for combination knitters: Double decreases
Or any other knitters whose stitches often sit like this on the needle:
All the stitches here assume three stitches sitting on your needle like this:
I’m going to put them in the same order as my previous post, but with different names. Be wary! If you’re looking at a pattern you got from someone else, you need to pay attention to the definitions used. Charts will be easiest to figure out, since you’ll see which way things are supposed to lean.
Simple right-leaning double decrease
(equivalent of k3tog)
Not so simple as in the previous post. Slip each of the three stitches as if to purl.
I usually then slip the three back to my inactive needle all at once
then knit three together.
If you can knit “backwards”, don’t slip them back to the inactive needle; just knit them together from there.
This pulls the three stitches together in a right-leaning decrease.
Simple left-leaning double decrease
(equivalent to SSSK)
Now, this one has fewer steps. This is the one where you can just insert the needle through three stitches
and knit them together to produce a left-leaning decrease.
Centered double decrease
Slip one as if to purl.
Slip each of the next two knitwise.
Insert your inactive needle through the front of the last two stitches at the same time
and remove your active needle. Slip the first slipped stitch back to the inactive needle in its current orientation
and knit the three stitches together.
This produces a decrease with the middle stitch in front, the first stitch in back, and the third stitch sandwiched between them. This is a mirror of the one from the other post, but it doesn’t matter; the difference is hard to see from the front.
Left leaning double decrease, flattened
(equivalent to sk2p)
This is a left-leaning decrease in which the second stitch ends up at the back. Instead of making the stitches fan out, they sit a little flatter, with the middle stitch framed by the other two.
First, slip the first stitch knitwise.
I’m going to describe two ways to do the next part. One is a bit fiddly, but not inherently hard. The other has more steps. The goal is to make the next two stitches swap places, with the third ending up in front of the second.
Slightly fiddly method:
Insert the needle into the front of the last stitch, bring it forward between the two stitches, then insert it into the front of the other stitch.
Slide both stitches onto the active needle.
Insert the inactive needle into all three stitches, starting with the first slipped stitch,
and knit them all together.
Method with more steps:
Slip each of the next two stitches purlwise.
Insert the inactive needle through the last two stitches from the back,
And slip them back together. Slip the first stitch back
And knit three together.
This produces a decrease with the second stitch in back, the third stitch in front, and the first stitch sandwiched between.
Right-leaning double decrease, flattened
(equivalent to what I call DSD)
This is a right-leaning decrease in which the second stitch ends up at the back. Instead of making the stitches fan out, they sit a little flatter, with the middle stitch framed by the other two.
Slip each of the first two stitches knitwise.
Slip the third purlwise.
Slip the third stitch back to the inactive needle in its current orientation. Insert your inactive needle through the front of the last two stitches at the same time
and remove your active needle.
Knit the three stitches together.
This produces a decrease with the second stitch in back, the first stitch in front, and the third stitch sandwiched between.
And there you have it!
(My very different double decrease-that-isn’t will be coming next week. Stay tuned!)
Reblogged this on Nu-Red and commented:
Fantastic tutorial….ndefinately worth having a look at!
Thank you! It’s important to remember, though, that this particular post is aimed at a subset of US & European knitters who use an unusual method of knitting (combination knitting).
Most people will be better off following the instructions in this post: http://wp.me/p1JsYW-9W
Thanks again!
Omg THANK YOU for this!!!
I’m glad it helps! ?
Yay! Ive been searching for these answers.
Going to need to try these decreases out myself and practice!
Some people say knit through front loop after slipping them back and forth, which is a pain for me regardless of stitch mounting (hence knitting and purling through the back loop)
Is this necessary or can i get away with slipping them and then knitting the way i do? As all i can think of without experimenting is that this would result in a tight twisted stitch, rather than a stitch of alternate appearance to the surrounding ones, after being worked.
If you don’t mind the extra twist, you should do what makes you happy.
My only rules about knitting are that if you’re happy with the results and you’re not injuring yourself, you’re doing it right. To my mind, it’s good to understand what’s happening enough that the results are what you choose.
I’m glad this post was helpful to you!