How to Read Knitting Patterns
Decoding the Language of Knitting
At first, knitting patterns might look like another language, but they’re really just a series of abbreviations designed to keep instructions short and efficient. Once you get used to them, they’ll soon become second nature.
Reading a pattern is a lot like following a recipe. Each line tells you what stitch to do, how many times, and often how many stitches you should have at the end. For example:
Row 1: K2, P2, repeat to end (40 sts)
This means: knit 2, purl 2, repeat until you reach the end of the row, and you should have 40 stitches in total.
Most patterns are broken into sections (such as back, front, sleeves) and guide you step-by-step. And if you ever come across a stitch or term you’re unfamiliar with, there are plenty of excellent video tutorials online where you can see the technique demonstrated in real time. YouTube will quickly become your best friend.
Here is a list of common abbreviations.
alt: alternate
approx: approximately
beg: beginning
BO: bind off (cast off)
BOR: beginning of round
CO: cast on
cm: centimeters
cont: continue
dec: decrease
dd: double decrease (slip two stitches knitwise, then knit the next stitch, and finally pass the slipped sts over the knitted stitch)
dpn: double-pointed needles
g: grams
in: inches
inc: increase
k: knit
k1b: knit 1 below
kwise: knitwise
kfb: knit front and back (increase)
ktbl: knit through back loop
k2tog: knit two stitches together
LH: left hand
m1: make one (increase)
m1L: make one left (left-leaning increase)
m1R: make one right (right-leaning increase)
mm: millimeters
pm: place marker
psso: pass slipped stitch over
p: purl
pwise: purlwise
pfb: purl front and back
ptbl: purl through back loop
p2tog: purl two stitches together
rem: remaining
rep: repeat
RH: right hand
RS: right side
rnd(s): round(s)
row(s): row(s)
sl1wyb: selvage stitch (Slip one with yarn in back)
sl: slip
sl1k: slip one knitwise
sl1p: slip one purlwise
sm: slip marker
ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
ssp: slip, slip, purl
st(s): stitch(es)
tbl: through back loop
tfl: through front loop
tog: together
WS: wrong side
yarn back: Yarn held to the back
yfwd: yarn forward (UK term for yarn over)
yarn front: yarn held to the front
yo: Yarn over
