With all those codes, marking and signs, it can be very intimidating reading a knitting pattern. However, with a little help, a few definitions and practice you will be an old pro at it.
The first time you take a good look at a knitting pattern it likely looks like you are reading a foreign language. This is primarily due to the abbreviations, codes and signs.
The knowledge of a good knitter is not merely a tally of technical milestones or finished projects. Rather, it is a product of technical proficiency and the ability to supply context to a knitting project where little context.
Context is the ability to knit "smarter" this is the ability to supply fine points to a pattern with less than perfect instructions, or to recognize the source of errors and the means of correcting them. It’s having a starting point for creating an original design, insight into shortcuts for making knitting, fitting or finishing easier, and being able to visualize the big picture.
Therefore, with this in mind, you need to read the pattern from the beginning to end. You will need to make sure you have the abbreviation code to decipher any words or abbreviations you do not know.
Here is a sample of an abbreviation code chart:
Knitting Abbreviation Chart
Abbreviation Definition Abbreviation Definition
" Or in Inch Pat Pattern
() Parentheses. As in a math problem, the instructions within the parentheses become one unit. (k,p)3x would mean to work a knit st, work a purl st, and then repeat that 3 times. psso Pass slipped stitch over
* (Asterisk) Repeat the instructions following the asterisk as many times as specified. Pwise or P-wise Purl wise, or as though to purl
Beg Beginning rem Remaining
CC Contrasting Color Rep Repeat
dec Decrease RH Right hand
dp Double pointed needles Rib Ribbing stitch, work in ribbing as established
ea Each rnd round
Inc Increase SKP Slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit st
incl Inclusive sl Slip, usually slip one stitch
K Knit sl st Slip stitch
K1b or K1-b Knit one through back loop sl-K Slip stitch knit wise
Kwise or K-wise Knit wise, as though to knit sl-P Slip 1 stitch purl w
LH Left hand sp Space
lp Loop st Stitch
M1 Make one stitch: work into back of horizontal st lying before next st to create an extra st in row St st Stockinet st (knit 1 row, purl 1 row)
MC Main color tbl Through back loop
O Yarn over (see also YO) tog Together
oz Ounce wyib With yarn in back
P Purl wyif With yarn in front
P1b or P1-b Purl one through back loop X Times – 3x would mean three times
p2sso pas 2 slipped sts over yo Yarn over
You will need to make a note of the gauge per inch that the pattern calls for. Then you will want to make a swatch to make sure you can create the same gauge.
Gauge is typically given as a number of stitches and rows over a span of four inches. It is a relatively easy calculation to break down as numbers of the stitches and the amount of rows per inch. You will need to have these numbers available.
If you think you do not need to gauge before knitting, think about that again. There are very few circumstances that swatching is not necessary.
After you have been prepared, you are ready to read the steps of the pattern and begin knitting. Most patterns have basic steps to each stitch required, but if you have any problems, you can get knitting details for each stitch off the Internet, from a book or CDROM.