Knitting abbreviations & terms, free list

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Knitting Abbreviations & Terms

Below is a list of terms and abbreviations commonly used in knitting. This list is a great reference when reading knitting patterns.

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* or ( ) or []	Instructions after the asterisk or between parentheses/brackets are repeated the number of times stated
Blocking	Shaping finished work by steaming or pressing
End K Row	Complete a knit row before continuing with further instructions.
End P Row	Complete a purl row before continuing with further instructions.
End Right Side	Complete a right side row before continuing with additional instructions

alt	alternate	psso	pass slip stitch over
beg	beginning	p2sso	pass the 2 slip stitches over
cc	contrast color	pwise	purlwise or as though to purl
ch	chain	rem	remaining
cm	centimeters	rep	repeat
dec	decrease	RH	right hand
dc	double crochet	rib	work in ribbing as established
dp	double pointed needles	rnd	round
ea	each	sc	single crochet
foll	following	sk	skip
g	gram	sl	slip
hk	hook	slst	slip stitch
" or in(s)	inch(es)	sl 1k	slip 1 stitch knitwise
inc	increase	sl 1p	slip 1 stitch purlwise
inc1	work onto the front & back of a stitch	sl 2k	slip 2 stitches knitwise
incl	including	sl 2p	slip 2 stitches purlwise
k	knit	sp	space
k1-b	knit one thru back loop	skp	slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over
k2 tog	knit two stitches together	ssk	slip, slip, knit (slip the first & second stitches knitwise then insert the tip of the left-handed needle into the fronts of these two stitches from the left and knit them together from this position)
kwise	knitwise or as though to knit	st	stitches
LH	left hand	st st	stockinette stitch
lp	loop	tbl	thru back loop
m	meters	tog	together
m1	make one stitch (by picking up horizontal strand lying before next stitch and working into the back of it)	tr	triple crochet
mc	main color	up1	pick up top of stitch below the next one to be worked and work into the increase
mm	millimeters	wyib	with yarn in back
oz(s)	ounces	wyif	with yarn in front
p	purl	yfwd	yarn forward
p1b	purl one thru back loop	yo	yarn over
pat (or patt)	pattern	yrn	yarn around needle
ppso	pass previous stitch over

End Wrong Side	Complete a wrong side row before continuing with additional instructions.
Garter Stitch	Knit each row
Gauge:	Checking the "gauge" before you start crocheting will insure that it turns out the size stated in the directions. To check the gauge, knit a square using the pattern specified. The pattern will tell you how many stitches and how many rows there should be per inch. If your sample doesn't match the gauge, you need to change the size of your needles and do another test piece and re-measure. Continue doing this until your gauge matches the pattern. The smaller the needles, the more rows and stitches you will get per inch.
Multiple	The number of stitches required to complete the pattern design or repeat.
Place Marker/Put Marker	Place a stitch marker onto the needle at specified point then slip it onto other needle each time you come up to it.
Right Side	The side of the work which will be worn on the outside when the article is finished.
Stockinette Stitch	Knit one row then purl the next row, continue in this pattern for specified number or rows
Turn	Turn the work around at the point indicated, before the end of the row.
Work Even	Continue working in the established pattern.
Wrong Side	The side of the work which will be the inside when the article is finished.

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