Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

A Guide to Knitting Abbreviations

by

knitting abbreviationsDifferent hobbies tend to have their own languages that are indecipherable to people not in the know, but in knitting the code can be particularly frustrating to break because so many abbreviations are used in knitting patterns themselves.

Whether you’re new to knitting or have just run across an unfamiliar term in a pattern (aside: if a pattern is good it will explain all the abbreviations used within), this guide to knitting abbreviations from Darn Good Yarn is a good reference. It has about 70 terms explained, from alt to ssk to yon and everything in between.

It doesn’t even touch on the funny acronyms of knitting (like UFO, WIP and SABLE) and there are still 70 different terms? It’s no wonder knitters sometimes knitters feel like they’re breaking a code when they decipher patterns.

[Photo: Darn Good Yarn.]

AbbreviationDescription
BOBind off
COCast on
kKnit
pPurl
k2togKnit two stitches together
sskSlip, slip, knit (decrease)
yoYarn over
RSRight side
WSWrong side
st(s)Stitch(es)
repRepeat
Rnd(s)Round(s)
MCMain color
CCContrasting color
pattPattern
remRemaining

 

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

A Blanket Knitting Pattern Where Yarn Selection is Everything

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]