A Basic Introduction to Charted Stitch Symbols

Quick Reference
Copyright 2009 PoopsheBear and J.P. Love
Initial Publication January, 2009
B C D E F J I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z a b c d e f g h i j k l m n z y x v w x r t s r 1 ! @ #$

I compiled this reference chart for the most common symbols used in charting stitch patterns from around the world. This
reference tool is primarily for identifying those symbols used in knitting charts. For a more detailed list of abbreviations
please check out my Knitting Abbreviations reference list.
This is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive list of all symbols that you may encounter in your knitting
experiences. As part of this ever growing global community, we often see patterns from designers in other countries or
designers who use symbols that make sense to themselves. Sometimes a symbol can represent very different stitches
depending on the author.
Please be sure to refer to the stitch key or index for your specific pattern to determine the correct symbol used
to identify stitches before you begin your project.

Basic Stitches
Symbols Abbreviation Common Definition
h p Purl on RS, Knit on WS
/ Purl regardless of side
g k Knit on RS, Purl on WS
blank space Knit regardless of side
z
ä k tbl; ktbl; k1-b; k1b Knit through back loop of next stitch on RS, p tbl on WS
ò
å p tbl; ptbl; p1-b; p1b Purl through back loop of next stitch on RS, k tbls on RS
ó
ç bo Bind Off
ô co Cast Off

co Loop Cast-on

Increase Stitches
Symbols Abbreviation Common Definition
j yo; yf; yfon; yfrn; yrn Yarn over
jj yo2 Double yarn over
jjj yo3 Triple yarn over
k m1 Make one stitch using strand between 2 stitches
o
p Make eyelet, lift strand before next stitch and knit or purl into back
l Right Increase
; Left Increase
V k1 f&b; k1fb; kfb Knit into the front and then back of next stitch, bar increase
V p1 f&b; p1fb; pfb Knit into the front and then back of next stitch, bar increase
u k1, p1, k1 k1, yo, k1 into next stitch on RS (p1, yo, p1 on WS)
i p1, yo, p1 p1, yo, p1 into next stitch on RS (k1, yo, k1 on WS)
O//
Triple increase
6 Increase “X” number of stitches
7
8
9
0 1
 A Basic Introduction to Charted Stitch Symbols
Quick Reference
Copyright 2009 PoopsheBear and J.P. Love
Initial Publication January, 2009
B C D E F J I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z a b c d e f g h i j k l m n z y x v w x r t s r 1 ! @ #$

Decrease Stitches
Symbols Abbreviation Common Definition
s skp; Slip 1, Knit 1, Pass slipped stitch over
↓ skpo;
\ s1, k1, psso;
x skpsso
x
s ssk Slip 2 as if to knit, knit 2 together from right needle
\
x
v
d k2 tog Knit 2 together
c
|
a s1,k2tog,psso; Slip 1, Knit 2 together, Pass slipped stitch over
v sk2p Double left-slanting decrease, double vertical decrease
↑
/\
f k3 tog Knit 3 together, double right-slanting decrease
x k3 tog tbl Knit 3 together through back loops
/\ s2, k1, psso Slip 2 together, K1, Pass slipped stitches over
w p2 tog tbl Purl 2 together through back loop
e p2 tog Purl 2 together
%
q Double decrease, purl side of work
r p3 tog Purl 3 together
x p3 tog tbl Purl 3 together through back loops
SO Stitch Over
/

1 Decrease “X” number of stitches

2
3
4
5
↓ Drop the next stitch off the needle

Miscellaneous Stitches
Symbols Abbreviation Common Definition
b kb; k-b Knit stitch in row below on RS, purl stitch in row below on WS

↓
n p-b; pb Purl stitch in row below on RS, knit stitch in row below on WS
m s; sl1 k-wise; sl1k; Slip stitch as if to knit
g sl-k
x
, sl; sl(p); sl1p; Slip stitch as if to purl
sl1 p-wise; sl-p

. sl wyif Slip stitch with yarn in front

2
 A Basic Introduction to Charted Stitch Symbols
Quick Reference
Copyright 2009 PoopsheBear and J.P. Love
Initial Publication January, 2009
B C D E F J I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z a b c d e f g h i j k l m n z y x v w x r t s r 1 ! @ #$

Miscellaneous - continued
Symbols Abbreviation Common Definition
z No stitch
[
a
] mb Bobble
?
ê Selvage stitch
è shk Knit by wrapping yarn over instead of under needle
é shp Purl by wrapping yarn over instead of under needle
Twist stitch in row below

- sl1, s1, s, ss Slip 1 (wyif RS, wyib WS)

-- sl2, s2 Slip 2 (wyif RS, wyib WS)
----- sl5, s5 Slip 5 (wyif RS, wyib WS)

Cable and Twist Stitches

Symbols Abbreviation Common Definition
Specific Stitches - Knit
R Left half of left twist/cable
à
T Right Half of left twist/cable
á
Y Left half or right twist/cable
â
U Right Half of right twist/cable
ã
E High Extender
I Low Extender
Specific Stitches - Purl

Q Left half of left twist/cable

$
!
W Right half of left twist/cable
%
@
O Left half of right twist/cable
^
(
P Right half of right twist/cable
&
)
{ High extender
#
_
} Low extender
*
+
3
 A Basic Introduction to Charted Stitch Symbols
Quick Reference
Copyright 2009 PoopsheBear and J.P. Love
Initial Publication January, 2009
B C D E F J I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z a b c d e f g h i j k l m n z y x v w x r t s r 1 ! @ #$

Cable and Twist Stitches - continued

Symbols Abbreviations Common Description
WITH Horizontal Feet
F Left half of left twist/cable
G Right half of left twist/cable
H Left half or right twist/cable
J Right Half of right twist/cable

WITH Vertical Feet

S Left half of left twist/cable

D Right half of left twist/cable
K Left half of right twist/cable
L Right half of right twist/cable
Horizontal Cable Stitches
Knit
B Extender
C Left end
M Right end
Purl
V Extender
N
X Left end
Z

< Right end

>
Vertical Twist Extenders
A Left extender
A Right extender
: Double extender

ê pk Twisted or crossed purl stitch

< tk Twisted or crossed knit stitch
♦