Reading patterns
What does this pattern mean? Abbreviations, repeats and pattern layouts, made plain.
Guides
What Is Gauge in Knitting and Why Does It Matter?
Gauge is how many stitches and rows fit into a set measurement, usually 10 cm (4 in). Match the pattern's gauge and your piece comes out the size it says.
What Does Rep Mean in a Knitting Pattern?
Rep means repeat: do the same steps again the number of times the pattern states. It can repeat whole rows ("Rep Rows 1 and 2") or a group of stitches inside one row ("rep from *").
What Do Asterisks and Brackets Mean in a Knitting Pattern?
An asterisk marks the start of a sequence you repeat, and the words after it say how far. Brackets repeat a group a set number of times: [k2, p2] 3 times.
How to Read a Knitting Pattern, From Materials to Repeats
Read a knitting pattern from the top: materials and gauge, then your size, then the abbreviation key, then the rows. Repeats sit between asterisks or brackets.