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Knitting abbreviations are often used for brevity in describing knitting patterns.
Knitting abbreviations can be grouped by what they describe:
- RS and WS signify the "right side" and "wrong side" of the work.
- 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, whereas yarn-overs are denoted with yo.
- The modifier tog indicates that the stitches should be 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".
- The modifier tbl indicates that stitches should be 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.
- 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". ssk means "slip, slip, knit", i.e., the decrease "slip two stitches knitwise individually, then knit them together through the back loop". skp is another 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".)
- 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".
- wyib and wyif mean "with yarn in back" and "with yarn in front", respectively. Used primarily with slipped stitches.
- BO and CO mean "bind off" and "cast on", respectively.
- St st, rev St st and g st signify "stockinette stitch", "reverse stockinette stitch" and "garter stitch", respectively.
- 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).
- MC means "main color"; CC means "contrasting color".
- m1 means "make one stitch". kfb or pfb means "knit or purl into the front and back of a stitch".
- 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
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