🧶 Deciphering Basic Knitting Symbols

Here is a list of basic symbols commonly used in knitting patterns, along with their names and explanations in English.

Symbol	Abb	Explanation
	K	Knit
	P	Purl
	K tbl	Knit through the back loop
	P tbl	Purl through the back loop
	M1	Make one stitch (right/left)
	M1p	Make one purl-wide (right/left)
	LLI	Left lifted increase
	RLI	Right lifted increase
	LLIp	Left lifted increase (purled)
	RLIp	Right lifted increase (purled)
	Sl wyib	Slip stitch with yarn in back
	Sl wyif	Slip stitch with yarn front

	K1b	Knit one below
	P1b	Purl one below

	Yo	Yarn over
	Ssk	Slip slip knit
	K2tog	Knit two stitches together
	Ssp	Slip slip purl
	P2tog	Purl two stitches together
	Sssk Sk2p	Slip slip slip knit 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

Once you understand these basic symbols, you'll be able to read simple chart patterns.

If you want to take your knitting skills to the next level and are interested in tackling more advanced patterns, read and study these articles about the 100 knitting abbreviations and symbols commonly used in advanced patterns.

1. Knitting Abbreviations
2. Lace Symbols
3. Cabel Symbols
4. Brioche Symbols
5. Advanced Symbols

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.