Aug
Knitting Glossary
Written by Knitting Stitches on August 7th, 2009
Bind off
Used to finish an edge or segment. Lift the first stitch over the second, the second over the third, etc. It’s called “cast off” in the UK. To bind off in ribbing, work the ribbing pattern as you bind off by knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches.
Bind off in rib
While binding off, keep to rib pattern by knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches. (UK: cast off in ribbing)
Bobble
Knit, purl, knit in next stitch; turn and purl these 3 stitches; turn and slip 2 stitches together knit-wise, knit 1, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch.
Cast on
A foundation row of stitches placed upon the needle in order to begin knitting.
Decrease
Reduce the stitches in a row by knitting several of them together.
Duplicate Stitch
Used to create the look of “Fair Isle” or color work patterns on a stockinette stitch background. Formed by retracing the path of the original stitch.
Garter Stitch
Knit each row.
Gauge
The gauge refers to the size of the stitches and is measured by the number of stitches and rows to a given width and length (UK = tension).
Increase
Add stitches in a row by knitting in front and back of the same stitch.
Knit-wise
Insert the needle into the stitch as if you were going to knit it.
Make one
With the needle tip, lift the strand between the last stitch knit and the next stitch on the left hand needle; knit into the back of it. One knit stitch will have been added.
Make one p-st
With the needle tip, lift the strand between the last stitch worked and the next stitch on the left hand needle and purl it. One purl stitch has been added.
Mattress Stitch
Produces good-looking seams with little bulk. With right sides facing, sew seam by picking up the lower strand on one edge and the upper strand on the other edge.
Place markers
Place or attach a loop of contrast yarn or purchased stitch marker as indicated. Markers can be safety pins, small rings or fancy knitting stitch markers. They should be placed on the needle between stitches or at the edge of a row.
Pick up and Knit (Purl)
Knit or purl into the loops along an edge.
Purl-wise
Insert the needle into the stitch as if you were going to purl it.
Reverse Stockinette Stitch
Purl all right-side rows and knit all wrong-side rows. For circular knitting purl all rounds (UK: reverse stocking stitch).
Ribbing
Knit the stitches with the knit side facing you; purl the stitches with the purl side facing you.
Selvage stitch
Edge stitch that helps make seaming easier.
Slip, slip, knit
Slip next 2 stitches knit-wise, one at a time, to right hand needle. Insert tip of left hand needle into fronts of these stitches from left to right. Knit them together. One stitch has been decreased.
Slip, slip, slip, knit
Slip next3 stitches knit-wise, one at a time, to right hand needle. Insert tip of left hand needle into fronts of these stitches from left to right. Knit them together. Two stitches have been decreased.
Slip stitch
An un-worked stitch made by passing a stitch from the left-hand to the right-hand needle as if to purl.
Stockinette Stitch
Knit on right side; purl on wrong side of work.
Work even
Continue in pattern without increasing or decreasing (work straight).
Yarn over
Making a new stitch by wrapping the yarn over the right hand needle.
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Knitting Abbreviations
approx - approximately
beg - begin; beginning
CC - contrasting color
cm - centimeters
cn - cable needle
cont - continue; continuing
dec - decrease; decreasing
dpn - double pointed needles
EOR – every other row or round
est - established
foll - follow; following
g, gm - grams
in – inches
inc - increase; increasing
k - knit
LH - lefthand
lp(s) – loop(s)
m - meters
meas - measure(s), (ing)
mm - milimeters
MC – main color
M1 – make one (see glossary)
M1 p-st – make one purl stitch (see glossary)
ndl(s) – needle (s)
opp - opposite
oz - ounces
p - purl
pat(s) – pattern(s)
pm - place marker
psso - pass slip stitches over
PU - pick up
rem - remain; remaining
rep - repeat
rev - reverse (d), (s), (ing)
RH - righthand
rib - work ribbing
RS - right side(s)
rnd(s) – round(s)
sc - single crochet
SKP - slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over
SK2P – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together
sl - slip
sl st – slip stitch (see glossary)
ssk - slip, slip knit (see glossary)
sssk - slip, slip, slip, knit (glossary)
st(s) – stitch (es)
St st - stockinette stitch (UK – stocking stitch)
tbl - through back loop9s)
tog - together
WS - wrong side(s)
wyib - with yarn in back
wyif - with yarn in front
yd - yard(s)
yo - yarn over needle
yo(2) – yarn over twice
* – repeat directions following * as many times as indicated
[ ] - repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated
