Common Knitting Abbreviations, Slang and Terminology Explained

| Posted on December 13, 2025 | By: KnitPro

A knitting pattern is like a map for a project's journey. If you’ve ever opened a pattern and felt like you were staring at a secret code, you’re not alone: it’s a game of numbers with basic knit and purl stitches, along with other techniques. New knitters often wonder why designers insist on writing entire lines using knitting abbreviations like “k2tog,” “ssk,” or the truly terrifying “psso.” Then there’s cool lingo such as “FO”, “UFO” and the happy little “stash”. The knitter’s vocabulary exists to keep instructions concise, consistent, and universally understood across knit designers, yarn brands, and even countries.

Why Knitting Patterns Use Abbreviations

Knitting patterns haven’t always looked like secret spy documents with coded terms and secret numbers. Early patterns from the 19th century were written out in full sentences (yes, full paragraphs!), but knitters quickly realized that repeating “knit two stitches together” a hundred times per page was tough for their sanity.

Abbreviations help patterns stay short, consistent, and quick to follow, especially when you're working row after row of the same stitches with knitting needles. Plus, the abbreviations are universal enough that you can follow a knitting pattern anywhere in the world.

Common Knitting Abbreviations, Slang and Terms with Descriptions

Below are the abbreviations, slang and terms every knitter should know. These commonly occur in knitting patterns and make their work simple and concise. If you have this list, be assured that you are ready to tackle and pattern or design.

Abbreviation	Description
alt	Alternate, this can be for a yarn or the knit/purl stitch
approx	approximately
beg	beginning
bet	between
BO	bind off Refer to: Bind off in knitting
byo	backward yarn over
CC	contrasting color
cn	cable needle
CO	cast on
cont	continue
dec	Decrease Refer to: How to decrease in knitting
dpn	double-pointed knitting needles
fo	finished object
foll	follow
frog	to pull out several rows of knitting. The term comes from “rip it, rip it” which sounds like the croak of a frog
graft(ing)	a method of joining two sets of live stitches
inc	increase
k	knit
KAL/CAL	a knit or crochetalong. A (usually online) event where a group of people work on the same project at the same time. These are sometimes new patterns, released part-by-part, but can also be a group just choosing a pattern to do together.
Kitchener stitch	method of grafting live stitches together
k1B	knit stitch in row below
kfb	Knit 1 into the front and back of a stitch; single knit increase
ksp	Knit 1 stitch, slip this stitch from the right needle to the left needle, pass the second stitch on the left needle over the first stitch and off the left needle; return the stitch to the right knitting needle; single right-leaning decrease
k2tog	Knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease
kwise	knitwise
LH	left hand
lp	loop
LYS	local yarn shop
m	marker
M1 or M1K	make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase
M1R	make one right; single right-leaning knit increase
M1L	make one left; single left-leaning knit increase
M1p	make one purlwise; single purl increase
M1rp	make one right purlwise; single right-leaning purl increase
M1lp	make one left purlwise; single left-leaning purl increase
MC	main color
p	purl
pick(ing) up	a method of putting more stitches on your knitting needles
pat or patt	pattern
pfb	purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase
PHD	Project half done
pm	place marker
p2tog	purl 2 stitches together; single decrease
p2tog tbl	purl 2 stitches together through the back loops; similar to ssp; a one-stitch decrease
prev	previous
psso	pass slipped stitch over
p2sso	pass 2 slipped stitches over
pwise	purlwise
RLI	right lifted increase; a single-stitch increase
rem	remaining
rep	repeat
rev St st	reverse stockinette stitch Refer to: Reverse Stockinette Stitch
RH	right hand
rnd	round
RS	right side
SABLE	stash acquisition beyond life expectancy, ie, a lot of yarn
SKP	slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch; single left-leaning decrease
SK2P	slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over knit 2 together; double left-leaning decrease
sl	slip
stash	your collection of yarn
sl1k	slip 1 knitwise
sl1p	slip 1 purlwise
sl st	slip stitch Refer to: Slip Stitch in Knitting
sm	slip marker
ssk	slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
Ssp	slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to the left knitting needle and purl them together through the back loops; single left-leaning decrease
sssk	slip 3 stitches knitwise, knit these 3 stitches together through back loops; double left-leaning decrease
sssp	slip 3 stitches knitwise, return these 3 stitches to the left needle and purl these 3 stitches together through the back loops; double left-leaning decrease
S2KP2	slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch; centered double decrease
SSPP2	slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to the 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
st	stitch
St st	stockinette stitch
tbl	through the back loop Refer to: Knit Through Back Loop
tfl	through the front loop
TINK	“knit” backwards, ie, working back stitch by stitch to fix a problem
tog	together
WIP	Work in progress
WS	wrong side
w&t	wrap and turn
UFO	unfinished object
wyib	with yarn in the back
wyif	with yarn in front
yarn barf	When your centre pull ball of yarn collapses in a tangly mess, with a lump spilling out
yb	yarn back
yfwd or yf	yarn forward
yo	yarn over
yon	yarn over knitting needle
yrn	yarn round knitting needle

Terms & Common Measurements

Besides abbreviations, in knitting, there are also common terms and common measurements:

Measurement	Description
*	Repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
* *	Repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat at specified locations
{ }	work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
[ ]	work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
( )	work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed, or work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space
” or in	inch
cm	centimeter
g	gram
m	meter
mm	millimeter
oz	ounce
yd	yard

*As compiled by the Craft Yarn Council in Knitting Abbreviations Master List

How to Read Knitting Pattern Abbreviations

Let’s be honest, learning knitting abbreviations can feel like studying for a knitting exam. But here’s the expert-approved method:

✔ Start with beginner-friendly patterns - Start with a pattern with simple repeats, such as garter or stockinette. Build confidence before tackling complicated designs.

✔ Read an entire row, or in fact the entire pattern, before knitting it - This prevents mid-row panic.

✔ Practice individual abbreviations - If you’re not sure how to work “ssk” or “yo,” practice a few rows on scrap yarn first.

✔ Watch tutorials from trusted experts - Follow knitting experts, designers and yarn companies who take you through the steps and clarify each step. YouTube tutorials come as a great help.

✔ Be patient - Even advanced knitters still occasionally misread patterns.

To conclude, knitting abbreviations are simple terms of knitting that you will come across while working on a project. The trick is to read and completely understand the instructions. Another trick is to understand your knitting needles and accessories. Explore the KnitPro collection for tools designed for you. Browse through knitting needles in different materials such as wood, bamboo, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and more in standard sizes and types for all kinds of projects.