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pu: Pick up and knit
Insert the needle into the edge of the fabric, wrap the yarn and pull up a loop. This is one of the building-block stitches. Patterns assume you can work it without thinking, and most other abbreviations are built from it.
How to work pu
Insert the needle into the edge of the fabric, wrap the yarn and pull up a loop. Repeat evenly along the edge to add stitches for a border or button band.
Common mistake
Picking up too few stitches, which makes the border pull in. Use the ratio the pattern recommends.
Effect on your stitch count
It does not change the stitch count by itself.
How it looks in a pattern
A typical line (an invented example for illustration):
Row 3 (RS): K2, pu, repeat to end of row.Related abbreviations
All terms are in the knitting abbreviations list, and in the app's Glossary, which works offline.
Frequently asked questions
What does pu stand for?
pu stands for pick up and knit.
Does pu change the number of stitches?
It does not change the stitch count by itself.