Ever open a knitting pattern and feel like you’ve wandered into a scene from A Beautiful Mind? Symbols float, letters jumble, and suddenly you’re convinced you need a chalkboard wall and a piece of string to map it all out. Welcome to the world of knitting abbreviations! It’s our very own secret language. But don’t worry, you don’t actually need a PhD in cryptography. Here, we are going to untangle the confusing hieroglyphics while muttering, “ugh, not another knot!” or whispering, “please skedaddle, I’m counting.” Let’s decode the knitting shorthand into plain English. I’ll sprinkle in a few jokes and make sure you leave feeling more “I’ve got this” than “where’s my decoder ring?”

This page is your central knitting abbreviations guidebook. Think of it as the place you bookmark, pin, or save to keep track of the whole series. Each individual post will break down one abbreviation in detail, but this index is where you can find them all.

Explore the Abbreviation Series

Here’s what’s been decoded so far:

• CO = cast on (and sometimes can’t overthink)
  👉 Read the full cast on post here
• k = knit stitch (and sometimes knot screaming)
  👉 Read the full knit post here
• p = purl stitch (and please skedaddle)
  👉 Read the full purl post here
• BO = bind off (and sometimes be over)
  👉 Read the full bind off post here
• ** = repeat the pattern (and sometimes replay this part)
  👉 Read the full repeat off post here

Coming soon!

Next up: sl1pwyif (slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front), sl1pwyib (slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in back), and sl (shorthand for sl1pwyib). Because knitting patterns never stop speaking in code.

Why Abbreviations Matter

At first, abbreviations feel like stumbling into a spy school exam. But once you crack the code, life gets easier and a lot more fun. You’ll:

• Read patterns without having to pause and Google every other line
• Tackle bigger projects with confidence instead of dread
• Roll your eyes and laugh at the shorthand that once made you want to scream into your yarn ball

And here’s the best part: the more abbreviations you decode, the less you’ll feel like that frazzled, exasperated knitter at the top of this page… and the more you’ll start to look like the happy knitter at the bottom: project finished, needles down, and a gorgeous hat in hand.

This index will keep growing as the series expands. Every time a new abbreviation post goes live, it’ll show up here, ready for you to decode at your own pace.

👉 Want the complete guide instead of piecing it together clue by clue? Check out my full walkthrough: How to Read Knitting Patterns.

Stay in the Loop

Make this page your bookmark-worthy Rosetta Stone for knitting abbreviations. Or, if you’d rather skip the detective work, join my email list and I’ll send you updates whenever a new abbreviation gets cracked.

Patterns You’ll Love

🧶 Quick Chunky Ribbed Beanie : The Fastest Hat Pattern Around

🧣 Easy Chunky Knit Scarf Pattern: A Warm, Wearable Hug

🙏 Gratitude Blanket Pattern: When You Need Extra-Cozy Knitting Joy

🎉 Basic Slouch Hat Pattern: A Versatile Style Option

🔥 Basic Ear Warmer Pattern: Quick Gift-Ready Project

🧹 All Knitting Patterns by Liz: Learn to Knit All the Things

Read More

Don’t Miss a Stitch!

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Cozy End of Summer Projects from PurlsAndPixels 🍂

Summer is ending and fall is creeping in. Cool mornings, crunchy leaves, and that little voice telling you it is time to knit something cozy! I will admit it: I love fall so much that I like to fast-forward by knitting pumpkin-season projects before the leaves even turn. If you start a late-summer knitting project now, you’ll be bundled in handmade warmth by the time the first pumpkin spice latte hits your hands. Here are five easy, quick, and fun fall knitting patterns from PurlsAndPixels.com that are simple enough to start today and cozy enough to keep you smiling all season.

1. Easy Chunky Knit Boot Cuffs 👢

Want to look like you have your life together without actually trying? Knit boot cuffs. They are fast, beginner-friendly, and give you instant fall fashion cred. Slip them over your jeans, slide on boots, and you are Pinterest-ready. Bonus: they are easier than remembering which size pumpkin spice latte you ordered. Honestly, these are the little warm-ups I knit while daydreaming about crunchy leaves and cider stands. It is the perfect quick boot cuff knitting pattern to get started with.

👉 Get the Easy Boot Cuff Pattern at PurlsAndPixels.com

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2. Single-Row Striped Scarf 🧣

Stripes are trending hard, and this scarf is proof you do not need complicated charts to look chic. One row does the trick: no colorwork panic here. Pick moody fall tones or go bold with pumpkin orange and plum purple. Think of it as knitting your own pumpkin patch: without the hay fever. I love starting scarves like this in September so that by October I can wrap myself up and feel smugly prepared for bonfire nights. This striped scarf knitting pattern is one of my go-to fall favorites.

👉 Find the Striped Scarf Pattern at Pattern at PurlsAndPixels.com

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3. Ribbed Chunky Hat 🎩

Cold ears? Not on my watch. This chunky ribbed hat knits up faster than you can say “I will just do one more row.” Big needles, fat yarn, and instant gratification: you will have it done before your cider cools down. Perfect for hiding bedhead on those chilly mornings when coffee is not enough. I knit these hats while daydreaming about the first frost, because nothing feels more “fall” than pulling a fresh knit over cold ears. Try this chunky hat knitting pattern for instant cozy vibes.

👉 Get the Ribbed Chunky Hat Pattern at PurlsAndPixels.com

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4. Simple Mitten Pattern 🧤

Leaf piles, pumpkin patches, apple cider walks: mittens make them better. My simple mitten pattern is easy enough for beginners and cozy enough that you will actually wear them. Knit a pair for yourself, then brace yourself: family members will want them too, and unlike pumpkin pie, you cannot just bake more overnight. I like casting these on in late summer so that when the leaves finally fall, I already have pockets full of warm, handmade comfort. This simple mitten knitting pattern is perfect for first-timers.

👉 Find the Simple Mitten Pattern at PurlsAndPixels.com

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5. Rice Stitch Baby Blanket 🛋️

Want a project that screams cozy but does not scream complicated? Try the rice stitch blanket. It is squishy, textured, and perfect for curling up with tea and Netflix. Knit one square at a time or go all in: either way, it is more satisfying than finishing a fall candle before Halloween. I start blankets early because I know myself: the minute the wind shifts, I want to be wrapped up in something handmade. This rice stitch blanket knitting pattern will keep your needles and your home warm.

👉 Get the Rice Stitch Blanket Pattern at PurlsAndPixels.com

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Bonus: Pumpkin Hat and Gloves 🎃🧤

If you are the type who goes all in on pumpkin season (guilty 🙋‍♀️), you will love my pumpkin hat and matching gloves knitting pattern. The hat is cozy and cheeky with its pumpkin-inspired design, and the gloves add the perfect seasonal finish. Whether you wear them to the pumpkin patch or just to sip pumpkin spice at home, this set is pure autumn joy.

👉 Get the Pumpkin Hat and Gloves Pattern at PurlsAndPixels.com

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Why Start Now? ⏳

Fall does not wait, and cozy does not knit itself. By starting these projects now, you will be wrapped in handmade warmth just as sweater weather arrives. Plus, chunky knits, stripes, and cozy neutrals are gorgeous knitting trends of 2025, and you can say you were ahead of the curve. I am already casting on because for me, knitting is like hitting the fast-forward button to my favorite season.

Play

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Stich Summer into Fall

Ready to be the cozy one at the cider stand? Cast on today, during the last days of summer, finish before the frost, and strut into fall wearing knits you made yourself. Every pattern here is waiting for you on PurlsAndPixels.com: because why just buy cozy when you can knit it and sneak a little extra fall into your life early.

More Patterns You’ll Love

🍂 Cozy Up with Fall Knitting: More Fall-inspired Knitting Projects

🧣 Easy Chunky Knit Scarf Pattern: A Warm, Wearable Hug

🙏 Gratitude Blanket Pattern: When You Need Extra-Cozy Knitting Joy

🎉 Basic Slouch Hat Pattern: A Versatile Style Option

🔥 Basic Ear Warmer Pattern: Quick Gift-Ready Project

🧹 All Knitting Patterns by Liz: Learn to Knit All the Things

Read More

Don’t Miss a Stitch!

Love cozy knitting projects? Join me on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram! And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get more free patterns, helpful tips, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌

The Bravery Test of the Crafting World 🧶

I just played a risky little game. I really wanted a new, quick hat. After rummaging through my yarn stash, I found just the skein I wanted. Instead of being a responsible knitter (weighing my yarn and checking my instructions) I decided to wing it and play yarn chicken. It looked like enough…

I started knitting my hat and it was looking great. I made it nearly to the top, the whole time feeling certain that this would be just enough yarn. But, sadly, I guessed wrong. I ran out just before the top of the hat. 😢

There wasn’t time to go to town for more yarn, and I didn’t want to scrap the hat. So I started digging through my project stash.

I found a rogue boot cuff with no match. But it was the same yarn. So I unraveled it and tied it into the hat project with a magic knot.

That little, lonely boot cuff, made of matching yarn gave me just enough to finish my hat. That is the heart of yarn chicken: it’s the most reckless game a knitter can play. Sometimes, it is a quiet little win and a happy dance. 💃 Other times, you’ll lose the round and have to pivot.

What is Yarn Chicken?

Hint: it has everything to do with yarn and nothing to do with chickens.

If you have ever heard of the old game of chicken, where teenagers would drive their cars straight at each other to see who would swerve first, then you already get the idea. Yarn chicken is the slower, quieter, far more practical version of that reckless dare. No engines. No headlights. It’s not life and death. It’s just you, your project, and a rapidly shrinking skein of yarn.

Yarn chicken is when you size up your skein with nothing but your gut and a hopeful squint. You skip the scale, bypass the calculator, and knit like you’ve got enough. Because maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. But you’re not stopping to find out. It is part grit, part gamble, and all heart.

Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. That is the game.

Why Play Yarn Chicken?

Because you just want to see if you can pull it off. You’re in a groove, you’re not interested in stopping to do math, and that half-used skein looks promising enough. Yarn chicken gives you a chance to lean into instinct instead of spreadsheets.

It is not laziness or forgetfulness. It’s choosing motion over caution, momentum over planning. And yes, once in a while, it’s just more fun this way.

You learn a lot when you play yarn chicken: about yarn, about rhythm, and about how far a single stitch can stretch when it really matters.

When You Lose

Losing at yarn chicken does not always mean starting over. It might mean improvising. You might unravel something else, work in a stripe, or change the ending of the pattern slightly to use what you have got.

It is not failure. It is flexibility.

Play

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If You Want to Avoid It

You can avoid yarn chicken if you:

• Weigh your yarn before you begin a section.
• Compare the yardage used in earlier parts of the pattern.
• Use patterns with detailed estimates (I include them in all my patterns).
• Swatch and plan precisely.

All of that works. I even recommend it most of the time.

But every now and then, if it feels right, I still play.

To Play or Not to Play

Yarn chicken is not about being careless. It is about reading the yarn, trusting your gut, and being willing to shift gears when the skein runs short. It is about choosing progress over perfection and being bold enough to see how far one strand will take you.

I have lost my fair share. I have torn out rows, patched in stripes, and unraveled forgotten cuffs. But I have also finished with half an inch to spare and felt like a champion.

That’s why I still play.

Looking for patterns you can finish without a gamble?

🥳 Ribbed Chunky Hat Free Knitting Pattern: Knit the Hat in this Post (substitute Wool Ease Thick & Quick by Lion Brand Yarn “Carousel” affiliate link)

🥾 Easy Chunky Knit Boot Cuffs Free Knitting Pattern: Make a set of adorable mini leg warmers.

🧶 Explore all the Knitting Patterns written by Liz Chandler: Find something you will love to make.

Don’t Miss a Stitch! 🧶

Love cozy knitting projects? Join me on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram! And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get more free patterns, helpful tips, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌

Continental Knitting Explained 🧵

If you’ve ever seen someone knit so quickly it looks like magic (or maybe old-school homestead sorcery), they might be using Continental knitting. This technique, often called “picking,” involves holding the yarn in your left hand and grabbing it with the needle rather than wrapping it around manually. It’s efficient, elegant, and a favorite among speed knitters and cozy crafters alike.

What Makes Continental Knitting Different?

Unlike English-style knitting (where the yarn is held in the right hand and “thrown” around the needle), Continental knitting keeps the yarn tensioned in the left hand. The right needle grabs or “picks” the yarn to form each stitch: less flailing, more flow.

Continental knitting tends to be faster for many folks once they get the hang of it. Because there’s less hand movement between stitches, your projects can fly off the needles. It’s perfect for finishing up a sweater before the snow hits or gifting beanies to everyone at the bonfire.

Play

Benefits of Continental Knitting for Beginners

• Speed: With practice, it can dramatically increase your knitting speed.
• Efficiency: Fewer movements mean less hand strain, which can help reduce repetitive stress injuries.
• Great for left-handed knitters: Since the yarn is in your left hand, some lefties find this method more intuitive.
• Smooth colorwork: Stranded knitting (like Fair Isle) is easier because you can hold one color in each hand and feel like a yarn-wielding wizard next to the woodstove.

Personal Note from Liz 🖋️

I actually never learned to knit any other way. Because I started with crochet, knitting Continental felt more natural from the start. Holding the yarn in my left hand just made sense. There was no awkward learning curve or dramatic battle with tension. I didn’t even know it had a fancy name; it was just what my hands wanted to do.

Now, I teach Continental knitting in my lessons at PurlsAndPixels.com/learn-to-knit because it helps beginners build even tension and knit more fluidly from the start. That page walks you through step-by-step video tutorials for each foundational skill: from casting on, to knitting and purling Continental style, to finishing your first project with rustic flair.

Continental Knitting Tips for Beginners

• Practice your tension with simple face scrubbies. Try my free swatch pattern here.
• Try holding the yarn the way you would for crochet if you’re familiar with that.
• Focus on relaxed fingers and wrist movement. Knitting tension should come from finger placement, not hand strain.
• Use worsted-weight yarn and medium needles (like US 8 / 5 mm) when learning. Here’s a beginner supply list.

Want to try this right away? Grab your yarn and follow along with my free video tutorials at my Learn to Knit Index. You’ll be grabbing stitches like a pro in no time.

Common Mistakes When Learning Continental

• Twisting stitches by wrapping the yarn the wrong way. You can check your stitch orientation with my knit stitch breakdown.
• Holding the yarn too tight (cutting off movement) or too loose (making loopy stitches).
• Choosing knitting needles that are too small or slick. Go for bamboo or wood until you get the hang of it (and reduce your chances of dropping stitches off the needles).

Should You Switch to Continental Knitting?

If you already knit comfortably using English style, there’s no need to switch unless you’re curious or want to knit fast enough to make your coffee jealous. But if you’re just starting out, Continental knitting can be a smoother road to even stitches and faster progress.

Get Started with Continental Knitting Lessons

🧵 Want a head start? Sign up here to get my free Knitting Starter Kit. It includes printable cheat sheets, beginner tips, a free pattern, and everything you need to start stitching with confidence.

🧶 Ready to follow along? Visit the Learn to Knit Index to get free knitting lessons, watch full video demonstrations, get a printable guide, and explore beginner-friendly knitting patterns to get you going.

📚 Prefer books? Grab a copy of Liz Chandler’s Knitting Guide: Learn to Knit with Practical Patterns, an all-in-one, eye-catching textbook with step-by-step instructions, patterns, and guidance to take you from your first stitch to your first finished project.

Frequently Asked Questions about Continental Knitting

Q: Is Continental knitting better than English?
A: It depends on your style. Continental is faster and more ergonomic for some knitters. English style might feel more natural if you’re used to it.

Q: Is Continental knitting good for beginners?
A: Absolutely! Especially if you’ve crocheted before, holding yarn in your left hand will feel familiar.

Q: Can Continental knitting improve my speed?
A: Yes. Many knitters report faster knitting with less hand fatigue once they get used to the movements.

Q: What’s the best yarn for learning Continental knitting?
A: A medium-weight yarn (like worsted) in a light color makes it easier to see your stitches. Pair it with wood or bamboo needles to keep things steady.

Tried this method? Tag me @purlsandpixels so I can cheer you on! Or leave a comment on the blog—I love hearing about your projects.

Start Continental Knitting with These Related Posts

📍 Putting the First Stitches on Knitting Needles: Learn to Cast On

🧶 How to Knit: The Knit Stitch (Continental Style)

🧵 How to Purl: Continental Purl Stitch for Beginners

✂️ How to Bind Off in Knitting (Step-by-Step Guide)

Don’t Miss a Stitch! 🧶

Love cozy knitting projects? Sign up for my newsletter to get free patterns, helpful tips, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌

Learn to Knit, Skip the Overwhelm (and the Urge to Throw Your Yarn) 🧶

Does knitting feel confusing or intimidating? You are not alone. If you are curious about knitting but do not know where to begin, or feel nervous about making mistakes, this free starter kit is made just for you. Whether you are brand new or need a reset after a frustrating experience (like that scarf you accidentally turned into a tangled spaghetti monster), this free knitting starter kit helps you feel confident from your very first stitches.

You will receive a printable pattern, a quick-start cheat sheet, and calm, clear video tutorials that walk you through every step. It is like having a knitting coach in your inbox (without the pressure).

What You Will Get in the Free Knitting Starter Kit:

• 🧶 Beginner-Friendly Pattern
  A cozy, practical project designed to teach you as you go. Printable, accessible, and frustration-free.
• 📋 Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet
  Learn the essential stitches and techniques with a one-page guide you can keep at your side.
• 📺 Video Tutorials
  Calm, clear instructions filmed in natural light. A relaxed pace and peaceful setting help you follow along with ease.

Why this Free Knitting Lesson Starter Kit Works:

• I’ve spent more than 10 years helping real people learn practical knitting skills, both online and in person.
• Thousands of knitters have trusted my tutorials for their gentle pace, no-fluff instruction, and beginner-friendly guidance.
• I focus on building your confidence so you can relax and actually enjoy knitting.

Ready to Start Knitting?

Sign up now, and I’ll send everything straight to your inbox. Your knitting journey starts with clarity, comfort, and maybe even a happy squeal when it clicks into place. Grab your yarn and let’s cast on together!

Join the Free Knitting Starter Kit List 🎁

About the Creator

Explore More:

• Free Knitting Lessons
• Beginner Knitting Patterns
• Complete Knitting Guidebook

Grow your skills, one peaceful stitch at a time.

Don’t Miss a Stitch! 🧶

Love cozy knitting projects? Sign up for my newsletter to get free patterns, helpful tips, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌