List of Knit Stitch Abbreviations
Knitting, a most loved craft around the world, uses a variety of stitches to produce everything from garments to throws and blankets to toys. Knitting stitches function like the letters of a sentence. Just like letters, combinations of stitches create the most basic to the most intricate patterns. According to Knitty.com, terms meaning "to knit" didn't enter European languages until the Renaissance. Even with its relative youth, knitting has evolved into a complex craft with stitches at its heart.
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G. St. (Garter Stitch)
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Garter stitch means knitting all rows. Use garter stitch when working back and forth, or when turning the knitting at the end of each row.
K (Knit)
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The knit stitch, abbreviated K in patterns, is the most basic of all knitting stitches. With the yarn in back, push the right knitting needle under the top most yarn loop on the left knitting needle, from front to back. Yarn over the right needle. Pull a loop of yarn through the left stitch. Let the loop of yarn from the left needle slide off.
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K2TOG
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Knitting two stitches together decreases by one stitch. Start from underneath the second loop of yarn on the left needle and work through both the second and first loops at the same time, in the same way you would knit one stitch.
M1 (Make 1)
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The make 1 knit stitch is just as it sounds. Make 1 increases the number of stitches in a row by one. There are multiple ways to make one stitch. One of the simplest ways is to knit a stitch, but not let the stitch slip off the left needle. Instead, knit again through the back loop of the same stitch, and only then let the stitch slip off the left needle.
P (Purl)
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The purl stitch, abbreviated P in patterns, is the second most basic knitting stitch. Put the yarn in front. Push the right knitting needle, from top to bottom and back to front, through the top most loop of yarn on the left knitting needle. Wrap the yarn around the right needle. Let the loop of yarn on the left needle slide over the wrapped yarn and then off the needle.
P2TOG
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Purling two stitches together decreases the number of stitches. Work a p2tog the same way as the k2tog, except with a purl stitch.
Sd. St. or M. St. (Seed or Moss Stitch)
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Seed or moss stitch alternates knit and purl stitches.
SSK
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SSK decreases a row. Slip one stitch to the right needle and repeat. Knit the two stitches on the right needle with the left needle.
St. St. (Stocking or Stockinette)
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Stockinette stitch means knitting on the right (front) side and purling on the wrong (back) side. Stockinette creates a knitted side and a purled side of a finished piece.
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