Basic Knitting Symbols and Their Explanations in English

flower Understanding Chart Symbols

This article lists the standard symbols used in knitting charts, shown in both dot and dash formats, with clear explanations in English.

Basic symbols

Dot Dash Abb Explanation
Co Cast on
Bo Bind off
K Knit
P Purl
K tbl Knit through the back loop
P tbl Purl through the back loop
Sl wyib Slip stitch with yarn in back
Sl wyif Slip stitch with yarn in front
1
1
K1b Knit 1 below
Stockinette Stitch: Two Symbol styles

Increase symbols

Dot Dash Abb Explanation
Yo Yarn over
Yo x2 Yarn over twice
Yo x3 Yarn over three times
Kyok (Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1) in the same stitch
LLI Left lifted increase
RLI Right lifted increase
LLIp Left lifted increase purlwise
RLIp Right lifted increase purlwise

Decrease symbols

Dot Dash Abb Explanation
Ssk Slip, slip, knit
K2tog Knit two stitches together
Ssp Slip, slip, purl
P2tog Purl two stitches together
Sssk Slip, slip, slip, knit
Sk2p Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over
K3tog Knit three stitches together
Sssp Slip, slip, slip, purl
P3tog Purl three stitches together
S2kp Slip two stitches knitwise, knit one, pass slipped stitches over
5
5
K5tog Knit five stitches together
7
7
K7tog Knit seven stitches together
Note: Different patterns may use different symbols, so it's important to read the key or legend that accompanies each pattern to understand what each symbol means.
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