Knitting is a language of love, an expression of creativity with knitting needles. No matter where the knitter is on the journey of the craft they need to get familiar with knitting vocabulary. The knitting community is a global, as anyone who is active on the internet, and in particular on social media can join the tribe of makers. The creative makers are uniquely different but always share the love for yarn and also various strange terms and combinations of letters. The unique words or abbreviations are not just words but code word for certain things, techniques and more. Just as LOL has become common usage almost everywhere, the knitting community has also produced its share of modern-day vocabulary. You will come across these abbreviations used on Ravelry or knitting blogs, which might be confusing.
Between needles, accessories, yarn weights, and techniques, there is a lot to keep in mind when it comes to knitting! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced knitter, we've got a free cheat sheet for your reference!
|
Abbreviation |
Description |
Abbreviation |
Description |
|
alt |
alternate |
rem |
remaining |
|
approx |
approximately |
rep |
repeat |
|
beg |
beginning |
rev St st |
reverse stockinette stitch |
|
bet |
between |
RH |
right hand |
|
BO |
bind off |
rnd |
round |
|
byo |
backward yarn over |
RS |
right side |
|
CC |
contrasting color |
SKP |
slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease |
|
cn |
cable needle |
SK2P |
slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease |
|
CO |
cast on |
sl |
slip |
|
cont |
continue |
sl1k |
slip 1 knitwise |
|
dec |
decrease |
sl1p |
slip 1 purlwise |
|
dpn |
double-pointed needles |
sl st |
slip stitch |
|
FO |
finished project, after weaving in the ends |
sm |
slip marker |
|
foll |
follow |
ssk |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
|
frogging |
Ripping out your stitches when you’ve made a mistake. |
ssp |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease |
|
HOTN |
hot off the needles |
sss |
second sock syndrome, where the secon pair of socks takes longer time or is not fun to knit. |
|
inc |
increase |
sssk |
slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
|
k |
knit |
sssp |
slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease |
|
KAL |
knit-along generally for charity |
S2KP2 |
slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch; centered double decrease |
|
k1B |
knit stitch in row below |
SSPP2 |
slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and then slip them as if to p2tog through back loops, purl 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over purl stitch; centered double decrease |
|
kfb |
knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase |
st |
stitch |
|
ksp |
knit 1 stitch, slip this stitch from right needle to left needle, pass second stitch on left needle over first stitch and off left needle; return stitch to right needle; single right-leaning decrease |
stash |
A knitter’s collection of yarn, including leftovers from other projects. |
|
k2tog |
knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease |
St st |
stockinette stitch |
|
kwise |
knitwise |
TAAT |
two at a time |
|
LH |
left hand |
tbl |
through back loop |
|
lp |
loop |
tfl |
through front loop |
|
LYS |
local yarn shop |
TINK |
unknit stitches to rectify an error in knitting |
|
m |
marker |
tog |
together |
|
M1 or M1K |
make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase |
UFO |
unfinished object, knitting project that is abandoned |
|
M1R |
make one right; single right-leaning knit increase |
WIP |
work in progress |
|
M1L |
make one left; single left-leaning knit increase |
WS |
wrong side |
|
M1p |
make one purlwise; single purl increase |
w&t |
wrap and turn |
|
M1rp |
make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase |
wyib |
with yarn in back |
|
M1lp |
make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase |
wyif |
with yarn in front |
|
MC |
main color |
yarn barf |
A big lump of yarn that comes out of the center of a new ball or skein of yarn. |
|
p |
purl |
yb |
yarn back |
|
pat or patt |
pattern |
yfwd or yf |
yarn forward |
|
pfb |
purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase |
yo |
yarn over |
|
pm |
place marker |
yon |
yarn over needle |
|
p2tog |
purl 2 stitches together; single decrease |
yrn |
yarn round needle |
|
prev |
previous |
||
|
psso |
pass slipped stitch over |
||
|
p2sso |
pass 2 slipped stitches over |
||
|
pwise |
purlwise |
Source: https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/knitting-abbreviations
Now that you have a cheat sheet of Knitter’s Vocabulary it becomes easier to interact with knit-addicts. So, get started with any knitting project or pattern and use the lingo.
For mindful knitting, tips, techniques and everything to do with knitting, browse through our blog.
