Knitting abbreviation help - what's a steek, and what do the letters stand for?

Answer 1

Steek is not an acronym or abbreviation, it's a term. In knitting, steeking is the act of cutting a finished object -- for example, knitting a pullover sweater in the round (no purling!) and then cutting the front to turn it into a cardigan. First you have to sew on either side of where you're going to cut. Otherwise, your knitting will unravel.

More info:
http://wendyknits.net/archives/890
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/FEATsteeks.html
http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/01/steeking_chronicles_the_should.html

Crochet steeks (if you don't have a sewing machine):
http://www.exit109.com/~lsyoung/knitting/Crochet_Steeks/crochet_steeks.html

Here's a free pattern for a cardigan that's knit in the round & then steeked: http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id44.html

Answer 2

I think you might have stumbled on a pattern in a different language.
The Dutch word 'steek' means stitch.

It is hard to translate each letter, but if you can put the ones in this pattern here I will try.
(Maybe there are more languages that use 'steek')
Knit=recht=r
Purl=averechts=a or ar.
I found a link that gives explanations and also a short translation into English for the most used letters:
http://www.dehandwerksite.nl/index.php?tab=breien&stab=breien&p=Uitleg%20afkortingen

Answer 3

The magazine, Interweave Knits focused on steeking in one or two of their recent issues and they had great information in them about steeking. I think their web address is www.interweaveknits.com.