If you want to shape a piece of knitting, you will need to increase or decrease the number of stitches on the needle. This will make the piece of knitting wider (increase) or narrower (decrease).
Most patterns use the abbreviation “Inc” for increases, and “Dec” for decreases. However, the pattern should also tell you what type of increase or decrease to use, as there are several different methods. Some are (almost) invisible, and others can be decorative.
This tutorial is for the simplest decrease stitch, “knit two together”. In most patterns, this is abbreviated as K2TOG.
STEP 1 - Your pattern will tell you where the decrease will be, so you would knit to the point of the decrease. In this example, I have cast on 12 stitches and knitted 3 rows in stockinette stitch (or stocking stitch). On the next knit row, I have knit the first stitch on the left needle, and I am going to knit the next two stitches together.
Insert the right-hand needle through the next two stitches on the left needle. Insert the needle from front to back as if you were knitting a normal stitch.
K2TOG - Step 1 - insert the right needle into the next 2 stitches on the left needle from front to back
STEP 2 – Pass the yarn under and around the tip of the right needle (as you would when knitting a stitch).
K2TOG - Step 2 - wrap the yarn around the tip of the right needle as if to knit
STEP 3 – Pull the new loop on the right-hand needle through the two stitches on the left-hand needle.
K2TOG - Step 3 - Pull the new loop on the right-hand needle through the two stitches on the left-hand needle
STEP 4 – Slip the two stitches off the left-hand needle, and the decrease is completed.
K2TOG - Step 4 - slip the two stitches off the left needle
Remember, I had cast on 12 stitches when I started knitting. After the decrease, there are 11 stitches (two on the right needle and nine on the left needle). So the K2TOG has decreased the number of stitches by one stitch.
I have continued to decrease at the beginning of each knit row in my sample, and you can see that the edge is sloping where the decreases have been made (on the right hand side of the picture).
The finished decreases
If you are learning to knit, you may find it helpful to knit your own test pieces to try out this technique before starting your project.
I hope this tutorial is helpful, and happy knitting!
love your site and info here. Thanks very much for the information decreasing.
thank you so much for posting this–i got here through pinterest and your tutorials have helped me so much!