Knit Abbreviations

Not sure what abbreviations in our knitting patterns mean? Check out our handy knit abbreviations for beginners guide below to help answer your questions. Abbreviations are ordered alphabetically.

Find crochet abbreviations here.

Knitting Abbreviations for Beginners Guide
Abbreviation Definition
alt Alternate(ing)
approx Approximately
beg Beginning
C4B Slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle and leave it at the back of the work. K2, then K2 from cable needle
C4F Slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle and leave it in the front of the work. K2, then K2 from cable needle
CL K2tog. Keep stitches on the left-hand needle. P2tog into the same stiches. Slip off left-hand needle
cm Centimeter(s)
co Cast on
cont Continue(ity)
dec Decrease(ing)
dtr Double treble
g Gram(s)
inc Increase one stitch by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch
K Knit
K1below Knit into next stitch one row below
K1tbl Knit next stitch through the back of the loop
K2tog Knit two stitches together
K2togtbl Knit two stitches together through back loops
K3(4,n)tog Knit next 3(4, n)stitches together
kfb Increase one stitch by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch
M1 Make one stitch by picking up the horizontal loop lying before the next stitch and knitting it into the back of the loop.
M1P Make one stitch by picking up the horizontal loop lying before the next stitch and purling into the back of the loop.
MB Make bobble: [(K1. yfwd) three times. K1] all in next st. Turn. P7. Turn. Sl1. K1. psso. K3. K2tog. Turn. P2tog. P1. P2togtbl. Turn. Sl1. K2tog. psso - bobble made
mm Millimeter(s)
oz Ounce(s)
p Purl
P2tog Purl two stitches together
P3(4,n)tog Purl next 3(4,n) stitches together
P2togtbl Purl two stitches together through back loops
pat Pattern
psso Pass slipped stitch over
rem Remain(ing)
rep Repeat
rnd(s) Round(s)
RS Right side
Sl st Slip stitch
Sl1 Slip next stitch knitwise
Sl1K Slip next stitch knitwise
Sl1P Slip next stitch purlwise
ssk Slip the next two stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto the left-hand needle, then knit through back loops together
st st Stockinette stitch
st(s) Stitch(es)
tog Together
WS Wrong side
yb Bring yarn into back of work
yf Bring yarn into front of work
yfwd Yarn forward (makes one extra stitch)
yo Yarn over the needle (makes one extra stitch)
yon Yarn over the needle (same as yo – makes one extra stitch)
yrn Yarn round needle (makes one extra stitch)