Mastering the Art of Knitting: How to Perfectly Decrease Stitches

Knitting is a beloved craft that allows for endless creativity and relaxation. However, as you dive deeper into the world of knitting, you may come across unfamiliar terms and techniques that can feel intimidating. One such technique is the decrease stitch, which is essential in shaping and creating intricate designs in your knitting projects. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter looking to refresh your skills, learning how to knit a decrease can take your creations to the next level. In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide on how to knit a decrease, breaking down the process step by step. So grab your needles and let’s get started on mastering this essential knitting skill!

Introduction

Knitting is a popular handicraft that has been practiced for hundreds of years. It involves using yarn and needles to create beautiful and functional items such as scarves, hats, and blankets. As you progress in your knitting journey, you will learn various techniques to make your projects more unique and interesting. One essential technique that every knitter should know is how to decrease stitches. This skill allows you to shape your knitting by reducing the number of stitches on your needles, creating a tapered or curved effect in your work. In this guide, we will delve into the details of how to knit a decrease and the different methods you can use to achieve this.

What is a Decrease Stitch?

Decrease stitches are knitting techniques that reduce the number of stitches on your needles while creating a specific pattern or shape in your knitting. They are often used in conjunction with increase stitches to shape garments or create intricate patterns such as lacework. Decreases can be made at various points within a row, depending on the desired effect.

Why Learn How to Decrease?

Learning how to decrease is an essential skill for any knitter as it allows you to create more complex designs and shapes in your knitting. Decreases can also be used when following patterns and instructions for specific projects. For instance, if you’re making a hat or socks, decreases are necessary at the crown or toe areas respectively.

Decreases also make it possible to shape garments by creating curves that follow the natural contours of the body. This technique is particularly useful when knitting sweaters or other garments that require shaping around the bust or waist areas.

Different Types of Decreases

There are several ways to decrease stitches in knitting, each with its own unique effect on the appearance of your work. Some decreases are worked over one stitch, while others may span over two or three stitches. Additionally, decreases can be classified as left-leaning, right-leaning, or centered decreases.

Some common types of single-stitch decreases include:

– Knit 2 together (K2tog): This decrease is achieved by knitting two stitches together as if they were one.
– Slip Slip Knit (SSK): This decrease is a left-leaning decrease that is worked by slipping two stitches individually onto the right needle, knitting them together through the back loops.
– Knit front and back (KFB): This type of increase creates an extra stitch while also decreasing the number of stitches on your needles.

Other types of decreases that span over multiple stitches include:

– Double decrease: This type of decrease reduces three stitches down to one and is commonly used in lace patterns to create decorative motifs.
– Central Double Decrease: Also known as slip slip knit knit (sskk), this decrease involves slipping two stitches and knitting the next two together through their back loops.
– Left and Right Slanting Decreases: These are double decreases that create either left or right-leaning slants on your work.

How to Knit a Decrease

There are various methods you can use to knit a decrease stitch, depending on the type of decrease and its position within a row. However, some general tips can help you achieve clean and consistent decreases:

1. Reduce tension: When working on a decrease stitch, it’s essential to keep your tension slightly looser than usual. This will help prevent your work from puckering or becoming too tight at the decrease area.

2. Use stitch markers: If you’re working on a project that requires multiple decrease stitches, using stitch markers can help you keep track of where you need to make decreases as well as maintain proper symmetry in your work.

3. Practice makes perfect: As with any skill, mastering how to knit a decrease takes practice. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts don’t turn out exactly as you’d like. With time, your decreases will become neater and more consistent.

Single Stitch Decreases

As mentioned earlier, single-stitch decreases involve reducing two stitches down to one. These are the most commonly used decreases in knitting and are perfect for shaping.

To knit a K2tog decrease:

1. Insert your right needle into the next two stitches on your left needle as if you were going to knit them separately.

2. Wrap the yarn around the tip of your right needle and pull it through both stitches at once.

3. Slip the original stitches off the left needle, and you will have achieved a decrease.

To work an SSK decrease:

1. Slip the first stitch from your left needle onto your right needle without working it.

2. Repeat this process with the next stitch, slipping it onto your right needle as well.

3. Insert the tip of your left needle into the front loops of these two slipped stitches from the back of your work.

4. Knit these two stitches together, resulting in a decrease.

To make a KFB (knit front and back) decrease:

1. Knit into the front loop of a stitch on your left needle as

Understanding Decreases in Knitting

Decreases are an essential technique in knitting that involves reducing the number of stitches on your needles. Decreases come in handy when knitting patterns with a shaped edge, such as a neckline or a sleeve. They create evenly spaced decreases, giving your knitted piece a professional and polished finish.

Commonly Used Decrease Techniques

There are various decrease techniques used in knitting, each with its unique purpose and result. However, three main techniques are commonly used – knit two stitches together (k2tog), slip slip knit (ssk), and purl two stitches together (p2tog). Let’s take a closer look at each of these techniques.

– Knit Two Stitches Together (k2tog)

This is the most commonly used decrease technique in knitting. It is often used when you want to decrease the number of stitches on your right-hand needle by one stitch. To execute this technique, you simply insert the tip of your right-hand needle into two consecutive stitches on the left-hand needle and knit them as one stitch. This creates a neat right-leaning decrease.

– Slip Slip Knit (ssk)

The slip slip knit technique is another decrease method that creates a left-leaning decrease. It involves slipping two stitches separately from the left-hand needle onto the right-hand needle, then inserting the tip of the left-hand needle into both slipped stitches from the back and knitting them through the back loop.

– Purl Two Stitches Together (p2tog)

Purl two stitches together is similar to knit two stitches together, except it is used when purling instead of knitting. To execute this technique, you insert your right-hand needle into two consecutive stitches on your left-hand needle, bringing the yarn to the front of your work before purling them together as one stitch.

Creating Different Types of Decreases

Now that you’re familiar with the three main decrease techniques, it’s time to learn how to use them to create different types of decreases. These include single decreases, double decreases, and decorative decreases.

– Single Decreases

Single decreases are used when you want to decrease the number of stitches by one in a single row. This can be done using any of the three techniques mentioned above – k2tog, ssk, or p2tog. For example, if a pattern instructs you to “k1, k2tog”, this means that you knit one stitch and then use the k2tog technique on the next two stitches.

– Double Decreases

Double decreases, also known as double-eliminations or triple slanters, are used when you want to decrease two stitches in a single row. They involve working two decreases in one row or round. An example of a double decrease is “ssk, k1” or “p1, p2tog”.

– Decorative Decreases

Decorative decreases are used for intricate patterns in knitting and add an element of interest to your work. They mainly involve combining simple decrease techniques creatively to achieve unique shapes and designs. Examples include left twist (LT), right twist (RT), central double decrease (CDD), and skp (slip 1 knitwise, knit 1).

Tips for Knitting Decreases Perfectly

– Always count your stitches after every decrease row or round to ensure accuracy.
– Use stitch markers to mark where your decrease stitches should be placed.
– Practice makes perfect – don’t be discouraged if your first few attempts don’t turn out perfectly.
– Experiment with different types of yarn and needle sizes for different looks.
– If you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to tink (undo) your stitches and start over.

Decreases are an essential technique in knitting that every knitter should master. They add shape and texture to your work, making it look more professional and polished. With the knowledge of various decrease techniques and how to use them, you can confidently tackle any knitting project that requires shaping. With practice, you’ll be able to create beautiful and even decrease lines in your knitted pieces effortlessly. So go ahead and give these techniques a try – happy knitting!

Q: What is a decrease in knitting?
A: A decrease in knitting is a technique used to create shaping within a knitted piece by decreasing the number of stitches in a row or round.

Q: When should I use decreases in my knitting?
A: Decreases are often used in knitting patterns to create shaping for garments such as hats, sweaters, and socks. They can also be used for decorative purposes or to create interesting stitch patterns.

Q: How do I knit a basic decrease?
A: To knit a basic decrease, insert the needle into the next two stitches on the left needle as if you were going to knit them together, but instead of knitting them, simply slide them off the left needle. This will create one decreased stitch.

Q: What does it mean to “knit 2 together” when decreasing?
A: To “knit 2 together” (k2tog) means to insert the needle into two stitches at once and knit them together as one stitch. This creates a decrease and is commonly used in knitting patterns.

Q: What is the difference between a left-leaning and right-leaning decrease?
A: A left-leaning decrease is created by slipping the left-hand stitch over the right-hand stitch on the needle, while a right-leaning decrease is created by slipping the right-hand stitch over the left-hand stitch on the needle. This creates a slight twist in the fabric of your knitted piece.

Q: Can decreases be used in lace knitting?
A: Yes, decreases can be used in lace knitting to create intricately patterned designs. However, it’s important to follow your specific pattern instructions as there are various methods for decreasing in lace knitting.

In conclusion, knowing how to decrease while knitting is an essential skill for any aspiring knitter. It allows for more advanced and intricate patterns to be created, while also giving a more polished and professional look to the finished product.

Firstly, understanding the concept of decreasing and how it affects the overall shape and structure of a knitted project is crucial. By decreasing stitches, one can create curves, angles, and shapes that add dimension and interest to their knitting.

Next, there are various methods of decreasing in knitting, such as k2tog (knit two together), ssk (slip slip knit), and p2tog (purl two together). Each method has its own unique effect on the appearance of the decrease, making it important for knitters to experiment and find the method that best suits their project.

Proper execution of decreases is also essential for achieving a smooth and even result. Paying attention to tension and counting stitches accurately are key factors in achieving this. It may also be helpful to use stitch markers or draw out a decrease chart before beginning a project.

Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that decreases should be evenly spaced throughout a project in order to maintain balance in the design. This can be achieved by calculating the number of rows between each

Author Profile

Jill Nammar

My name is Jill but everyone calls me Jilly. I design original cross stitch patterns inspired by vintage French and flowers. Roses are my muse.
I hope you have a cozy time stitching my patterns. Put the kettle on, relax and create a heartwarming piece of hand-embroidered art. Personalize your home and turn up the soulful charm with soulful stitchery.

My goal is to provide you with pretty patterns that promote peaceful stitching. My wish is for you to discover the gentle beauty of hand-embroidery.My patterns have been featured around the web and in Homespun Magazine and Boston Magazine. I find my bliss in cross stitch.

From 2024, I have embarked on a new venture—writing an informative blog on the “Embroidery and Cross-Stitch” niche. This blog is an extension of my passion, where I share detailed posts and respond to queries related to embroidery and cross-stitching.

The blog covers a wide range of topics from beginner tips, pattern creation, historical insights, and the therapeutic benefits of stitching. My goal is to build a community where enthusiasts can learn, share, and grow in their embroidery skills, ensuring everyone can find their own bliss in cross-stitch just as I did.

Thank you to all my customers and readers who have supported Sew French. Your kind emails, photos of completed patterns, and continual encouragement fuel my dedication to this beautiful craft. Join me in stitching a world of beauty and peace, one pattern at a time.