
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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Nice and concise
Thanks, Lov to knit
Love to knit
Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it.
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Premium member forever! Love the fever changing Classes.
Printable version?
Love knitting….
Love getting reminders especially when You put the craft away and come back later 😀
Would love to learn how much is a class.
Would love to learn
Would like to know how to be learning more about this opportunity knit and more learning from crochet also
Please send to me
I would love this list so I could print it out, I’m trying to learn to knit and this would come in very handy!!!
Still trying to learn how to knit correctly and learn all the short terms for stitches.
Think these will be beneficial to me and future knitting projects. Thanks
Jacquie Haalck
February 2, 2023
Send me a copy, FREE
A good thing to save
Thank you so much! I will save this. Even if I know a stitch, if I haven’t used it in a while I might forget.
I am always looking for a guide like this. Thanks.
Love this thank you
would love to get the help to start knitting
Thank you
I am brioche knitting and can’t read the charts.. suggestions how to read and learn?
I have been knitting for a few years. I have knitted a market bag and am starting the straps. I cast on 13, then it says to Sl2pyb. I’m guessing you slip 2 then purl with yarn in back. I’m not sure if that is correct, or how to knit it. Is that correct?
I think it means to slip 2 purlwise with the yarn in the back. So with yarn held in the back, slip 1 purlwise , slip 1 purlwise. Then move on to the next stitch. Usually patterns will include a list abbreviations used in the pattern.
Is it possible to print out a copy of these abbreviations?
just select the words and right click and select print
A great addition to my many instructions for a novice knitter!
Thank you so much… great list… 🙂
Please new knitter here with old pattern what does Sp2. Mean ? Please?
It’s a form of double decrease (also called SP2P). You slip 1 stitch knitwise, purl 2 together, and then pass the slipped stitch over 🙂
I’d like to crochet a simple hat
Thanks for sharing
This is very handy. Thanks!
Learning to knit.
It is helpful for beginners if you would indicate, for “slip stitch” instructions, exactly which way to slip the stitch: slip stitch as if to knit, or as if to purl. Thank you!
unless the pattern instructions say otherwise I slip purlwise (right-to-left) every thime to avoid twisting the stitch
I’ve been knitting for 45 years and it was a very enjoyable activity. I would love if I could make the Japanese seamless method that I received but came only with Japanese directions.
Go to the local Japanese Cultural Ctr. Maybe even Okinawan Ctr (in your area) and ask if someone would be willing to translate for you 👍🏽
Very, very handy info, Thank U
Been trying to knit past beginner stage for a while. This should help.
Very helpful, but I can’t find skp (k3, yo, skp). ???
Knit 3, yarn over, slip one, knit one, pass stitch over. If this is in brackets it means it is to be repeated and there should be instructions after the bracket telling you how many times to repeat. Usually when you do a yarn over or yarn forward, which increases stitch count, it will be followed somewhere nearby with a way to decrease, otherwise your knitted fabric will keep increasing in width
Very helpful. Last time I knitted was 50 years ago.
Thank you looking to start knitting
Thank you, 65 can’t wait to start knitting
Thank you, can’t wait to start knitting
Thank you
I can’t wait to start learning how to knit.
This is excellent information
For me is super hard 😑
I am a premium member
I am excited to have this!
searching for meaning of knit abbrev..m1r & m1l THANKYOU.
searching for meaning of knit abbrev..m1r & m1l
how do you wyib
Simply move the yarn to the back of your work like you would to knit and then slip the next stitch or whatever it asks you to do.
In Nicky Epstein cable patterns she uses abbreviations such as 1/1 RPC or 1/1 LC or RC. What does this mean? Thanks
how do you ptbl?
How do I do a slip stitch wyib?
What is kbf?
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Lindsay
Craftsy
Same as kfb but do it in the opposite order
I have one of your patterns I got on your website with yarn I ordered. There are abbreviations in the pattern I don’t know what they mean. I found pm above, but I don’t know what sm means. Could you please help?
Sm means “slip marker” (just move the marker to the other needle and keep going)