Key takeaways
- Knitting patterns use short abbreviations, like k for knit and p for purl, so instructions fit on the page and are quick to read.
- Most beginner patterns use the same 20 or so abbreviations. Once you know them, you can follow almost any pattern.
- Symbols matter too: asterisks mark repeats, brackets group steps, and numbers in parentheses are for other sizes.
The first time you open a knitting pattern, it can look like a secret code: "CO 40 sts. *K2, p2; rep from * to end." Don't worry. Every one of those letters stands for something simple, and you'll learn most of them within your first project or two. Keep this page handy, and come back whenever a pattern uses a term you don't recognize.
The basics
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CO | Cast on: put your first stitches on the needle |
| BO | Bind off (also called cast off): lock your last row so it can't unravel |
| k | Knit |
| p | Purl |
| st(s) | Stitch(es) |
| RS | Right side: the side of your work that will show |
| WS | Wrong side: the inside of your work |
| rep | Repeat |
| rem | Remaining |
| beg | Beginning |
| cont | Continue |
| approx | Approximately |
| tog | Together |
| St st | Stockinette stitch: knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows |
| rnd(s) | Round(s), when you're knitting in a circle instead of back and forth |
| MC / CC | Main color / contrast color |
Decreases (making fewer stitches)
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dec | Decrease |
| k2tog | Knit 2 stitches together. Turns two stitches into one and leans to the right. |
| ssk | Slip, slip, knit. Slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops. Turns two stitches into one and leans to the left. |
| p2tog | Purl 2 stitches together |
| k3tog | Knit 3 stitches together. Turns three stitches into one. |
| psso | Pass slipped stitch over: lift a slipped stitch over the stitch you just worked and off the needle |
Increases (making more stitches)
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| inc | Increase |
| kfb | Knit into the front and then the back of the same stitch. Turns one stitch into two. |
| M1 | Make 1: pick up the strand between two stitches and knit it to create a new stitch |
| M1L / M1R | Make 1 left / make 1 right: versions of M1 that lean in a specific direction for neater shaping |
| yo | Yarn over: wrap the yarn over the needle to make a new stitch and a small decorative hole |
Slipped stitches, markers and yarn position
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sl | Slip a stitch from the left needle to the right needle without knitting it |
| kwise / pwise | Knitwise / purlwise: insert the needle as if to knit or as if to purl |
| tbl | Through the back loop. For example, k1tbl means knit one stitch through its back loop, which twists it. |
| pm | Place marker |
| sm | Slip marker: move the marker from the left needle to the right needle |
| BOR | Beginning of round, often marked with a stitch marker |
| wyib / wyif | With yarn in back / with yarn in front |
| LH / RH | Left-hand needle / right-hand needle |
| dpn(s) | Double-pointed needle(s), used for small things knit in the round, like sleeve cuffs |
How to read the symbols in a pattern
Asterisks ( * ) mark a repeat. "*K2, p2; rep from * to end" means knit 2, purl 2, and keep repeating that pair until you run out of stitches.
Brackets [ ] group a set of steps. "[K1, p1] 3 times" means work knit 1, purl 1 three times in a row.
Numbers in parentheses ( ) are for other sizes. "CO 40 (44, 48) sts" means cast on 40 stitches for the smallest size, 44 for the next and 48 for the largest. Before you start, circle or highlight your size all the way through the pattern so you never grab the wrong number.
Numbers after a row tell you what to check. "Row 4: K2tog, knit to end (38 sts)" means you should have 38 stitches on your needle when that row is finished. Counting there is the easiest way to catch a mistake early.
A note on US and UK terms
Most knitting abbreviations are the same everywhere, but a few words differ. For example, UK patterns say "cast off" and "tension" where US patterns say "bind off" and "gauge," and needle sizes are listed differently. All Always Moo patterns use US terms and US needle sizes, with metric sizes alongside.
Want this cheat sheet on paper?
Our free printable Beginner's Stitch Guide puts these abbreviations next to step-by-step instructions for casting on, the knit and purl stitches, binding off, six stitch patterns and a yarn weight and needle size chart, so you can keep it right next to you while you knit. Join the Always Moo email list and we'll send it straight to your inbox.
Ready to put it all into practice? The Learn to Knit Beginner Kit walks you through your first stitches and your first scarf, and our knitting patterns are written to be clear and easy to follow, with no guesswork.