Knitting & crochet abbreviations
" inch(es)
( ) work instructions between parentheses, in the place
directed
* repeat instructions following the single asterisk as
directed
* * repeat instructions between asterisks, as directed
alt alternate
approx approximately
beg begin(ning)
bet between
bo bind off
ca colour a
cb colour b
cc contrasting colour
cdd centred double decrease. Slip 2 tog, k1, pass the
slipped stitches over (together)
ch chain (using crochet hook), start with a slip knot
cm centimetre(s)
co cast on
cont continue
cross 2 l cross 2 stitches to the left (to work a cable), slip 2
stitches p-wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle
hang in front of work as you knit the next couple of
stitches; then knit stitches off cable needle
cross 2 r cross 2 stitches to the right (to work a cable), slip 2
stitches p-wise onto a cable needle, let cable needle
hang behind work as you knit the next couple of
stitches; then knit stitches off cable needle
dc double crochet
dec(s) decrease(s)
dk double knitting weight yarn, slightly finer than worsted
weight
dpn/dp double pointed needle(s), a short needle with points at
both ends, used in sets of 3 or 4 or 5, for knitting in
the round
eon end of needle
eor end of row
fc front cross (in working a cable)
fl front loop(s)
foll follow; follows; following
g/gr gram
g st garter stitch
grp(s) group(s)
hdc half double crochet
hk hook
in(s) inch(es)
inc(s) increase(s)
incl including
k knit
k tbl or
k1 tbl/k1b knit stitch through the back loop
k-b knit stitch in row below. Infrequently used for knit
through the back loop; see k tbl
k-wise knit-wise, insert right needle into the stitch as if to
knit it
k1 f&b/kfb knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back - this is also
called a bar increase
k2tog knit 2 stitches together
k2tog tbl knit 2 stitches together, through the back loops
kll knit left loop, an increase
krl knit right loop, an increase
lc left cross (to work a cable) as in - cross 2 left
lh left hand
lp(s) loop(s)
lt left twist (where two stitches cross each other, as in
the smallest cable stitch possible)
m metre(s)
m1 make 1 - this means to increase a stitch. If the
method isn't specified, use whichever increase you
like, for instance m1f
m1a make 1 away, an increase
m1l or
m1, m1f make 1 (front)(left), an increase, from the front - lift
loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back
of loop
m1r/m1b make 1 (back) (right), an increase, from the back -
lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into
front of loop
m1t make 1 towards - an increase
mb make bobble
mc main colour
mm millimetres(s)
no number
oz ounce(s)
p purl
p tbl or
p1 tbl, p1b purl through the back loop
p-b purl stitch in the row below, infrequently used to
mean purl stitch in the back loop; see p tbl
p-wise purl wise - insert right needle down into the front
loop, or up into the back loop for tbl
p1 f&b/pfb purl the front of a stitch, then purl the back of the
same stitch
p2tog purl 2 together
p2tog tbl purl 2 together through the back loops
pat(s)/patt(s) pattern(s)
pm place marker
pnso pass next stitch over
pop popcorn stitch
prev previous
psso pass the slipped stitch over (as in slip 1, knit 1,
psso)
pu pick up stitches
rc right cross (to work a cable), as in - cross 2 r
rem remaining
rep repeat(s)
rev st st reverse stockinette/stocking stitch, the purl side of
plain, stockinette stitch, purled on right side, knitted
on wrong side
rh right hand
rib ribbing: vertical columns of knit and purl stitches,
side by side, as in k1, p1 ribbing
rnd(s) round(s) - in circular knitting, a row is called a
round
rs right side, for instance the outside of a sweater,
stated to indicate which side is facing you when
carrying out instructions
rt right twist (where two stitches cross each other, as
in the smallest cable stitch possible)
sc single crochet
sk skip
sk2p slip1, knit 2 tog, pass slipped stitch over, a double
decrease
skp/skpo slip, knit, pass - slip a stitch, knit the next stitch,
pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, the same
as sl1, k1, psso
sl/s slip a stitch. if they don't specify, slip the stitch
purl-wise - unless you are decreasing - then, slip it
knit-wise on the knit rows, and purl-wise on the
purl rows.
sl st slip stitch(es)
sl1, k1, psso slip1, knit1, pass the slipped stitch over, the same
as skp
sl1k/sl 1 k-wise slip a stitch knit-wise
sl1p/sl 1 p-wise slip a stitch purl-wise
slip knot an adjustable loop, used to begin many cast-on
methods
sp(s) space(s)
ss slip stitch (Canadian)
ssk slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together, a
decrease
ssk (improved) sl 1, sl 1 p-wise, knit slipped sts together
ssp slip, slip, purl - a decrease, usually done on the
purl-side
sssk slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together, a
double decrease
st (s) stitch(es)
st st stockinette/stocking stitch
tbl through the back loop
tog together
won wool over needle
wrn wool round needle
ws wrong side, for instance the inside of the
sweater, stated to indicate which side is facing
you when carrying out instructions
wyib with yarn in back
wyif with yarn in front
yb/ybk yarn to the back
yd(s) yard(s)
yfon yarn forward and over needle, same as yo
yfrn yarn forward and around needle, same as yo
yfwd/yf yarn forward
yo yarn over - wrap the yarn around right needle
yo2/yo twice yarn over twice
yon yarn over needle, same as yo
yrn yarn around needle, same as yo
[ ] work instructions between brackets, as many
times as directed