On occasion you'll find yourself needing abbreviations, perhaps your pattern doesn't give them to you or you run into something you've never seen in a knitting pattern before. So heres a complete list of standard knitting abbreviations I have gathered from many books and magazines, it is all in alphabetical order. If you find a new one not in this list please leave it in a comment below, you never know when a fellow knitter might need it.
( ) or [ ].............do instructions within parentheses/bracket as many times as directed
*.........................repeat instructions from asterisk as many times as directed
alt......................alternate/alternating
approx..............approximately
beg....................begin/beginning
bet....................between
BO....................bind off
CC....................contrasting color
cm(s)...............centimeter(s)
cn.....................cable needle
CO...................cast on
cont.................continue
dec(s).............decrease(s)
dk...................double knitting - both a yarn weight and knitting technique
dpn(s)............double pointed needles
EOR/eor........every other row
est..................established
foll..................follows/following
g/gr...............gram(s)
g st................garter stitch
in(s)...............inch(es)
inc(s).............increase(s)/increasing
incl.................includes/including
k.....................knit
k2tog.............knit 2 stitches together (right slanting decrease)
k-b/k1b........knit next stitch in row below - or sometimes knit 1 in back loop of stitch
kf&b..............knit into front and back of stitch - increase
kwise............knit wise - as to knit
LH.................left hand
lp(s)...............loop(s)
LT.................left twist
M1................make one - increase
MB...............make bobble
MC...............main color
meas............measures
mm(s).........millimeter(s)
mult............multiple
ndl(s)..........needle(s)
oz................ounce
p..................purl
p2tog..........purl 2 together
patt.............pattern
p-b/p1b......purl next stitch in row below or sometimes purl 1 in back loop of stitch
PM..............place marker
psso.............pass slipped stitch over knit (or purl) stitch
pwise...........purl wise - as to purl
rem.............remain/remaining
rep(s)..........repeat(s)
rev ST st......reverse stockinette/stocking stitch
RH...............right hand
rnd..............round
RS...............right side
RT...............right twist
sk................skip
skp..............slip, knit, pass slipped stich over - decrease
sl..................slip
sl st..............slip stitch
sp(s)............space(s)
ssk...............slip, slip, knit - left slanting decrease
ST st............stockinette/stocking stitch
st(s).............stitch(s)
tbl................through back loop
tog...............together
WS...............wrong side
wyib............with yarn in back
wyif.............with yarn in front
yb/ybk........yarn back
yf/YFWD....yarn forward
yo.................yarn over
We have all seen those strange symbols on our yarn labels (even clothing) and if written instructions aren't givin we have trouble or find it impossible to translate them. I found a simple easy to follow one page guide that tells you exactly how to read those symbols. It took me over 4 hours to find this a few years ago and I want to share it with you so that you do not have to go through the trouble of trying to find them yourself. Enjoy, and share it with everyone you know!
http://www.carelabels.com/lguide.htm
http://www.carelabels.com/docs/lguide.pdf - PDF file
