Common Knit Abbreviations

Knitting has its own terminology and abbreviations. Use this handy guide to familiarize yourself with its jargon.

approx: approximately
beg: begin/beginning
bet: between
BO: bind off
CC: contrasting color
cn: cable needle
CO: cast on
cont: continue
dec, dec’s, dec’ing, dec’d: decrease, decreases, decreasing, decreased
dpn: double pointed needles
inc, inc’s, inc’ing, inc’d: increase, increases, increasing, increased
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
k-wise: knitwise
lp(s): loop(s)
m: marker, markers
MC: main color
m1: make 1 stitch
p: purl
pat: pattern
pm: place marker
psso: pass slipped stitch over
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together
p-wise: purlwise
rem: remain/remaining
rep: repeat
rnd(s): round(s)
RS: right side
sk: skip
skp: slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over—1 stitch decreased
sk2p: slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together—2 stitches decreased
sl: slip
sl st: slip stitch
sp(s): space(s)
ssk: slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together—a decrease is made
st(s): stitch(es)
St st: stockinette stitch
tbl: through back loop
tog: together
WS: wrong side
wyib: with yarn in back
wyif: with yarn in front
yfwd: yarn forward
yo: yarn over
( )  work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed
[ ]  work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
*  repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
* **  repeat instructions between single and double asterisk as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions