Knitted lace incorporates two simple knitting techniques: a yarn over (which is an increase that creates a small hole) and a decrease. There are many different symbols used in lace patterns, each with their own unique meaning and significance.
Here are some of the most common symbols used in lace patterns
| Symbol | Abb | Explanation |
| Co | Cast on | |
| Bo | Bind off | |
| M | Place marker | |
| Sm | Slip marker | |
| Move marker left | ||
| Move marker right | ||
| Short row right | ||
| Short row left | ||
| B | Bobble/ Make |
| K |
Knit | |
| P | Purl | |
| K tbl |
Knit through the back loop | |
| P tbl | Purl through the back loop | |
| M1 | Make one stitch | |
| M1p | Make one purlwise | |
| M1l | Make one left | |
| M1r | Make one right | |
| M1lp | Make one purlwise left leaning | |
| M1rp | Make one purlwise right leaning |
| Yo | Yarn over | |
| Yo x2 | Yarn over twice | |
| Yo x3 | Yarn over three times | |
| Yo x4 | Yarn over four times | |
| Yo x5 | Yarn over five times | |
| Yo x6 | Yarn over six times | |
| Yo x5 | Yarn over five times | |
| Yo x6 | Yarn over six times |
| incto2 | - (knit 1, purl 1) in one stitch - (purl 1, knit 1) in one stitch |
|
| incto2 | - (knit 1, purl 1) in one stitch - (purl 1, knit 1) in one stitch |
|
| incto3 | Increase 1 to 3 | |
| incto3 | Increase 1 to 3 | |
| incto4 | Increase 1 to 4 | |
| incto5 | Increase 1 to 5 | |
| incto6 | Increase 1 to 6 | |
| incto7 | Increase 1 to 7 | |
| incto8 | Increase 1 to 8 |
| Ssk | Slip slip knit | |
| K2tog | Knit two stitches together | |
| Twisted ssk | Twisted slip slip knit | |
| Twisted k2tog | Twisted knit two stitches together | |
| Ssp | Slip slip purl | |
| P2tog | Purl two stitches together | |
| Sssk Sk2p |
Slip slip slip knit Slip stitch, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over |
|
| K3tog | Knit three stitches together | |
| Sssp | Slip slip slip purl | |
| P3tog | Purl three stitches together | |
| S2kp | Slip two stitches knitwise, knit one, pass slipped stitches over |
| sl2 p1 p2sso | Slip 2 purl 1 pass 2 slipped stitches over | |
| K4tog | Knit 4 together | |
| K5tog | Knit 5 together | |
| K6tog | Knit 6 together | |
| K7tog | Knit 7 together |
| 2-2 | 2 into 2 gathered | |
| 3-3 | 3 into 3 gathered | |
| 5-5 | 5 into 5 gathered | |
| 2-6 | 2 into 6 gathered | |
| 5-7 | 5 into 7 gathered | |
| 7-3 | 7 into 3 gathered |
| 2-2 tbl | 2 into 2 gathered through the back loop | |
| 3-2 tbl | 3 into 2 gathered through the back loop | |
| 3-3 tbl | 3 into 3 gathered through the back loop | |
| 3-4 tbl | 3 into 4 gathered through the back loop | |
| 5-2 tbl | 5 into 2 gathered through the back loop | |
| 3-5 tbl | 3 into 5 gathered through the back loop | |
| 5-3 tbl | 5 into 3 gathered through the back loop | |
| 5-7 tbl | 5 into 7 gathered through the back loop |
If you're looking to elevate your knitting expertise and learn other techniques, these resources may be helpful to study:
Note: Different patterns may use different symbols, so it's important to read the key or legend that accompanies each pattern to understand what each symbol means. - Knitting Abbreviations
- Basic Symbols
- Cabel Symbols
- Brioche Symbols
- Advanced Symbols
