• knit 2 together

k2tog indicates two stitches should be knitted together as one, used for making increases in a row.

• 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

Slip-stitch knitting

Slip-stitch knitting is a family of knitting techniques that use slip stitches to make multiple fabrics simultaneously, to make extra-long stitches, and/or to carry over colors from an earlier row.-Basic methods:...

, whereas yarn-overs

Yarn over

In knitting, a yarn over is technique in which the yarn is passed over the right-hand knitting needle. In general, the new loop is knitted on the next row, either by itself or together with an adjacent stitch . The yarn-over may also be dropped on the next row, producing a longer stretch of yarn...

 are denoted with yo.

• scope of stitch

The modifier tog indicates that the stitches should be knitted together

Decrease (knitting)

A decrease in knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch.-Methods of Single Decreasing :...

, 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 knitted through the back loop

Plaited stitch (knitting)

In knitting, a plaited stitch is a single knitted stitch that is twisted clockwise or counterclockwise , usually by one half-turn but sometimes by a full turn or more.-Methods:...

. 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

Slip-stitch knitting

Slip-stitch knitting is a family of knitting techniques that use slip stitches to make multiple fabrics simultaneously, to make extra-long stitches, and/or to carry over colors from an earlier row.-Basic methods:...

.

• 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

Bobble (knitting)

In knitting, a bobble is a localized set of stitches forming a raised bump. The bumps are usually arranged in a regular geometrical pattern or may be figurative, e.g., represent apples on a knitted tree....

". ssk means "slip, slip, knit", i.e., the decrease

Decrease (knitting)

A decrease in knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch.-Methods of Single Decreasing :...

 "slip two stitches knitwise individually, then knit them together through the back loop". skp is another decrease

Decrease (knitting)

A decrease in knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch.-Methods of Single Decreasing :...

, 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 slipped stitches

Slip-stitch knitting

Slip-stitch knitting is a family of knitting techniques that use slip stitches to make multiple fabrics simultaneously, to make extra-long stitches, and/or to carry over colors from an earlier row.-Basic methods:...

.

• beginnings and endings

BO and CO mean "bind off

Binding off (knitting)

In knitting, binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column of stitches. Binding off is typically used to define the final edge of a knitted fabric, although it may also be used in other contexts, e.g., in making button holes...

" and "cast on

Casting on (knitting)

In knitting, casting on is a family of techniques for adding new stitches that do not depend on earlier stitches, i.e., stitches having an independent lower edge. In principle, casting on is the opposite of binding off, but the techniques involved are generally unrelated.Casting on can also be...

", respectively.

• overall pattern

St st, rev St st and g st signify "stockinette stitch", "reverse stockinette stitch" and "garter stitch", respectively.

• cable instructions
  Cable knitting
  Cable knitting is a style of knitting in which textures of crossing layers are achieved by permuting stitches. For example, given four stitches appearing on the needle in the order ABCD, one might cross the first two the next two, so that in subsequent rows those stitches appear in the new order...
  
  

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".

• increases
  Increase (knitting)
  In knitting, an increase is the creation of one or more new stitches, which may be done by various methods with distinctive looks.-Methods of Single Increasing :...
  
  

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".

External links

• Knitting Acronyms and Abbreviations