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Updated Terms & Chart Symbols Used in the Patterns from Home Work, 1891

Title page of Home Work, a knitting book from the 1800's

Abbr Symbol Definition
C6F Cable 6 front Cable 6 front: slip next 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front of work, K3, then K3 from cable needle
C6B Cable 6 back Cable 6 back: slip next 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back of work, K3, then K3 from cable needle
C8B Cable 8 back Cable 8 back: slip next 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back of work, K4, then K4 from cable needle
Abbreviation Symbol Definition
K Knit Knit (regardless of whether it is a right side, or wrong side row)
P Purl Purl (regardless of whether it is a right side, or wrong side row)
K2tog Knit 2 together Knit 2 together
SSK
or
Sl 1, K1, PSSO
SSK Slip, Slip, Knit: Slip next st from left hand needle to right hand needle knitways. Slip next st the same way. Return both sts to left hand needle in their new twisted positions and k2tog
or
Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
K3tog Knit 3 together Knit 3 together
Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO Slip 1, K2tog, PSSO Slip 1, Knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over
Sl 2, K1, PSSO Slip 2, K1, PSSO Slip 2 together, K1, pass slipped stitches over
P2tog Purl 2 together Purl 2 together
Sl 1 Slip 1 Slip 1
YO Yarn Over Yarn Over
(YO) twice Yarn OverYarn Over Double Yarn Over
(YO) three times Yarn OverYarn OverYarn Over Triple Yarn Over
no abbreviation Drop 2nd loop of double Yarn Over Drop the next st off the needle (Commonly the 2nd loop of a double yarn over that was worked on the previous row)
no abbreviation No stitch No stitch. Ignore this square and knit the next stitch as the next square in the chart. This symbol is used so that stitches in the chart match up properly, so the relationships between stitches on different rows can be seen. When knitting just ignore it and work your next stitch as the next square in the chart.

Copyright © Sarah Bradberry 2000