Machine Knitting Abbreviations

Machine knitting patterns often use abbreviations to keep instructions short and readable. This reference list explains the most common abbreviations you’ll see in patterns, manuals, and tutorials so you can follow instructions with confidence.
For a full listing of machine knitting terms, visit the Glossary.

Abbreviation	Term	Example
ADJ	Adjacent	Transfer stitch to the adjacent needle
ALT	Alternate	example: Decrease on alt rows 7 times
BB	Back Bed	main bed, knitter
BEG	Begin	example: Decrease at beg (beginning) of row
BH	Buttonholes	Secured holes in knitting to allow the insertion of a button.
BO	Bind off / Cast Off	Securing stitches at the ends of the knitting.
CC	Contrast Color	example: Change to cc (contrasting color) for stripes
CH	Chain	Pull loop-through-loop often with the latch tool. Used for chain cast on (CH CO) and decorative techniques
CH CO	Chain Cast On	Closed Cast On with the latch tool, pulling loop through loop over needles
cm	Centimeters	A unit of measurement equal to 0.39 inches
CO	Cast On	Get your knitting started.
COBH	Cast on by Hand	As opposed to an automatic cast on \| e-wrap cast on \| chain cast on
COC	Cast on Comb	An accessory, often with a series of wire hooks that holds the initial cast on stitches for a smooth cast on.
COL	Carriage on the Left	Position of the knitting carriage on the needlebed
CONT	Continue	Continue in pattern to RC100
COR	Carriage on the Right	Position of the knitting carriage on the needlebed
CTR	Center	example: Rehang stitches in the center of the machine
DAK	DesignaKnit	Software for pattern charting and stitch design
DB	Double Bed	Machine Needlebed aligned so the needles are facing up (opposite the main bed)
DBJ	Double Bed Jacquard	A double bed technique that incorporates patterning on the main bed while needles are in work on the ribber.rib and a color changer.
DC	Double Crochet	Often used to finish the edges of knitting
DEC	Decrease	Reduce the number of needles in work usually by doubling up stitches. example: Decrease at beg of row
DK	Double Knit	Full Needle Rib (also refers to a weight of yarn)
EC1	EC1 Pattern Controller	Electronic patterning device for Silver Reed SK 830/840/860
EN	Every Needle	example: Cast on over EVERY needle
EON	Every Other Needle	example: Cast on over EVERY OTHER needle
EOR	Every Other Row	example: Decrease every other row 7 times
EOS	Every Other Stitch	example: Transfer every other stitch
ER	Every Row	example: Reform stitches EVERY ROW
ES	Every Stitch	example: Re-form EVERY Stitch in the row
FB	Front Bed	ribber
FI	Fair Isle \| Knit-In	Knitting multiple colors across a row. (Jacquard)
FNR	Full Needle Rib	Using all needles on the ribber and main bed at the same time.
FOL	Following	example: Decrease 1 stitch each side every FOLLOWING row 7 times
GB	Garter Bar	An accessory that allows quick removal of stitches from the needlebed. Commonly used to reverse the knitting.
gm	Gram	Unit of measurement equal to .035 ounces
HDC	Half Double Crochet	Often used to finish the edges of knitting
HH	Hung Hem	Pick up stitches to create double layer of knitting. See RHH \| reverse hung a hem
HP	Holding Position	Needle position E - D depending on brand (pulled all the way out)
IN	Inch	A unit of measurement equal to 2.54 cm
INC	Increase	Add to the number of stitches in work (multiple methods)
k2tog	Knit 2 together	Knit 2 together is a hand knitting term referring to positioning stitches to lean to the right. Used for decreases or creating eyelet lace.
KC	Knit Carriage	Knitting carriage that forms stitches (can be 1 or 2 pieces) \| Brother: K Carriage
KWK	Knit-wrap-Knit	Knitting sequence to prevent holes when working short rows
L	Left	Knit L (left)
L ## - L##	Left ## - Left ##	Hold L5-L9 \| refers to specific needles on the needle bed identified left and right of 0
M.Y.	Main Yarn	Cast on with M.Y. and knit 10 rows. Then change to Con Y. and continue knitting
MB	Main Bed	back bed, knitter
MC	Main Color	Indicates yarn colors see also CC (contrasting color)
mm	Millimeter	Unit of measure
MP	Middle Position	Also called upper Working position
MSS	Main stitch Size	indicates carriage tension dial setting
MSS +2	Main Stitch Size +2	Indicates carriage tension dial setting. If main tension is 5 - set the tension to 7
MSS-1	Main Stitch Size -1	Indicates carriage tension dial setting. If main tension is 5 - set the tension to 4
MT	Main Tension	indicates carriage tension dial setting
MT-1	Main Tension -1	Indicates carriage tension dial setting. If main tension is 5 - set the tension to 4
MT+2	Main Tension +2	Indicates carriage tension dial setting. If main tension is 5 - set the tension to 7
MY	Main Yarn	Indicates yarn colors see also CC (contrasting color) \| Main Color MC
NDL	Needle	Knitting machine needles are specific to brand and model of machines. They consist of a hook, latch, stem, butt and shank.
now	Needle Out of Work	example: Position every 3rd needle out of work
NWP	Non Working Position	Needles that are in 'A' position and will not knit no matter what the carriage setting. See Out of Work Needles
O/W	Out of Work	Needles that are in "A" position and will not knit no matter what the carriage setting. See NWP Non-working position or NOW Needles out of Work
ON \|O/N	Opposite Needle	example: Transfer ribber stitches to the opposite needles on the main bed
OPP	Opposite	example: Opposite the carriage, put needles in hold
OWP	Out of Work Position	Needles that are in "A" position and will not knit no matter what the carriage setting. See NWP Non-working position or NOW Needles out of Work
OZ	Ounce	Unit of weight measurement
P	Purl Side	Refers to the side of the knitting that faces a machine knitter (purl bumps show)
PAT	Pattern	example: Work in pattern for 12 rows
PC	Punchcard	A paper card with holes used with a punchcard patterning device to automatically select needles for stitch patterning.
PE1	PE1 Pattern Controller	Electronic patterning device for Silver Reed SK 830/840/860/890. Used in conjunction with the EC1 Pattern Controller
PM	Place marker	Hang a contrasting loop on the edge needle to easily locate a specific row or match 2 pieces for seaming
POS	Position	example: Place all needles in hp \| hold position
PSSO	Pass slipped stitch over	Common abbreviation in hand knitting.
PU	Pick Up	Often refers to re-hanging stitches from an open edge (live stitches)
R	Right	Knit R (right)
R5 - R9	Right 5 - Right 9	Hold R5-R9 \| refers to specific needles on the needle bed identified left and right of 0
RB	Rear Bed	main bed, knitter
RC	Row Count	Indication of the number of rows completed. Indicated by RC:100
REM	Remaining	example: Bind off rem sts (Bind off remaining stitches)
rep(s)	Repeats	example: Rep from . 3 times.
ret	Return	example: Return 3 needles to working position every other row 3 times.
rev	Reverse	example: Remove the work on a garter bar, turn to rev (reverse) and rehang the knitting
RHH	Reverse Hung Hem	Pick up stitches to create double layer of knitting with the PURL side facing. see HH \| hung hem
RS	Right Side	Refers to the side of the knitting that will be seen when the garment is worn. Opposed to the Wrong Side (private side) Public Side
RTR	RTR \| Remove, Turn, Rehang	A technique for reversing rows of knit and purl stitches using a garter bar, scrapping off or hand knitting needle
S/B	Single Bed \| Main Bed	Japanese flat bed machines are commonly made up of 2 needlebeds facing each other (main bed and ribber). The single or main bed can be used independently.
S/O	Scrap Off	Remove knitting on waste yarn, leaving live stitches.
SAYG	Sew-As-You-Go	Quickly "seam" knitted pieces as you knit.
SC	Single Crochet	often used to finish the edges of knitting
SD	Stitch Dial	The device on the carriage that controls the flow of yarn and impacts the stitch size \| Tension Dial
SR	Short Row \| Partial Knitting	Knitting a only a few stitches in a row. Often used for intarsia and garment shaping \| Partial Knitting
SS	Stitch Size	Can refer to the tension dial on the carriage
SS \| sl st	Slip Stitch	Crochet stitch often used to seam knitting pieces (slip is also a textured stitch technique)
SS \| st st	Stockinette Stitch	Basic stitch formation on knitting machines. Equivalent to knit 1 row purl 1 row in flat hand knitting. (Stocking stitch, plain knitting)
ST / STS	Stitch	example: Bind off 34 sts
T \| Ten	Tension	Can refer to the tension dial on the carriage or the tension dial on the mast
TD	Tension Dial	The device on the carriage that controls the flow of yarn and impacts the stitch size. See Stitch Dial
TOG	Together	example: Knit 3 together \| Decrease
TR(S)	Transfers	example: Work trs(transfers) 10 times.
UWP	Upper Working Position	Needle position C or D (depending on brand)
WK	Waste Knitting	Also called scrap knitting
WP	Working Position	Needle position that allows stitches to be formed. Depends on the carriage setting. Opposite of out-of-work needle
WPI	Wraps Per Inch	method for measuring yarn thickness
WRN	Wrap Round Needle	Refers to e-wrapping a separate strand around the end needle as the piece is knit. Apparently used to control the edge curl, or give the edge more stability.
WS	Wrong Side	Refers to the side of the knitting that will be against the body. Opposed to the Right Side (public side)
WY	Waste Yarn	Used to temporarily hold stitches. Should be a similar weight to the garment yarn and a contrasting color if possible (scrap yarn)
X	X times	Repeat this row 2X (2 times)
yo	yo \| Eyelet	Controlled holes used to make lace, small buttonholes and specialized stitch techniques. [yo] is a hand knitting term
YPP	Yards Per Pound	A method often used by machine knitters to identify and compare yarn weights