When you first get started knitting and crocheting, it can feel like you’re immersing yourself into a foreign land with its own language, symbols, and culture. But with this cheat sheet, you’ll feel like a native in no time. In it you’ll find lists of the abbreviations and symbols you’ll see most often while reading patterns and instructions.
©Kostikova Natalia
©Kostikova NataliaCommon Knitting 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) |
Common Crocheting Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | What It Means | Abbreviation | What It Means |
| dec (xx2tog) | decrease(s)(d)(ing) | rnd(s) | round(s) |
| dtr | double triple crochet | RS | right side |
| flp | front loop only | rib | ribbing |
| foll | follow(ing) | rnd(s) | round(s) |
| FP | front post | RS | right side |
| hdc | half double crochet | sc | single crochet |
| inc | increase(s)(d)(ing) | sl st | slip stitch |
| MC | main color | st(s) | stitch(es) |
| patt | pattern | tog | together |
| rem | remaining | tr | triple crochet |
| rep | repeat | WS | wrong side |
| rib | ribbing | yo | yarn over the hook |
Crochet Stitch Diagram Symbols
