Stitch reference
Every stitch, its symbol and how to work it.
- Knit
- k: knit. Shown as an empty square: knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows. (On the chart: an empty square.)
- Purl
- p: purl. Shown as a dot: purl on RS rows, knit on WS rows. (On the chart: symbol •.)
- Knit through the back loop
- k1 tbl: knit through the back loop, twisting the stitch (p1 tbl on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol ℓ.)
- Slip
- sl wyib / sl wyif: slip purlwise with the yarn at the back of the work (yarn in front on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol V.)
- Yarn over
- yo: yarn over, making a new stitch and an eyelet. (On the chart: symbol O.)
- Make 1 left
- m1l: make 1 left, lifting the strand between the needles from the front and knitting it through the back (m1lp purlwise on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol ML.)
- Make 1 right
- m1r: make 1 right, lifting the strand between the needles from the back and knitting it through the front (m1rp purlwise on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol MR.)
- Knit 2 together
- k2tog: knit 2 together, a decrease leaning right (p2tog on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol /.)
- Slip, slip, knit
- ssk: slip 2 knitwise one at a time, knit them together through the back loops, a decrease leaning left (ssp on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol \.)
- Centred double decrease
- cdd: centred double decrease. Slip 2 together knitwise, k1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over (on WS rows: slip 2 together through the back loops purlwise, p1, pass the slipped stitches over). (On the chart: symbol Λ.)
- 1/1 right cross
- 1/1 RC: slip 1 to a cable needle and hold it at the back, k1, k1 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 1/1 left cross
- 1/1 LC: slip 1 to a cable needle and hold it at the front, k1, k1 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/2 right cross
- 2/2 RC (C4B): slip 2 to a cable needle and hold them at the back, k2, k2 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/2 left cross
- 2/2 LC (C4F): slip 2 to a cable needle and hold them at the front, k2, k2 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 3/3 right cross
- 3/3 RC (C6B): slip 3 to a cable needle and hold them at the back, k3, k3 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 3/3 left cross
- 3/3 LC (C6F): slip 3 to a cable needle and hold them at the front, k3, k3 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- Knit 3 together
- k3tog: knit 3 together, a double decrease leaning right (p3tog on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol 3/.)
- Slip, slip, slip, knit
- sssk: slip 3 knitwise one at a time, knit them together through the back loops, a double decrease leaning left (sssp on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol 3\.)
- Knit front and back
- kfb: knit into the front and then the back of the stitch, making 2 from 1 (pfb, purlwise, on WS rows). (On the chart: symbol KF.)
- Make 1 purlwise
- m1p: make 1 purlwise, lifting the strand between the needles and purling it through the back (on WS rows, make 1 knitwise). (On the chart: symbol MP.)
- Double yarn over
- double yo: wrap the yarn twice round the needle, making 2 stitches and a large eyelet; on the next row work (k1, p1) into it. (On the chart: symbol O2.)
- Bobble
- MB: make bobble. (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) into the next stitch, turn, p5, turn, k5, then pass the 4 stitches over the first. (On the chart: symbol B.)
- Nupp
- nupp: loosely (k1, yo) 3 times, k1, all into the next stitch, making 7; on the next row purl all 7 together. (On the chart: symbol N.)
- Place a bead
- PB: place bead. Slide a bead onto the next stitch with a fine crochet hook, return it and work it as charted. (On the chart: symbol ◇.)
- 1/1 right twist
- RT: right twist. k2tog without slipping them off, knit the first stitch again, then slip both off. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 1/1 left twist
- LT: left twist. Knit the second stitch through the back loop, then k2tog tbl the first and second, and slip both off. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/1 right cross
- 2/1 RC: slip 1 to a cable needle and hold it at the back, k2, k1 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/1 left cross
- 2/1 LC: slip 2 to a cable needle and hold them at the front, k1, k2 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/1 right purl cross
- 2/1 RPC: slip 1 to a cable needle and hold it at the back, k2, p1 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/1 left purl cross
- 2/1 LPC: slip 2 to a cable needle and hold them at the front, p1, k2 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/2 right purl cross
- 2/2 RPC: slip 2 to a cable needle and hold them at the back, k2, p2 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- 2/2 left purl cross
- 2/2 LPC: slip 2 to a cable needle and hold them at the front, p2, k2 from the cable needle. (On the chart: a crossing drawn over its squares.)
- Wrap and turn (short row)
- w&t: wrap and turn. Bring the yarn to the other side, slip the next stitch, bring the yarn back, return the stitch to the left needle and turn the work. Mark the rest of the row "left unworked". (On the chart: symbol W.)
- Left unworked (short row)
- Squares marked – are left unworked on a short row: they stay on the needle until a later row works them. (On the chart: symbol –.)
- No stitch
- Grey squares are "no stitch": placeholders where stitches have been decreased away or not yet made. Skip them. (On the chart: a grey square.)