Loom Knitting Abbreviations

Following is a list of loom knitting abbreviations commonly used by yarn industry designers and publishers. In addition, designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, which you might not find on this list. Generally, a definition of special abbreviations is given at the beginning of a book or pattern.

Abbreviation Description
alt alternate
approx approximately
B to B back to back
B to F back to front
beg beginning
bet between
BO bind off
C2C center to center
CCO crochet cast on
ch chain
CC contrasting color
cn cable needle
CO cast on
cont continue
dec decrease
DK double knit
DS double stitch: with 3 loops on each peg, knit bottom loop over 2 top loops
EW e-wrap
EWK e-wrap and knit
F to B front to back
FK flat knit
foll follow
GBO gather bind off
HS half stitch
inc increase
K true/traditional knit stitch
kfb knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; 1 increase
KO knit off/over
k2tog knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease
LTW left twist
LH left hand
lp loop
m marker
M1 make one stitch
M1L make one left; single left-leaning knit increase
M1R make one right; single right-leaning knit increase
Abbreviation Description
MC main color
p purl stitch
pat or patt pattern
pfb purl into the front and back of a stitch; single increase
pm place marker
p2tog purl 2 stitches together; single left-leaning decrease
prev previous
psso pass slipped stitch over
pu pick up
rem remaining
rep repeat
rev St st reverse stockinette stitch
RH right hand
rnd rounds
RS right side
RTW right twist
sel selvage
sl slip
sl st slip stitch
ssk slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
st stitch
St st stockinette stitch
tog together
UK u-wrap knit
W&T wrap and turn
WS wrong side
wy working yarn
wyib with yarn in back
wyif with yarn in front
ybk yarn back
yfwd or yfd yarn forward
yo yarn over
yrp yarn round peg

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