How to Decode Knitting Abbreviations?

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A knitting pattern is like a recipe. It gives instructions on how to knit with your knitting needles. A pattern designer makes a project and writes down the instructions for other knitters to follow and make similar projects. The set of knitting instructions becomes too complicated if written in sentences so to make it simpler to understand knitting abbreviations are used. The standard abbreviations are used for most knitting patterns but if there is something the pattern designer will write the instructions clearly.

Besides the steps of knitting, a pattern designer will have a separate section on knitting needles, yarn, and gauge. Try to follow the same tools as the pattern instructor. If a pattern has been designed for double-pointed knitting needles it can be translated to circular knitting needles. But, then you must be confident with knitting in the round. With a gauge swatch as a guide make your own sample.

If you are just starting with knitting, the abbreviations may seem like a foreign language but soon enough when you make some projects you will catch up.

Why do we use knitting abbreviations?

Knitting patterns use abbreviations for two main reasons. To explain instructions clearly in brief. For example instead of - "Knit one, then purl one, then knit another one and purl another one, and continue this until you run out of stitches", the abbreviated form would be: "*K1, P1; rep from * to end of row." The entire sentence would be difficult to follow at a glance and takes up a lot of space on the page while the abbreviations would be simpler, shorter, and much clearer.

When you are just starting out with knitting, these abbreviations would be overwhelming so it’s best to have a handy chart for use. It is always recommended to make your own notes for knitting when you are a beginner. Writing your own notes will help you get adept at the craft. With time you will get fluent with knitting terms.

Here’s a standard chart compiled by the Craft Yarn Council.

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 seconda 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

STN

single pointed knitting needles

k2tog

knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease

stash

A knitter’s collection of yarn, including leftovers from other projects.

kwise

knitwise

St st

stockinette stitch

LH

left hand

TAAT

two at a time

lp

loop

tbl

through back loop

LYS

local yarn shop

tfl

through front loop

m

marker

TINK

unknit stitches to rectify an error in knitting

M1 or M1K

make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase

tog

together

M1R

make one right; single right-leaning knit increase

UFO

unfinished object, knitting project that is abandoned

M1L

make one left; single left-leaning knit increase

WIP

work in progress

M1p

make one purlwise; single purl increase

WS

wrong side

M1rp

make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase

w&t

wrap and turn

M1lp

make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase

wyib

with yarn in back

MC

main color

wyif

with yarn in front

p

purl

yarn barf

A big lump of yarn that comes out of the center of a new ball or skein of yarn.

pat or patt

pattern

yb

yarn back

pfb

purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase

yfwd or yf

yarn forward

pm

place marker

yo

yarn over

p2tog

purl 2 stitches together; single decrease

yon

yarn over needle

prev

previous

yrn

yarn round needle

psso

pass slipped stitch over

*

repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed

p2sso

pass 2 slipped stitches over

{ } or [ ]

 work instructions within brackets as many times as directed

pwise

purlwise

 

 

 

With this, you are ready to start any knitting pattern. Remember to read through the pattern completely before you cast on stitches.

Premium knitting needles such as handcrafted ebony wood from the Lantern Moon Collection offer a smooth knitting experience. Serving you for years and projects with their liquid-silk finish and smooth feel in the hands of knitters, enjoy knitting!

Source by- https://lanternmoon.bcz.com/2022/11/18/how-to-decode-knitting-abbreviations/

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