Common Knitting Abbreviations

Abbrevia
tion

What It Means

Abbrevia
tion

What It Means

beg

beginning

pwise

purlwise (as if to purl)

CC

contrasting color

rem

remain(s) or remaining

ch

chain

rep

repeat

cn

cable needle

RH

right-hand

dec

decrease(s), decreased, or
decreasing

RS

right side(s)

dpns

double-pointed needles

rnd(s)

round(s)

foll

follows or following

sc

single crochet

inc

increase(s), increased, or
increasing

sl

slip, slipped, or slipping

knit

sl st

slip stitch

k2tog

knit 2 stitches together

ssk

slip, slip, knit the slipped

stitches together

k-b

knit in stitch below

St st

stockinette stitch

kwise

knitwise (as if to knit)

st(s)

stitch(es)

LH

left-hand

tbl

through the back of

theloop

lp(s)

loop(s)

tog

together

MC

main color

WS

wrong side(s)

m1 (or m)

make 1 stitch (increase 1

stitch)

wyib

with yarn in back

purl

wyif

with yarn in front

pat(s)

pattern(s)

yb

yarn back

p-b

purl in stitch below

yf

yarn forward

pm

place marker

yo

yarn over

psso

pass slipped stitch over

(used for decreasing)