Knitting Abbreviations
Learning the knitting abbreviations will help the knitter read the pattern. Most of the time patterns come with a key to decipher these, but knowing them ahead of time speeds up the process. Here are a list of common abbreviations and what they mean:
K= knit
P= purl
Alt= alternate
Beg= beginning
Dec= decrease
Inc= increase
Rep= repeat
DPN= double pointed needles (used for socks, hats, and circular patterns)
YO= yarn over
SI= slip a stitch from one needle to the other (can be done K wise or P wise)
K wise= knit wise (insert the needle as if beginning a knit)
P wise= purl wise (insert the needle as if beginning a purl)
TBL= through back loops
PSSO= pass, slip, stitch over
SKP= slip, knit, pass the stitch over
SSK= slip, slip, knit
M1= increase by making one