Any time you begin a new craft hobby, you have to learn a whole new vocabulary. Knitting instructions are no exception. If you’re a beginning knitter, you may not understand all of the abbreviations and terms used in your baby knitting pattern instructions. Here are some common sections you will find in an average baby knitting pattern.

Materials Required

This is the section that tells you what type of yarn to buy and what size needles to use in order to make the item correctly. Always be sure to buy enough yarn before you start your project and make sure that each skein comes from the same dye lot. This will ensure that your knitted item retains the same color throughout. Although needle sizes are recommended it is more important that you obtain the correct gauge. This may involve using needles that are a size larger or smaller than the recommended one.

Gauge or Tension

This is the number of rows and stitches there are per knitted inch. It will vary with the yarn weight, size of your knitting needles, and how tight or loose your knitting is. Sometimes gauge is not a big issue. If your project is a little smaller or larger than recommended it won’t disturb anything. However, if you’re knitting an item of clothing that won’t fit correctly if the size is off, gauge becomes more important. It is always recommended that you knit a test swatch to see if your knitting is correct for the gauge. That way you can make any needed adjustments.

Next follow the actual knitting instructions. Here are some common abbreviations you may see:

K – knit
P – purl
st(s) – stitch (es)
CO – cast on
BO – bind off
YO – yarn over
tog – together
sl – slip
inc – increase
dec – decrease
ssk – slip, slip, knit

Of course, there are many more terms you may come across but these are some of the basics. Although good pattern books will have diagrams and explanations of the knitting techniques used in their patterns, it’s always a good idea to have your own book of basic knitting instructions. That way you’ll be able to find whatever you need when you come across it.