Abbreviations
An explanation of abbreviations commonly found in vintage patterns.
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| alt. | alternate |
| beg. | beginning |
| cont. | continue |
| dec. | decrease |
| g.st. | garter stitch |
| inc. | increase |
| k. | knit |
| k.w. | knit wise (insert point of right-hand needle into the front of the stitch as if to knit) |
| m. | make |
| o. | over |
| p. | purl |
| patt. | pattern |
| p.s.s.o | pass slip stitch over |
| p.w. | purl wise (insert point of right-hand needle into the front of the stitch as if to purl) |
| rep. | repeat |
| sl. | slip |
| st. | stitch |
| st.st. | stocking stitch |
| sts. | stitches |
| t.b.l | through back of loop |
| tog. | together |
| w.b. | wool back |
| wl. | wool |
| wl.fwd or wl.fd. | wool forward (used to make a stitch between knit stitches - bring wool under the needle to the front) |
| wl.bk | wool back |
| w.o.n | wool over needle (used to make a stitch between a purl and a knit stitch - take wool from front, over the needle to the back) |
| w.r.n | wool round needle (used to make a stitch between purl stitches - take wool from front, over the needle and back to the front) |