Decreasing Stitches

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Another basic knitting technique that you will have to learn is decreasing stitches.

Stitches are decreased in knitting by making one stitches out of two or more to decrease the total number of stitches on the right hand needle. In some patterns, you might also see this basic knitting technique being called knit two together.

It is unlikely that you will need to use this technique if you have chosen an easy pattern or one rated for a beginner, but as you begin to tackle intermediate knitting projects like lace and some arans, you will definitely need to know how to do it.

Push the right hand needle through the front of the first two stitches on the left hand needle in the same way you would to knit a single stitch.

Wind the yarn behind, under and over the right hand needle.

With the right hand needle draw the loop through to the front of the stitch on the left hand needle to form your new stitch. Slip the old stitch off the left hand needle.

When you have completed the decrease your work should look similar to the diagram on the left.

For a printable PDF copy of the Knit Two Together Tutorial just click on this link.

Would you like to actually see how to decrease stitches?

Check out this video demonstration! If you want a smooth viewing experience, I suggest that you hit the pause button for a while so that it fully loads before you watch it.