When you first get started knitting and crocheting, it can feel like you’re immersing yourself into a foreign land with its own language, symbols, and culture. But with this cheat sheet, you’ll feel like a native in no time. In it you’ll find lists of the abbreviations and symbols you’ll see most often while reading patterns and instructions.
©Kostikova Natalia
| Abbreviation | What It Means | Abbreviation | What It Means |
| beg | beginning | pwise | purlwise (as if to purl) |
| CC | contrasting color | rem | remain(s) or remaining |
| ch | chain | rep | repeat |
| cn | cable needle | RH | right-hand |
| dec | decrease(s), decreased, or decreasing | RS | right side(s) |
| dpns | double-pointed needles | rnd(s) | round(s) |
| foll | follows or following | sc | single crochet |
| inc | increase(s), increased, or increasing | sl | slip, slipped, or slipping |
| k | knit | sl st | slip stitch |
| k2tog | knit 2 stitches together | ssk | slip, slip, knit the slipped stitches together |
| k-b | knit in stitch below | St st | stockinette stitch |
| kwise | knitwise (as if to knit) | st(s) | stitch(es) |
| LH | left-hand | tbl | through the back of the loop |
| lp(s) | loop(s) | tog | together |
| MC | main color | WS | wrong side(s) |
| m1 (or m) | make 1 stitch (increase 1 stitch) | wyib | with yarn in back |
| p | purl | wyif | with yarn in front |
| pat(s) | pattern(s) | yb | yarn back |
| p-b | purl in stitch below | yf | yarn forward |
| pm | place marker | yo | yarn over |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over (used for decreasing) |
| Abbreviation | What It Means | Abbreviation | What It Means |
| dec (xx2tog) | decrease(s)(d)(ing) | rnd(s) | round(s) |
| dtr | double triple crochet | RS | right side |
| flp | front loop only | rib | ribbing |
| foll | follow(ing) | rnd(s) | round(s) |
| FP | front post | RS | right side |
| hdc | half double crochet | sc | single crochet |
| inc | increase(s)(d)(ing) | sl st | slip stitch |
| MC | main color | st(s) | stitch(es) |
| patt | pattern | tog | together |
| rem | remaining | tr | triple crochet |
| rep | repeat | WS | wrong side |
| rib | ribbing | yo | yarn over the hook |
Make washable paint stamp cleanly: stir first, load stamps lightly, and compare compatible thick paint or paint-specific mediums without risking the whole bottle.
Learn why air-dry clay cracks as it dries, how to patch small cracks with water or fresh clay, and how to dry repairs evenly to reduce repeat damage.
Get clean felt edges with the right scissors, a steady pattern, and smooth cutting strokes. Learn when a rotary cutter or utility knife makes more sense.
Learn a gentle, surface-aware way to remove cooled hot glue strings from crafts, with practical steps for wood, paper, fabric, plastic, and more.
Help kids paint cardboard without warping it. Learn which paint to use, how much to apply, how to dry each coat, and what mistakes to avoid.
Photograph small crafts with soft window light, a simple white reflector, and precise focus. Learn how to reduce blur, harsh shadows, and color shifts.
Homemade stickers peel when adhesive, surface, and conditions do not match. Learn how to prep surfaces, apply stickers smoothly, choose materials, and store sheets.
Compare metallic paper, markers, paint, foil accents, and ribbon for a glitter-free sparkle effect. Choose by surface, shine, cleanup, and who will use the craft.
Build a longer-lasting cardboard hinge with rigid panels, a measured gap, and a flexible cloth bridge. Learn how to assemble, test, and troubleshoot it.
For a simple design on light fabric, tracing with a removable fabric marker is usually the easiest transfer method. Learn the steps, alternatives, and mistakes to avoid.
