Several ways to decrease two stitches at a time. We will show you 13 different methods. This way, you can try them all out and see which one you like best and which is most suitable for your project.
There are detailed written instructions and step-by-step photo tutorial for new knitters. If you already know basic stitches such as knit, purl, k2tog (knit two together), p2tog (purl two together), slip stitch knitwise, and slip stitch purlwise, just read the quick steps to execute these methods.
Vertical Double Decreases
Centered Double Decrease, abbreviated as CDD, is not the name of a specific technique — it is a descriptive term that refers to any decrease where two stitches are decreased and the center stitch remains on top.
The most common way to work a CDD is: slip two stitches together knitwise, knit one, then pass the slipped stitches over the knit stitch, abbreviated as S2KP.
Therefore, S2KP and CDD are names that are often used interchangeably to refer to the same technique or its result.
Take your yarn and needles — it's time to start trying it out.
Slip 2, Knit 1, Pass slipped stitch over
Abbreviation: S2KP
Worked: Knitwise
Slant: Center
Quick steps
Slip two stitches knitwise together. Knit the next stitch. Use the tip of LH needle to lift up the slipped stitches and pass them over the stitch you just knitted and off the RH needle.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in back, insert the RH needle knitwise into the first two stitches on the LH needle then slip both stitches onto the RH needle at once.
- Step 2: Knit the next stitch.
- Step 3: Insert the LH needle into the front of the two slipped stitches on the RH needle.
- Step 4: Pass the two stitches over the stitch you just knitted off the RH needle.
3 Methods to Work Centered Double Decrease Purlwise
Centered double decreases worked on the wrong side are quite rare, as most are worked on the right side of the fabric.
S2PP and SSP3tog are two methods that involve different steps, but they yield the same result. These methods are often worked in combination with S2KP.
Slip 2, Purl 1, Pass slipped stitch over
Abbreviation: S2PP
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Center
Quick Steps
Slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, to the RH needle. Return the two stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from left to right and withdrawing the RH needle. Slip two stitches purlwise through the back loops of these stitches. Purl one stitch. Use the tip of LH needle to lift up the slipped stitches and pass them over the stitch you just knitted and off the RH needle.Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle knitwise into the first stitch on the LH needle, then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Repeat the same step with the second stitch.
- Step 3: Insert the LH needle into the front of the two slipped stitches on the RH needle from left to right, then slip all stitches onto the LH needle.
- Step 4: Insert the RH needle purlwise into the two stitches on the LH needle through the back loops, then slip them to the RH needle. This means inserting the RH needle from left to right into the back of the two stitches—through their back loops.
- Step 5: Purl one stitch.
- Step 6: Insert the LH needle into the back of the two slipped stitches on the RH needle.
- Step 7: Pass the 2nd and 3rd stitches over the first stitch off the RH needle.
Slip Slip, Purl 3 Together
Abbreviation: SSP3TOG
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Center
Quick Steps
Slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, to the RH needle. Return the 2 slipped stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from right to left and withdrawing the RH needle. Finally, purl 3 stitches together.Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle knitwise into the first stitch on the LH needle then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Repeat the same step with the second stitch.
- Step 3: Insert the LH needle into the front of two slipped stitches on the RH needle from right to left, then slip all stitches onto the LH needle.
- Step 4: Insert the RH needle purlwise into the first three stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 6: Pull the new stitch through three stitches.
- Step 7: Drop these stitches off the LH needle.
Centered Double Decrease Purlwise
Abbreviation: CDDp
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Center
Quick steps
Slip one stitch knitwise, then slip two stitches knitwise together. Return the 3 slipped stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from right to left and withdrawing the RH needle, and finally, purl 3 stitches together.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Writtern Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle knitwise into the next stitch on the LH needle then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the next two stitches on the LH needle then slip both stitches onto the RH needle at once.
- Step 3: Insert the LH needle into the front of three slipped stitches on the RH needle from right to left, then slip all stitches onto the LH needle at once.
- Step 4: Insert the RH needle purlwise into the first three stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 6: Pull the new stitch through three stitches.
- Step 7: Drop these stitches off the LH needle.
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Left and Right Double Decreases
Basic Double Decreases
These are basic methods that remove two stitches at once, making all of them slant to the left or right in a consistent way. The steps are simple and easy to follow.
To decrease two stitches knitwise, use K3tog and SSSK, which are similar to the single decrease methods K2tog and SSK. For purlwise decreases, use P3tog and SSSP in a similar manner.
Once you master the single decreases, you'll find double decreases just as easy.
The decrease methods are often performed in pairs, producing symmetrical stitches that create mirror images of one another.
| Paired Single Decreases | |
|---|---|
| Knitwise | |
| Purlwise | |
| Paired Double Decreases | |
|---|---|
| Knitwise | |
| Purlwise | |
Below are detailed step-by-step instructions for Four Basic Double Decreases, ensuring that even if you are a new knitter, you can work them accurately.
Slip Slip Slip Knit
Abbreviation: SSSK
Worked: Knitwise
Slant: Left
Quick steps
Slip three stitches knitwise, one at a time, to the RH needle. Then slide the LH needle into these three stitches from left to right and knit them together through the back loops.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in back, insert the RH needle knitwise into the next stitch on the LH needle then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Repeat the same step with the second stitch.
- Step 3: Repeat the same step with the third stitch.
- Step 4: Insert the LH needle into the front of three slipped stitches on the RH needle from left to right.
- Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 6: Pull the new stitch through all three stitches.
- Step 7: Drop three stitches off the LH needle.
Knit 3 Together
Abbreviation: K3TOG
Worked: Knitwise
Slant: Right
Quick Steps
Insert the RH needle knitwise into three stitches on the LH needle and knit them together.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the first three stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 2: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 3: Pull the new stitch through all three stitches.
- Step 4: Drop the three stitches off the LH needle.
Slip Slip Slip Purl
Abbreviation: SSSP
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Left
Quick steps
Slip three stitches knitwise, one at a time, to the RH needle. Return the three stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from left to right and withdrawing the RH needle. Purl them together through the back loops.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1:Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle knitwise into the next stitch on the LH needle then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2:Repeat the same step with the second stitch.
- Step 3:Repeat the same step with the third stitch.
- Step 4: Insert the LH needle through three stitches on the RH needle from left to right, slip them back to the LH needle.
- Step 5: Insert the RH needle through the back of three slipped stitches on the LH needle from left to right.
- Step 6: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 7: Pull the yarn through three stitches.
- Step 8: Drop these stitches off the LH needle.
Purl 3 Together
Abbreviation: P3TOG
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Right
Quick Steps
Insert the RH needle purlwise into 3 stitches and purl them together.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Writtern Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle purlwise into the first three stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 2: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 3: Pull the new stitch through three stitches.
- Step 4: Drop the three stitches off the LH needle.
Advanced Double Decreases
Advanced double decrease techniques aren't scary — they're just a bit more complex than the
basic double decrease techniques.
Most of the method names are acronyms that describe specific actions during the decrease process.
I don’t really like these names, so I'm open to any alternative suggestions you might have.
Note: Make sure to execute the slip stitch accurately — don’t mix up knitwise and purlwise.
Slip 1, Knit 2 Together, Pass Slipped Stitches over
Abbreviation: S2KP
Worked: Knitwise
Slant: Left
Quick steps for SK2P
Slip 1 stitch knitwise to the RH needle. Knit 2 stitches together. Use the tip of the LH needle to lift the slipped stitch and pass it over the stitch you just knitted.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in back, insert the RH needle knitwise into the next stitch on the LH needle then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the next two stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 3: Wrap the working yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 4: Pull a new stitch through the two stitches and drop these stitches off the LH needle.
- Step 5: Insert the LH needle into the front of the slipped stitch on the RH needle.
- Step 6: Pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knitted off the RH needle.
Slip 2, Slip 1, Purl 3 Together Through Back Loops
Abbreviation: S2SP-B
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Left
Quick Steps
Slip two stitches knitwise together. Slip one knitwise. Return the three stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from left to right and withdrawing the RH needle. Purl them together through the back loops.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle knitwise into the first two stitches on the LH needle then slip both stitches onto the RH needle at once.
- Step 2: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the next stitch on the LH needle, slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 3: Insert the LH needle into the front of three slipped stitches on the RH needle from left to right, then slip all stitches onto the LH needle at once.
- Step 5: Insert the RH needle into the back of three slipped stitches on the LH needle from left to right.
- Step 6: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 7: Pull the yarn through three stitches.
- Step 8: Drop these stitches off the LH needle.
Alternative Step 5: Insert the LH needle into the three stitches on the RH needle from right to left, slip them back to the LH needle. Then purl the three stitches together as usual.
Purl 2 Together, Slip 1, Pass Over
Abbreviation: P2SP
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Left
Quick steps for P2SP
Purl 2 stitches together. Slip one stitch knitwise to the RH needle. Return the 2 stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from left to right and withdrawing the RH needle. Use the tip of the RH needle to lift the second stitch and pass it over the first stitch off the LH needle. Finally, slip that stitch purlwise to the RH needle.Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle purlwise into the first two stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 2: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 3: Pull the new stitch through two stitches and drop them off the LH needle.
- Step 4: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the front of the first stitch on the LH needle, slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 5: Insert the LH needle into two stitches on the RH needle from left to right, slip them back to the LH needle.
- Step 6: Insert the RH needle purlwise into the second stitch on the LH needle.
- Step 7: Pass the second stitch over the first stitch off the LH needle.
- Step 8: Insert the RH needle purlwise into the first stitch on the LH needle, slip it onto the RH needle.
Slip Slip, Knit 3 Together
Abbreviation: SSK3TOG
Worked: Knitwise
Slant: Right
Quick Steps
Slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, to the RH needle. Return the two stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from right to left and withdrawing the RH needle. Knit three stitches together.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in back, insert the RH needle knitwise into the first stitch on the LH needle then slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Repeat the same step with the second stitch.
- Step 3: Insert the LH needle into the front of two slipped stitches on the RH needle from right to left, then slip all stitches onto the LH needle at once.
- Step 4: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the first three stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 6: Pull the new stitch through all three stitches.
- Step 7: Drop the three stitches off the LH needle.
Slip Slip Slip, Purl 3 Together
Abbreviation: SSSP3TOG
Worked: Purlwise
Slant: Right
Quick steps
Slip one stitch purlwise. Slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, to the RH needle. Return the 2 stitches to the LH needle by inserting the LH needle from right to left and withdrawing the RH needle. Then, slip one stitch back to the LH needle without changing the orientation. Finally, purl 3 stitches together.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Detailed Written Instructions
- Step 1: Hold the yarn in front, insert the RH needle purlwise into the first stitch on the LH needle, slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 2: Insert the RH needle knitwise into the next stitch on the LH needle, slip it onto the RH needle.
- Step 3: Repeat step 2 with the third stitch.
- Step 4: Insert the LH needle into the front of two stitches on the RH needle from right to left, slip them back to LH needle at once.
- Step 5: Insert the LH needle into the next stitch on the RH needle from left to right, slip one stitch back to the LH needle.
- Step 6: Insert the RH needle purlwise into the three stitches on the LH needle.
- Step 7: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the RH needle.
- Step 8: Pull the new stitch through three stitches.
- Step 9: Drop these stitches off the LH needle.
Just to decrease 2 stitches, there are already 13 different methods — maybe even more. There’s always something new to learn in knitting, right?
Try out each method to find the one that works best for you. If any step feels confusing, simply pause, slow down, and start again from step 1.
Honestly, while writing "Double Decreases: Left Right Center - 13 Methods", I felt like my mind was lost in the matrix!
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