st(s) — Stitch (Abbreviation)

st(s) is shorthand for "stitch" or "stitches" — a generic stand-in term used whenever an instruction refers to stitches in general, rather than specifying which particular stitch type to work. It shows up constantly across both knit and crochet patterns, in phrases like "work even for 10 sts" or "50 sts remain."

Generic stand-in versus a specific stitch abbreviation

The key thing st(s) is not: it never tells you what stitch to actually make. "k5" tells you to knit 5 stitches; "5 sts" just tells you a count exists, leaving the specific action to whatever surrounding instruction applies. Confusing the two — treating "sts" as an instruction to work a particular stitch — is a real, if uncommon, misreading worth watching for, especially skimming a dense pattern quickly.

Where it shows up

Stitch counts at the end of a row or round ("...to end — 84 sts"), instructions to work a stated number of stitches in an unspecified pattern ("work 6 sts in established rib"), and general references to the fabric's structure ("pick up 1 st for every row"). The parenthetical (s) simply signals the word can be singular or plural depending on the actual count.

Why tracking st(s) counts matters more than it seems

A pattern's stated stitch count after a shaping row (an increase, a decrease, a cast-on) is one of the most reliable ways to catch a mistake early — if your own count doesn't match the pattern's stated "sts" total, something in the preceding instructions was likely miscounted, and it's almost always faster to find and fix that now than several rows later.

Related abbreviations

• rep — repeat, often paired with a stitch count ("rep 4 sts")
• inc / dec — increase and decrease, the actions that most often change a stated stitch count

FAQ

Is st(s) used the same way in both knitting and crochet patterns? Yes — it's a shared, craft-neutral abbreviation for stitch count in both, unlike many other abbreviations (sc, dc, k, p) that are specific to one craft or the other.

Does a pattern always state the expected stitch count after a shaping row? Most well-written patterns do, specifically so you can verify your work — but not universally; if a pattern omits it, counting your own stitches manually before continuing is worth the extra minute.