Common Knitting Abbreviations
Here’s a comprehensive list of common knitting abbreviations that you might encounter in knitting patterns.
- alt: Alternate
- approx: Approximately
- beg: Begin or beginning
- BO: Bind off (cast off)
- CC: Contrast color
- CDD: Center double decrease – Slip the next two stitches together knitwise to the right needle, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch
- circ (s): Circular knitting needles
- CO: Cast on
- cont: Continue
- dec: Decrease
- dpn (s): Double-pointed needles
- foll: Follow
- g st: Garter stitch
- inc: Increase
- k: Knit
- k2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
- kfb: Knit into the front and back of the same stitch
- m1: Make 1 stitch
- p: Purl
- p2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
- pm: Place marker
- psso: Pass slipped stitch over
- rem: Remaining
- rep: Repeat
- RS: Right side
- sl: Slip
- ssk: Slip, slip, knit
- st(s): Stitch(es)
- tbl: Through the back loop
- tog: Together
- WS: Wrong side
These abbreviations are often found in knitting patterns and can help you follow instructions more easily. Remember that some patterns may include special abbreviations not listed here, so always check the pattern’s introduction for any specific definitions.
