Stitch charts in knit patterns are being used more and more as an addition to or in place of words to describe a pattern stitch. Following are the standardized knit symbols that are commonly used by members of the Craft Yarn Council, followed by two versions of cable symbols. There are a wide variety of knit symbols used in patterns, including special symbols made for specific projects. Always refer to the pattern key for variations in the knit symbols. For the most part each symbol represents a stitch as it looks on the right side of the work.
Also on this page:
Cable Symbols
| Symbol | Stitch |
|---|---|
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K on RS, p on WS |
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P on RS, k on WS |
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Yarn over |
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K2tog on RS, p2tog on WS |
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P2tog on RS, k2tog on WS |
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SSK on RS, SSP on WS |
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SSP on RS, SSK on WS |
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K1fb on RS, p1fb on WS |
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Make 1 (M1) knitwise on RS, make 1 (M1) purlwise on WS |
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Make 1 (M1) purlwise on RS, make 1 (M1) knitwise on WS |
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Right-slanting make 1 |
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Left-slanting make 1 |
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Right-slanting lifted inc |
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Left-slanting lifted inc |
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Sl 1 purlwise wyb on RS, sl 1 purlwise wyf on WS |
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Sl 1 purlwise wyf on RS, sl 1 purlwise wyb on WS |
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K3tog on RS, p3tog on WS |
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P3tog on RS, k3tog on WS |
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SK2P on RS, SSSK on RS, SSSP on WS |
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SSSP on RS, SSSK on WS |
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S2KP2 on RS, SSPP2 on WS |
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K1 tbl on RS, p1 tbl on WS |
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P1 tbl on RS, k1 tbl on WS |
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Bobble |
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Sts do not exist in these areas of chart |
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Inc 1-to-3 |
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Inc 1-to-4 |
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Inc 1-to-5 |
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Dec 4-to-1 (right slanting) |
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Dec 4-to-1 (left slanting) |
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Dec 4-to-1 (centered) |
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Dec 5-to-1 |
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K1, wrapping yarn twice around needle |
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Bind off |
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St rem on right needle after last BO st |
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Cast on |
Cable Symbols
As previously mentioned, there are many symbol variations, especially for cables. Below are two versions of cable symbols and definitions commonly used in the industry. Again, always refer to the pattern key for additional symbol variations.
Version 1
| Symbol | Stitch |
|---|---|
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1/1 RC (RT) - sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, k1 from cn OR k2tog but do not drop sts from left needle, k1, drop both sts from left needle |
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1/1 LC (LT) - sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, k1, k1 from cn OR with right needle behind left needle, knit 2nd st tbl, knit firrst st, drop both sts from left needle |
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1/1 RPC - sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, p1 from cn |
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1/1 LPC - sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, p1, k1 from cn |
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2/1 RC - sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k2, k1 from cn |
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2/1 LC - sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, k1, k2 from cn |
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2/1 RPC - sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k2, p1 from cn |
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2/1 LPC - sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, p1, k2 from cn |
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2/2 RC - sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, k2 from cn |
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2/2 LC - sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, k2, k2 from cn |
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2/2 RPC - sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, p2 from cn |
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2/2 LPC - sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, p2, k2 from cn |
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2/1/2 RPC - sl 2 sts onto first cn and hold in back, sl 1 st onto 2nd cn and hold in back, k2, p1 from 2nd cn, k2 from first cn |
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2/1/2 LPC - sl 2 sts onto first cn and hold in front, sl 1 st onto 2nd cn and hold in back, k2, p1 from 2nd cn, k2 from first cn |
Version 2
| Symbol | Stitch |
|---|---|
 |
2-st RC (RT) - Sl 1 st to cn and hold to back, k1, k1 from cn OR k2tog but do not drop sts from left needle, k1, drop both sts from left needle |
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2-st LC (LT) - Sl 1 st to cn and hold to front, k1, k1 from cn OR with right needle behind left needle, knit 2nd st tbl, knit first st, drop both sts from left needle |
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2-st RPC - Sl 1 st to cn and hold to back, k1, p1 from cn |
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2-st LPC - Sl 1 st to cn and hold to front, p1, k1 from cn |
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3-st RC - Sl 1 st to cn and hold to back, k2, k1 from cn |
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3-st LC - Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k1, k2 from cn |
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3-st RPC - Sl 1 st to cn, hold to back, k2, p1 from cn |
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3-st LPC - Sl 2 sts to cn, hold to front, p1, k2 from cn |
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4-st RC - Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, k2 from cn |
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4-st LC - Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k2, k2 from cn |
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4-st RPC - Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, p2 from cn |
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4-st LPC - Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to front, p2, k2 from cn |
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5-st RPC - Sl 2 sts to cn, hold to back, sl 1 st to second cn, hold to back, k2, p1 from 2nd cn, k2 from first cn |
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5-st LPC - Sl 2 sts to cn, hold to front, sl 1 st to second cn, hold to back, k2, p1 from back cn, k2 from front cn |
NOTE: Some patterns refer to cables as "Back" or "Front" cross.