Patterns write stitches in shorthand; here are the common ones (a project links here from its progress line, above the steps). A number after one is how many times (k2: knit 2).
- beg
- beginning
- BO
- bind off (cast off)
- BOR
- beginning of round
- CC
- contrast colour
- CDD
- centred double decrease: slip 2 together knitwise, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped over
- CO
- cast on
- cont
- continue
- dec
- decrease
- DPN
- double-pointed needle
- EOR
- every other row (or round)
- est
- established: carry on the pattern as set
- foll
- following
- GSR
- German short row: turn, then pull the first stitch up so it sits as a double stitch
- inc
- increase
- k
- knit
- k2tog
- knit 2 together (leans right, takes away 1)
- k3tog
- knit 3 together (takes away 2)
- kfb
- knit into the front and back of the same stitch (adds 1)
- kwise
- knitwise: as if to knit
- LH
- left-hand (needle)
- M1
- make 1: pick up the bar between stitches and knit it (adds 1)
- M1L
- make 1 left: lift the bar front to back, knit it through the back (adds 1, leans left)
- M1R
- make 1 right: lift the bar back to front, knit it through the front (adds 1, leans right)
- M1P
- make 1 purlwise (adds 1)
- MC
- main colour
- p
- purl
- p2tog
- purl 2 together (takes away 1)
- patt
- pattern
- pm
- place marker
- psso
- pass the slipped stitch over
- pwise
- purlwise: as if to purl
- rem
- remaining
- rep
- repeat
- RH
- right-hand (needle)
- rm
- remove marker
- rnd
- round
- rnds
- rounds
- RS
- right side (the side that shows)
- sk2p
- slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over (takes away 2)
- sl
- slip a stitch to the other needle without knitting it
- sm
- slip marker
- ssk
- slip, slip, knit: slip 2 knitwise one at a time, knit them together through the back (leans left, takes away 1)
- ssp
- slip, slip, purl (takes away 1)
- st
- stitch
- sts
- stitches
- St st
- stockinette: knit the right side, purl the wrong side (knit every round in the round)
- tbl
- through the back loop
- tog
- together
- w&t
- wrap and turn (a short row)
- WS
- wrong side (the inside)
- wyib
- with yarn in back
- wyif
- with yarn in front
- yo
- yarn over (adds 1, makes a small hole)