This chapter is part of our Knitting Superstar, Video Knitting Dictionary Video Class. Click here to learn more.
Knitting Terms and Abbreviations Defined
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( ) – Refers to whatever is in the parentheses as a discrete group. As in “(K1, P2) 5 times.”
1×1 Rib – K1, P1 Rib
2×2 Rib – K2, P2 Rib
Across – To the end of the row
Around – To the end of the round
BLCO – Backwards Loop Cast-On
CH – Back loop only
BO – Bind Off
BO in Pattern – Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as you bind off.
BOR – Beginning of Round
Br-ssk – Brioche slip, slip, knit: Slip 1 st knitwise, slip next st knitwise. One of these sts will have a wrap. Slip the stitch along with its wrap. Knit slipped sts together.
Break Yarn – Cut yarn. Always leave a six-inch tail for weaving in.
British Crochet Terms – While the stitches are made the same way, British and American patterns have different words for the same stitch.
Brk – Brioche knit: Knit the stitch together with its wrap
Brp – Brioche purl: Purl the stitch together with its wrap
CC – Contrasting Color
CDD – Centered Double Decrease
CH – Chain stitch
Cn – Cable needle
CO – Cast On
DC – Double crochet
DC – Dark color
Garter St – Garter Stitch
HDC – Half-double crochet
In Pattern – According to the same stitch-pattern you’ve been doing
Instep – The half of the sock that goes around the front of the ankle
JMCO – Judy's Magic Cast-On
JSSBO – Jeny's Surprisingly-Stretchy Bind-Off
K – Knit
K2TOG – Knit 2 Together
K2togtbl – Knit 2 Together Through the Back Loops
KFB – Knit Front and Back
Kitchener St – Kitchener Stitch
LC – Light color
LH – Left-hand
LTCO – Long-Tail Cast-On
LYS – Local Yarn Store
M1 – Make One
M1L – Make One Left
M1R – Make One Right
Mattress St – Mattress Stitch
MC – Main Color
P – Purl
P/u and Knit – Pick up and knit
P2TOG – Purl 2 Together
PFB – Purl Front and Back
PM – Place Marker
PSO – Pass Stitch Over
PSSO – Pass Slipped Stitch Over
Rem – Remain/Remaining
Rep – Repeat
Rep From * – Go back to the * and repeat. As in “K5, *(P2, K5), rep from * to end.”
Reverse St St – Reverse Stockinette Stitch
RH – Right-hand
Rnd(s) – Round(s) – row(s) of round knitting
RS – Right Side
S2KP – Slip 2, Knit, Pass
SC – Single crochet
SKP – Slip, Knit, Pass
Sl 1 – Slip 1
Sl 1 wyif – Slip one with yarn in front
SL ST – Slip stitch
Sl1 wyib – Slip one with yarn in back
SM – Slip marker
SSK – Slip, Slip, Knit
SSP – Slip, Slip, Purl
St – Stitch
St St – Stockinette Stitch
Sts – Stitches
TBL – Through the back loop
To End – To the end of the row/round
DC – Triple crochet
Turn – Turn your work around so that the other side is facing you
W&T – Wrap and turn
Work Even – Continue in the same stitch pattern without increasing or decreasing.
Work in Brioche stitch – On DC rounds, when you come to a DC stitch with a wrap, br-p (see above). When you come to a LC stitch without a wrap, yfsl1yo (see below). On LC rounds, when you come to a LC stitch with a wrap, br-k (see above). When you come to a DC stitch without a wrap, yfsl1yo.
WPI – Wraps per inch
WS – Wrong Side
Wyib – With yarn in back
Wyif – With yarn in front
YF – Yarn forward
Yfsl1yo – Yarn forward, slip 1, yarnover: Move yarn to front, slip next st, bring yarn over needle to back, making a yarnover. The yarnover will pass over the slipped stitch and sit next to it like a cape.
YO – Yarnover
