

  7. Anne

    Wonderful explanation of stitches to pass onto my young granddaughter who is learning to knit.

  8. Carol Hahn

    Thank you for sharing this!

  9. Dawn Mitchell

    Thank you, good help

  10. Sandra

    I'm a beginner, barely know how to cast on,but I am sure these will help me once I actually start knitting. Thank you very much.