A knitting pattern is a set of instructions for making a knitted project, but at first glance it can look like a wall of cryptic abbreviations and numbers in parentheses. Once you know what each section does, the same shorthand is easy to follow on any pattern - sock, sweater, scarf or shawl.
Jacqueline from Jacq Knits walks through every section a typical pattern includes, then writes out a sample pattern by hand so you can see how the pieces fit together. After this you will know how to pick the right yarn weight, work a gauge swatch, decode SSK and K2tog, follow repeats, and read sizing brackets without second-guessing yourself.
The abbreviations you will see most
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|
| k / p | knit / purl |
| k2tog | knit two together (right-leaning decrease) |
| ssk | slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease) |
| yo | yarn over (adds a stitch and an eyelet) |
| pm / sm | place marker / slip marker |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side |
| rep | repeat |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| CO / BO | cast on / bind off |
| inc / dec | increase / decrease |
Asterisks and brackets
"*K2, p2; rep from * to end" means work k2, p2 across the whole row. "Rep from * to last 2 sts, k2" means stop the repeat when two stitches remain and knit those. Brackets sit inside a repeat for a smaller one: "*[k1, p1] twice, k4; rep from *" works the bracket twice each time through. Some patterns use parentheses for sizes and repeats both, so read the context.
Charts vs written instructions
A chart is a grid where each square is one stitch. Read it from the bottom up. On right-side rows read right to left, the way the stitches sit on your needle. On wrong-side rows read left to right. In the round every row is a right-side row, so always read right to left. Check the key: a blank square often means knit on RS and purl on WS.
Why gauge matters
Say the pattern gauge is 20 sts = 4 inches, or 5 stitches per inch, and a 40-inch chest takes 200 stitches. If your swatch gives 22 sts over 4 inches, those same 200 stitches measure about 36 inches. Nearly four inches too small, from two stitches you did not count. Change needle size until the swatch matches.
Choosing your size
Pick from the finished measurements, not your body size. The gap between the two is ease. A relaxed sweater might have 2-4 inches of positive ease; hats and socks use negative ease so they stretch to fit. Lay a sweater you love flat and measure it. That number tells you which size to circle.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the swatch on anything fitted.
- Misreading a repeat and working "to end" when it said "to last 2 sts". Count after the first row.
- Missing "at the same time". It means two sets of shaping run together. Read the whole section before you start.
When a ball runs out mid-project, see how to join yarn in knitting. To build your first project, start with how to cast on, how to knit and purl, how to increase and how to slip stitch.
