Abbreviations in the 52 Weeks of Socks
General information
Charts are read from bottom to top and from right to left, unless otherwise stated.
If the pattern states a specific cast on or bind off method, you can always substitute it with your preferred technique.
The patterns are written for either DPNs or for the magic loop method, but you can use your preferred method for sock knitting on any of them. If doing magic loop, remember to use long circular needles (24–40” / 60–100 cm, according to preference).
If you can't find the same yarn(s) as used in the pattern, or want to use something else, you can substitute with similar yarn(s) of your choosing.
Approx.
Approximately
bef
Before
beg
Begin(ning)
BN
Bottom needle
BO
Bind off
BOR
Beginning of the round
CC
Contrast(ing) colour
CDD
Central double decrease: Slip 2 stitches together knitwise. Knit the next stitch. Pass the slipped stitches over the knitted stitch. [2 stitches decreased]
CN
Cable needle
CO
Cast on
cont
Continue(s)/continuing
dec(‘d)
Decrease(d)/decreasing
DPN(S)
Double-pointed needle(s)
Ds
Double stitch: Slip the next stitch with yarn in front. Bring the yarn over the right needle to the back and pull on the slipped stitch until it looks like a double stitch (two legs).
est
Establish(ed)
foll
Following
inc(’d)
Increase(d)/increasing
k
Knit
K1b
Knit into the stitch below
k2tog
Knit 2 stitches together [1 stitch decreased]
k2tog tbl
Knit 2 stitches together through back loops [1 stitch decreased]
k3tog
Knit 3 stitches together [2 stitches decreased]
kds
Knit double stitch: Knit both legs together
kfb
Knit into the front and back of the same stitch [1 stitch increased]
Ktbl / K tbl / k1tbl
Knit through back loop of the stitch (twisted stitch)
kwise
Knitwise
LH
Left hand
M
Marker
m1l(p)
Make 1 left: With your left-hand needle pick up the bar between the last stitch you knitted (purled) and the next stitch on the left-hand needle, bringing the needle from the front to the back, knit (purl) into the back of the stitch you just picked up [1 stitch increased]
m1r(p)
Make 1 right: With your left-hand needle pick up the bar between the last stitch you knitted (purled) and the next stitch on the left-hand needle, bringing the needle from the back to the front, knit (purl) into the front of the stitch you just picked up [1 stitch increased]
MC
Main colour
N / N1 / N2, etc.
Needle / needle 1 / needle 2, etc.
p
Purl
P1b
Purl into the stitch below
P2tog
Purl 2 stitches together [1 stitch decreased]
P3tog
Purl 3 stitches together [2 stitches decreased]
patt
Pattern
pds
Purl double stitch: Purl both legs together
pfb
Purl into the front and back of the same stitch [1 stitch increased]
pl
Place
PM
Place marker
psso
Pass slipped stitch over [1 stitch decreased]
ptbl / p tbl / p1tbl
Purl through back loop of the stitch (twisted stitch)
PUW
Pick up wrap: Insert right needle upwards through the wrap around the bottom of the next stitch and the front leg of the next stitch. On a purl row, insert right needle from the back of your work through the wrap around the bottom of the next stitch and the front leg of the next stitch. Purl the two loops as if they were one stitch. On a knit row, insert needle from the front of your work. Knit the two loops as if they were one stitch.
pwise
Purlwise
rem
Remain(ing)
rep
Repeat
RH
Right hand
Rib
Ribbing, rib
RM
Remove marker
Rnd(s)
Round(s)
RS
Right side of fabric
sl
Slip (purlwise with yarn in back on RS and yarn in front on WS, unless otherwise stated)
SM
Slip marker
ssk
Slip, slip, knit: Slip 2 stitches one at a time as if to knit, knit them together through back loops [1 stitch decreased]
ssp
Slip, slip, purl: Slip 2 stitches one at a time as if to knit, purl them together through back loops [1 stitch decreased]
sssk
Slip, slip, slip, knit: Slip 3 stitches one at a time as if to knit, knit them together through back loops [2 stitches decreased]
st(s)
Stitch(es)
st st
Stockinette stitch
tbl
Through the back loop
TN
Top needle
tog
Together
Tw
Turn work
WS
Wrong side of fabric
wyib
With yarn in back
wyif
With yarn in front
w&t
Wrap & turn: Slip the next stitch on your left needle to the right needle. If you are on a knit row, bring the yarn from back to front; if you are on a purl row, bring the yarn from front to back. Slip the stitch back to your left needle so that the yarn "wraps " that stitch, then turn your work so the other side is facing you.
yds
Yards
yo
Yarn over: Bring yarn between needles to the front, then over right-hand needle ready to knit the next stitch [1 stitch increased]
[ ]
Repeat instructions in brackets stated number of times
*–*
Repeat from * to *