Why Abbreviations Matter
Knitting and crochet patterns are written almost entirely in abbreviations. A line like 'K2, P2, C4F, K2, P2' looks like code to a beginner, but it's actually a precise set of instructions: knit 2, purl 2, cable 4 front, knit 2, purl 2.
Learning abbreviations is the gateway to following any pattern. Once you know them, you can work from patterns published anywhere in the world (with the important caveat of US vs UK differences, which we'll cover below).
Essential Knitting Abbreviations
The basics: K = knit, P = purl, CO = cast on, BO = bind off, st(s) = stitch(es), rep = repeat, RS = right side, WS = wrong side.
Increases: M1 = make one, M1L = make one left, M1R = make one right, KFB = knit front and back, YO = yarn over.
Decreases: K2tog = knit two together (right-leaning), SSK = slip slip knit (left-leaning), P2tog = purl two together, S2KP = slip 2, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over (centered).
Cables: C4F = cable 4 front, C4B = cable 4 back. The number tells you how many stitches are involved, and F/B tells you which direction the cable crosses.
Colorwork: MC = main color, CC = contrast color, CC1/CC2 = first/second contrast colors.
The US vs UK Problem
This is the single biggest source of confusion in crochet. US and UK terms use the same words for different stitches, offset by one.
US Single Crochet (SC) = UK Double Crochet (DC). US Half Double Crochet (HDC) = UK Half Treble (HTR). US Double Crochet (DC) = UK Treble (TR). US Treble (TR) = UK Double Treble (DTR).
If you follow a UK pattern using US definitions, every stitch will be one size too short, and your project will come out dramatically smaller and denser than intended.
Always check whether a pattern uses US or UK terms. Look for clues: if it mentions 'treble' for what seems like a basic stitch, it's probably UK. Our Abbreviation Glossary has a US/UK toggle that shows equivalents for every term.
Using Our Pattern Translator
Our Abbreviation Glossary includes a Pattern Translator mode. Paste any line from a pattern, and every abbreviation gets highlighted in color with a tooltip showing the full name and description.
This is especially useful for beginners working through their first pattern, crafters switching between knitting and crochet, and anyone working from an international pattern where the terms aren't familiar.
The glossary covers 70+ abbreviations across knitting and crochet, with filtering by craft type and category (basic, increase, decrease, texture, colorwork, finishing).