Knitting more than just grabbing some needles and a ball of yarn:you actually have to use your little gray cells. After you've been knitting for a while, terms and abbreviations become second nature, but when you're starting out, sometimes those letters just don't make sense. So the editors at DIYnetwork.com have compiled a cheat sheet to help you take care of your Ps and Ks.
* repeat the instructions immediately after the * (asterisk) the first time, plus the specified number of times
[] repeat the instructions inside the bracket the specified number of times
alt alternate
BO link (ing) off (also known as cast [ing] off)
CC contrast color
CO cast (eng) in
cont continue
Dec decrease or decrease
PD double tip
dpns double pointed needles
follower following
in inches)
Co increase or increase
K or k weave
K2 tog knit 2 stitches together
MC main color
P or p purl
P2 tog Purl 2 stitches together
pat model
PSSO pass slip stitch over
SKP slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass slip stitch over stitch
slip slip a stitch
sl st slip stitch
ssk slip 1 point o'clock, slip 1 point o'clock, join these 2 points to form a decrease
st (s) point(s)
St st stockinette stitch
reps repeat
rapid eye movement remaining)
RS right side
WS wrong side
wyib with thread on the back
wyif with thread in front
Yf thread forward
me yarns
Below are some common (and some not so common) terms that are used in various projects.
Aran weave: A technique of combining stitches and pattern work in a solid color (usually white), it takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland.
Continental method: Also known as harvesting , A weaving method in which the thread is held in the left hand.
Felt: A process by which knitted wool is soaked in hot water to contract and tighten the fibers and create a dense weave.
Caliber: The number of stitches per inch horizontally and vertically when using the recommended thread weight and stitch pattern
Intarsia (in-tar-zha) - the integration of isolated color blocks in a project; from Italian intarsio , or embedding.
Stitch key: Explanation of symbols on a chart, similar to a map legend.
Stockinette or average stitch - a pattern consisting of alternating rows of knit (flat) and purl stitches; One of the fundamentals of weaving..
Tail: The loose end of the thread..
Launch: Knitting technique in which the thread is held in the right hand; aka thrown or English method.
Worker thread: The part of the thread that is being worked on.
