You might think of knitting as adding more stitches to a project, but sometimes you need to reduce and merge the number of stitches in a row. This is known as decreasing.
More and more people are learning to knit, with some even taking knitting holidays in Iceland to try to improve their craft Decreasing is one part of being a successful knitter.
Slipping stitches
Usually, slip stitches are used when decreasing. A stitch is moved from the left to the right needle by inserting the right needle and sliding the stitch across. You can do this with super chunky yarn from a craft specialist such as https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/super-chunky-yarn.
Mirrored decreases
Decreases in knitting often come in pairs. If you shape one end of the row with a right-leaning decrease, you shape the other end with its left-leaning mirror.
Right-leaning decreases
The main right-leaning decreases are knit two together (K2tog) and purl two together (P2tog). K2tog is the most common and involves inserting the needle into both the first and second stitch (as if preparing to knit), twisting the yarn counterclockwise around that needle, and pulling through the new stitch. The stitches can then be removed from the needle on the left. Knit, slip, and pass a stitch over (KSP) is a rarer version.
For P2tog, insert the right needle into the first and second stitch as though preparing to purl. Once you have created a purl stitch, pull it through the left needle’s stitches. The other two stitches should drop.
Left-leaning decreases
Slip, slip, knit (SSK) is the left-leaning mirror of K2tog. Two stitches are slipped knitwise, then knitted together with the left needle through the back loop/legs. Knit, slip, pass a stitch over (KSP) is an SSK alternative. Slip, slip, purl (SSP) mirrors P2tog. After two knitwise slip stitches in a row, you return the stitches to the needle on the left, insert the right needle into the back loops and create a purl stitch before dropping the two stitches.
Decreasing is an important knitting technique. Mastering it will allow you to create a greater range of projects.