Knitting abbreviations 5179561 139368468 2007-06-20T05:26:42Z Satori Son 1370416 remove retail sales website that does not meet inclusion criteria of [[WP:External links]] '''Knitting abbreviations''' are often used for brevity in describing knitting patterns. Knitting abbreviations can be grouped by what they describe: * ''side of work'' :'''RS''' and '''WS''' signify the "right side" and "wrong side" of the work. * ''type of stitch'' :'''k''' means a knit stitch and '''p''' means a purl stitch. Thus, "k2, p2", means "knit two stitches, purl two stitches". Similarly, '''sl st''' describes a [[slip-stitch knitting|slip stitch]], whereas [[yarn over|yarn-overs]] are denoted with '''yo'''. * ''scope of stitch'' :The modifier '''tog''' indicates that the stitches should be [[decrease (knitting)|knitted together]], e.g., "k2tog" indicates that two stitches should be knitted together as though they were one stitch. '''psso''' means "pass the slipped stitch over". '''pnso''' means "pass the next stitch over". * ''orientation of stitch'' :The modifier '''tbl''' indicates that stitches should be [[plaited stitch (knitting)|knitted through the back loop]]. For example, "p2tog tbl" indicates that two stitches should be purled together through the back toop. '''kwise''' and '''pwise''' connote "knitwise" and "purlwise", usually referring to a [[slip-stitch knitting|slip stitch]]. * ''insertion point of stitch'' :'''k-b''' and '''k1b''' mean "knit into the row below". Similarly, '''p-b''' and '''p1b''' mean "purl into the row below" * ''short combinations of stitches'' :'''MB''' means "make [[bobble (knitting)|bobble]]". '''ssk''' means "slip, slip, knit", i.e., the [[decrease (knitting)|decrease]] "slip two stitches knitwise individually, then knit them together through the back loop". '''skp''' is another [[decrease (knitting)|decrease]], meaning "slip, knit, pass the slipped stitch over the just knitted stitch". (As an aside, both of these decreases are equivalent to the simpler "k2tog tbl".) * ''repetition of stitches'' :Patterns of stitches that should be repeated for as many stitches as possible are enclosed in asterisks '''*...*'''. For example, "*k2,p2*" means "repeatedly knit two stitches, purl two stitches as long as possible, i.e., until there are fewer than four stitches left in the row". '''alt''' stands for "alternately". * ''position of yarn'' : '''wyib''' and '''wyif''' mean "with yarn in back" and "with yarn in front", respectively. Used primarily with [[slip-stitch knitting|slipped stitches]]. * ''beginnings and endings'' :'''BO''' and '''CO''' mean "[[binding off (knitting)|bind off]]" and "[[casting on (knitting)|cast on]]", respectively. * ''overall pattern'' :'''St st''', '''rev St st''' and '''g st''' signify "stockinette stitch", "reverse stockinette stitch" and "garter stitch", respectively. * ''[[cable knitting|cable instructions]]'' :'''LT''' and '''RT''' signify "left twist" and "right twist", respectively. '''FC''' and '''LC''' indicate "front cross" or "left cross" (the same thing), whereas '''BC''' and '''RC''' indicate "back cross" or "right cross" (again the same thing). * ''color changes'' : '''MC''' means "main color"; '''CC''' means "contrasting color". * ''[[increase (knitting)|increases]]'' :'''m1''' means "make one stitch". '''kfb''' or '''pfb''' means "knit or purl into the front and back of a stitch". * ''positional abbreviations'' :'''rem''' means "remaining". '''foll''' means "following". '''beg''' means "beginning". '''cont''' means "continue". '''incl''' means "including". ==References== * (2002) ''Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book'', updated ed., Sixth and Spring Books. ISBN 1-931543-16-X * (1979) ''Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework'', Reader's Digest Association. ISBN 0-89577-059-8 {{knitting}} [[Category:Knitting]]