Knitting abbreviations: the complete glossary (US & UK)

Knitting abbreviations are the shorthand codes used in patterns to save space. For example, k means knit, p means purl, and k2tog means knit two stitches together. Most English-language patterns follow the same standard set, so once you learn them you can read almost any pattern. This glossary explains every common abbreviation in plain English, flags the differences between US and UK terms, and links to a full how-to for each technique.

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If you are new to patterns, start with How to read a knitting pattern, then come back here whenever you meet a code you do not recognise.

The most common abbreviations (start here)

These twelve cover the large majority of beginner patterns:

Code	Means	In plain English
k	knit	The basic knit stitch.
p	purl	The basic purl stitch, the reverse side of a knit stitch.
st / sts	stitch / stitches	One loop on your needle.
CO	cast on	Put the first stitches onto the needle to begin.
BO	bind off (US) / cast off (UK)	Close off stitches to finish an edge.
k2tog	knit 2 together	A decrease that leans right; turns 2 sts into 1.
ssk	slip, slip, knit	A decrease that leans left; turns 2 sts into 1.
yo	yarn over	Wrap the yarn to add a stitch and make a small hole (used in lace and increases).
inc / dec	increase / decrease	Add or remove stitches.
rep	repeat	Do the instruction again.
RS / WS	right side / wrong side	The front (public) and back of your work.
rnd / rep	round / repeat	A round is one full loop when knitting in the round.

Full knitting abbreviations list (A to Z)

These follow the Craft Yarn Council (CYC) US standard, the most widely used convention in English-language patterns. Individual designers sometimes define their own "special abbreviations" at the top of a pattern. Always check there first.

Abbreviation	Description
alt	alternate
approx	approximately
beg	beginning
bet	between
BO	bind off
byo	backward yarn over
CC	contrasting colour
cn	cable needle
CO	cast on
cont	continue
dec	decrease
dpn	double-pointed needles
foll	follow
inc	increase
k	knit
k1B	knit stitch in the row below
kfb	knit into the front and back of a stitch, a single knit increase
k2tog	knit 2 stitches together, a single right-leaning decrease
kwise	knitwise (as if to knit)
LH	left hand
lp	loop
m	marker
M1 / M1K	make one (knitwise), a single knit increase
M1R	make one right, a right-leaning increase
M1L	make one left, a left-leaning increase
M1p	make one purlwise, a single purl increase
MC	main colour
p	purl
pat / patt	pattern
pfb	purl into front and back of a stitch, a single purl increase
pm	place marker
p2tog	purl 2 stitches together, a single decrease
prev	previous
psso	pass slipped stitch over
p2sso	pass 2 slipped stitches over
pwise	purlwise (as if to purl)
rem	remaining
rep	repeat
rev St st	reverse stockinette stitch
RH	right hand
rnd	round
RS	right side
SKP	slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, a single left-leaning decrease
SK2P	slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over, a double left-leaning decrease
sl	slip
sl1k	slip 1 knitwise
sl1p	slip 1 purlwise
sl st	slip stitch
sm	slip marker
ssk	slip 2 stitches knitwise, then knit them together through the back loops, a single left-leaning decrease
ssp	slip 2 knitwise, return to left needle, purl together through back loops, a single left-leaning decrease
sssk	slip 3 knitwise, knit together through back loops, a double left-leaning decrease
S2KP2	slip 2 as if to k2tog, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over, a centred double decrease
st / sts	stitch / stitches
St st	stockinette stitch (stocking stitch in the UK)
tbl	through the back loop
tfl	through the front loop
tog	together
WS	wrong side
w&t	wrap and turn (used in short rows)
wyib	with yarn in back
wyif	with yarn in front
yb	yarn back
yfwd / yf	yarn forward
yo	yarn over
yon	yarn over needle
yrn	yarn round needle

Source: aligned with the Craft Yarn Council Knitting Abbreviations Master List (US terminology).

Pattern symbols: asterisks, brackets and parentheses

These are not abbreviations, but beginners need them just as often:

Symbol	What to do
*	Repeat the instructions after the asterisk as directed.
* *	Repeat the instructions between the asterisks as many times as directed.
( )	Work the instructions in parentheses as directed, or work a group of stitches into the same stitch.
[ ] and { }	Work the instructions inside the brackets as many times as directed.

Example: *k2, p2; rep from * to end means "knit 2, purl 2, and keep repeating that pair until the end of the row". This is 2×2 ribbing.

US vs UK knitting terms

Most abbreviations are identical, but a few everyday words differ. The same word can mean different things in each system:

US term	UK term
bind off	cast off
gauge	tension
stockinette stitch	stocking stitch
slip stitch (sl st)	slip stitch (ss)
yarn over (yo)	yarn forward / yarn round needle (yfwd / yrn)

The yarn-over row is an approximate match. In UK patterns the exact term depends on context: yfwd (yarn forward) between two knit stitches, yrn (yarn round needle) around a purl, and yon (yarn over needle) in some cases. All of them create the same yarn-over.

In crochet, US and UK use the same names for different stitches. Knitting terminology overlaps closely, so the risk of confusion is lower. The main one to remember: US "bind off" is UK "cast off".