Decreases
K2tog – Knit 2 Together
The Knit 2 Together is a basic, right-leaning decrease. It decreases two stitches into one. It is the mirror image of the SSK.
K2tog - Knit 2 Together
To Do the K2TOG – Knit 2 Together:
- With yarn in back, insert your right-hand needle from front to back through the first two stitches on your left needle.
- Knit the two stitches together as if they were one.
SSK – Slip, Slip, Knit
Slip, Slip, Knit is an easy decrease that is good for beginners. It leans to the left in a mirror image of a k2tog.
The Slip, Slip, Knit decreases your stitch count by one stitch. It turns two stitches into one.
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To Do the SSK – Slip, Slip, Knit:
Slip 1, slip 1, knit 2 slipped sts together.
- Insert the right-hand needle from front to back (knitwise) into the first stitch on the left-hand needle. Slip the stitch to the right-hand needle without knitting.
- Repeat step 1 with the next stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Insert the left-hand needle from front to back into the two stitches on the right hand needle. Knit the two stitches together as if they were one.
SKP – Slip, Knit, Pass
The Slip, Knit, Pass is left-leaning decrease that is almost identical to the SSK. Reduces the stitch count by 1.
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To Do the SKP – Slip, Knit, Pass:
Slip 1, knit 1, psso:
- With yarn in back, slip 1. Always slip the stitch purlwise.
- Knit the next stitch.
- Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the stitch you just slipped to the right-hand needle and pass it over the stitch you just knitted.
S2KP/CDD – Slip 2, Knit, Pass/Centered Double Decrease
This reduces the number of stitches by two and is neatly centered (no leaning at all). One of my personal favorites.
Also called: Centered Double Decrease
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To Do the S2KP (Slip 2, Knit, Pass):
Slip 2, knit 1, psso:
- With yarn in back, insert your right-hand needle from front to back through the first two stitches on your left needle. Let both stitches slip off onto the right-hand needle.
- Knit the next stitch.
- Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the 2 stitches you just slipped to the right-hand needle and pass them over the stitch you just knitted.
More Info:
Also called a “centered double decrease (CDD),” this decrease is symmetrical. Reduces 3 stitches into 1.
P2tog – Purl 2 Together
This is a right-leaning decrease that reduces the number of stitches on your needle by 1.
The purl 2 together is identical to the knit 2 together, only it’s used on the purl side (usually the WS) of the fabric. Doing a p2tog on the purl side will result in a k2tog on the knit side.
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To Do the P2TOG – Purl 2 Together:
- With yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle from back to front through the first two stitches on your left needle.
- Purl the two stitches together as if they were one.
More Info:
If you turn your work around, you’ll see a k2tog on the other side.
K2togtbl – Knit 2 Together Through the Back Loops
An easy way to do a left-leaning decrease, this technique creates a twisted stitch, so only use it if that’s what you want.
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To Do the K2TOGTBL – Knit 2 Together Through the Back Loops:
- Insert the right-hand needle through the back loops of the first 2 sts on the left-hand needle.
- Knit these 2 sts together as if they were one.
