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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

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