Knowing how to read knitting abbreviations and shorthand becomes easier the more you work with knitting patterns. Common knitting abbreviations and shorthand include RS (right side), WS (wrong side), beg (beginning), and rep (repeat). Pattern instructions explain any unusual abbreviations or ones that may vary from pattern to pattern.
This table shows some of the most common pattern abbreviations.
| Abbreviation | What It Means | Abbreviation | 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 |
| k | 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 the loop |
| 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 |
| p | 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) |
