Knit Abbreviations

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

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Knit Abbreviations
Abbreviation Description
alt alternate(ing)
approx approximately
beg beginning
C4B Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at back of work. K2, then K2 from cable needle
C4F Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at front of work. K2, then K2 from cable needle
CL K2tog. Keep stitches on 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 1 stitch by knitting into front and back of next stitch
K knit
K1below knit into next stitch 1 row below
K1tbl Knit next stitch through back of loop
K2tog Knit 2 stitches together
K2togtbl Knit 2 stitches together through back loops
K3(4,n)tog Knit next 3(4, n)stitches together
kfb increase 1 stitch by knitting into front and back of next stitch
M1 Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and knitting into back of loop.
M1P Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and purling into back of loop.
MB Make bobble: [(K1. yfwd) 3 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 2 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 next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto 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 1 extra stitch)
yo yarn over the needle (makes 1 extra stitch)
yon yarn over needle (same as yo - makes 1 extra stitch)
yrn yarn round needle (makes 1 extra stitch)