TBL stands for through the back loop. It is a knitting instruction directing the knitter to insert the needle into the back leg of the stitch rather than the front. This twists the stitch, tightening the fabric and creating a distinct, raised texture often used in ribbing or decorative patterns.
Heard on the job
I need to knit one TBL on every right side row to get that twisted rib effect.
Insider tip
Knitting TBL can inadvertently happen if a knitter mounts their stitches backward and tries to knit them normally, resulting in an accidentally twisted fabric.