How to Decrease Stitch

Are you tired of having to rip out stitches because you made a mistake? Your stitching should look more polished and professional. Whatever the reason, learning how to decrease stitch can significantly improve your stitching skills.

In the artful craft of knitting, achieving the right size and shape for your project is as crucial as the stitching itself. An essential technique for maintaining your pattern is knowing how to decrease the number of stitches effectively. This process allows you to taper your work, which is essential for creating items like hats, sleeves, and the necklines of sweaters.

In this section, we’ll explore the fundamental methods of stitch reduction, guiding you through the steps to ensure your knitted creations maintain their intended form with smooth, neat transitions.

Why Decrease Stitch?

Decreasing your stitches can help to shape and define different parts of your knitting project. It allows you to create curves, angles, and tailored shapes with precision and control. By decreasing stitches, you can achieve a more professional and polished look for your finished product.

Additionally, decreasing stitch can also help to save yarn and time. By reducing the number of stitches, you’ll use less thread and complete your project more quickly. This makes it an essential technique for knitters who want to use their materials and time efficiently.

So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter, understanding how to decrease stitch is a valuable skill that can significantly improve the overall quality of your knitting projects.

What Will You Need?

To decrease stitch, you’ll need two things:

1. Your Knitting Project:  This can be any item you’re currently working on, such as a scarf, hat, or sweater. Additionally, you can practice decreasing stitches on a small sample piece of knitting, like a swatch.
2. Knitting Needles: The size of the hands will depend on your project and the yarn weight you’re using. Make sure to choose appropriate sized needles for your project to achieve the desired tension and gauge. Always refer to the pattern or instructions for needle size recommendations.

Once you have these items ready, you’ll learn how to decrease stitch.

10 Easy Steps on How to Decrease Stitch:

Step 1. Identify the Decrease Point:

Before you begin knitting, determine where the decreases will occur within your pattern. Review your knitting instructions to locate these points, as they are crucial to shaping your project correctly. If you’re knitting without a design, decide where you want to decrease stitch to create your desired shape.

Step 2. Choose Your Decrease Method:

There are several ways to decrease stitch in knitting, each with its unique look and function. The most commonly used methods are Knit Two Together (K2tog) and Slip-Slip-Knit (SSK). K2tog is a right-slanting decrease, which is easy to learn and efficient, making it a favorite among many knitters.

On the other hand, SSK creates a left-slanting reduction and involves slipping stitches as if to knit, then knitting those slipped stitches together. Both techniques are fundamental for shaping your work accurately and are chosen based on the desired direction of the decrease in your pattern. Choose the method best suits your project’s needs before proceeding to the next step.

Step 3. Execute the Decrease:

To perform a Knit Two Together (K2tog), simply insert your right-hand needle into the following two stitches on the left-hand needle as if to knit them, and then knit them together as one. This will combine two stitches into one and create a right-slanting decrease. If using the Slip-Slip-Knit (SSK) method, slip the next two stitches one at a time, as if to knit, to the right-hand needle.

Then, insert the left-hand needle into the front loops of these stitches from left to right and knit them together through the back loops. This will result in a left-slanting decrease. After completing your chosen reduction, continue knitting as per your pattern instructions.

Step 4. Maintain an Even Tension:

After decreasing, it’s vital to maintain even tension to achieve a consistent fabric and prevent any holes or lumps in your knitting. Be cautious not to pull the yarn too tight or leave it too loose. This step is particularly significant right after the decrease has been made. Uneven tension can cause your project to misshape, so take a moment to adjust and ensure your anxiety matches the rest of your work before moving on to the next stitch.

Step 5. Check Your Progress:

As you continue to knit, periodically stop to check your progress. Look for any mismatches in tension or inadvertent increases or decreases that could impact the overall shape of your project. Catching mistakes early can save you time in the long run and help ensure you are accurately decreasing stitches according to your design. If you notice any discrepancies, don’t hesitate to carefully unravel your work to the point of error and correct the mistake. Consistency is key to achieving a professional-looking result.

Step 6. Repeat the Decrease as Needed:

You may need to repeat the decrease process regularly based on the pattern you’re following or the shape you wish to achieve. Keep an eye on your pattern’s instructions for when and where to introduce these decreases. If working without a convention, plan your reductions to maintain symmetry and balance within your project. Remember, consistent spacing between drops is crucial for a smooth, even shape, whether you are creating sleeves, a hat crown, or the tapering edges of a shawl.

Step 7. Secure Your Stitches:

When you have completed all necessary decreases, it’s vital to secure your stitches to prevent them from unraveling. Cut the working yarn to do this, leaving a tail long enough to weave in ends. Then, using a tapestry needle, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and pull it tight to close off the top. This is especially useful when finishing the top of a hat or the tip of a mitten. Once the end is secured, weave in the loose ends into the inside of your project for a neat finish.

Step 8. Weave in the Ends:

Once you’ve secured your stitches, the next step is to weave in the yarn neatly ends to ensure your knitting looks clean and professional. This involves using a tapestry needle to thread the yarn tail in and out along the wrong side of the fabric, mimicking the knit pattern for several stitches. Be sure not to pull too tight to maintain the fabric’s natural stretch and tension. After weaving it to an adequate length, you can trim off the excess yarn. This practice secures your work and hides any loose yarn tails from sight.

Step 9. Block Your Finished Project:

Blocking is the final step that gives your knitted project a professional look by evening out the stitches and defining the shape. Soak your finished item in lukewarm water with a bit of gentle wool wash, then carefully squeeze out excess water without wringing. Spread your project on a flat surface, a blocking mat, or a towel, and gently stretch it to the desired dimensions. Use blocking pins to hold the shape if necessary. Allow your work to dry completely before removing the pins. This process enhances the overall appearance and drape of your garment or accessory.

Step 10. Care for Your Knitted Item:

Post-blocking, proper care will ensure the longevity and preservation of your knitted creation. Always refer to the yarn label for washing and drying instructions, as different fibers have different care requirements. Hand washing in cool water with a mild detergent and laying flat to dry are often recommended for hand-knit items to maintain shape and texture. Store your knitted projects in a cool, dry place, and for woolen items, consider using cedar blocks or sachets with lavender to deter moths. With the proper care, your handcrafted piece can be enjoyed for years to come.

By following these steps, you can confidently incorporate decreases into your knitting projects and create beautifully shaped pieces.

5 Additional Tips and Tricks

1. Use Lightweight Fabrics: If you’re struggling to decrease stitch, try using a lightweight material. Heavyweight and thick fabrics like denim or canvas can be challenging to work with and may cause more thread tension issues.
2. Adjust Presser Foot Pressure: The presser foot is the part of your sewing machine that holds the fabric in place while you sew. Adjusting the pressure on the presser foot allows you to control how tightly the material is held and potentially decrease stitch. Experiment with different pressure levels until you find what works best for your project.
3. Clean and Oil Your Machine Regularly: A well-maintained sewing machine will run more smoothly, resulting in better stitch quality. Clean out all lint and debris from the bobbin area and oil any required parts according to your machine’s manual.
4. Use the Right Needle for the Fabric: Different fabrics require different hands. Using the wrong needle can cause skipped stitches or tension issues, decreasing stitch quality. Refer to your machine’s manual for recommendations on which type of needle to use for each type of fabric.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice: As with anything, the more you practice sewing and using your machine, the better you will become at controlling your stitch length and tension. Take on different projects and try out various techniques to really get a feel for how your machine works and how to manipulate it to achieve the perfect stitch.

With these additional tips and tricks, you should be well on your way to mastering the art of decreasing stitches and achieving professional-looking results in your sewing projects.

6 Things You Should Avoid

1. Avoid Rushing: Decreases should be done carefully to maintain an even tension and stitch pattern. Rushing through your knitting can lead to mistakes or irregularities in your work.
2. Don’t Neglect Gauge: Always check your gauge before starting your project; an incorrect meter can lead to too tight or too loose decreases, affecting the final shape and size of your project.
3. Steer Clear of Inconsistent Decrease Methods: Stick to one method of decreasing stitches unless your pattern specifically calls for variations. Mixing decrease methods randomly can result in an uneven fabric and distort the desired shape.
4. Avoid Poor Planning: Map out your decreases in advance, especially when working without a pattern. Improperly spaced or unplanned reductions can lead to an unsymmetrical or misshapen final product.
5. Don’t Ignore the Fabric’s Characteristics: Different yarns and stitch patterns will react differently to decreases. Avoid making assumptions about how a drop will look in your project without testing it first on a swatch, mainly when using textured or variegated yarns.
6. Avoid Not Paying Attention: Decreasing can be tedious and repetitive, but staying focused is essential. One mistake or missed stitch can impact the rest of your project and may result in unraveling your work.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can confidently decrease stitches and create beautifully shaped knitwear.

What is a Left and Right Decrease?

A left decrease, also known as a left-leaning decrease, is a knitting technique that causes the stitches to slant toward the left. This is achieved by slipping a stitch from the left needle to the right without knitting it and then passing the next stitch over it. This decreases two stitches and creates a diagonal line on the fabric.

Similarly, a right decrease, or right-leaning decrease, is a technique that causes the stitches to slant toward the right. This is achieved by knitting two stitches together through the back loop, effectively decreasing one stitch and creating a diagonal line on the fabric.

Left and right decreases are often used in combination to create symmetrical shaping in knitting projects such as sweaters or hats. It’s important to follow your pattern instructions carefully to achieve the desired decrease and maintain the correct stitch count.

How Do You Drop Stitches?

Dropping stitches, often done unintentionally, can be corrected or creatively incorporated into a design. To intentionally drop a stitch, you simply let it slip off the needle without knitting it. As you proceed, the unworked stitch unravels down to the beginning of your piece or to a point where it is secured.

Creative patterns may use this method to generate decorative ladders or elongated stitches within the fabric. To correct an accidental dropped stitch, use a crochet hook to catch and pull the stitch through its loops up to the current row, then place it back on the needle. Care and attention during knitting can help prevent accidental dropped stitches, ensuring your project remains intact and progresses smoothly.

Overall, decreases and dropped stitches are essential techniques to master in knitting. They allow for shaping, design elements, and creative possibilities in your projects.

What Type of Decrease Should You Use?

The type of decrease you use will depend on the desired look and function of your project, as well as personal preference. Here are some common reductions and their characteristics:

1. K2tog (Knit Two Stitches Together): A right-leaning decrease that is commonly used for shaping or decorative purposes. It results in a smooth edge and is often used in patterns with a stockinette stitch.
2. Ssk (Slip Slip Knit): A left-leaning decrease that is similar to the k2tog but creates a slightly different effect. It can be used interchangeably with k2tog or in combination with it for shaping purposes.
3. P2tog (Purl Two Stitches Together): A decrease that is used in patterns with a purl stitch. It creates a smooth edge and is often paired with k2tog for balanced shaping.
4. Ssp (Slip Slip Purl): Similar to ssk, this is a left-leaning decrease used in patterns with a combination of knit and purl stitches. It can be substituted for ssk or used in combination with it.
5. K3tog (Knit Three Stitches Together): A decrease commonly used for shaping or to create decorative elements such as bobbles or clusters.
6. P3tog (Purl Three Stitches Together): Similar to k3tog but used in patterns with purl stitches. It can also be incorporated into decorative elements.

These are just a few examples of decreases commonly used in knitting. It’s important to experiment with different methods and see how they affect your project, as well as follow the instructions of your pattern if you are following one. With practice and attention to detail, you can master decreasing stitches and create beautiful knitwear. 

Conclusion

Learning to decrease stitches proficiently is fundamental to progressing in knitting, allowing for complex shapes and patterns in your creations. While it may seem daunting at first, with patience and practice, mastering this technique enhances the fit and aesthetics of your knitwear. Remember to practice different decrease methods, maintain consistent tension, and take the time to work out decreases in pattern swatches.

Hopefully, this guide on how to decrease stitch has provided you with the knowledge and confidence to incorporate decreases into your knitting projects. So grab your needles, yarn, and a cup of tea, and start creating beautifully shaped knitwear with proficiently decreased stitches.

By adhering to these principles, your journey in knitting will not only be more enjoyable but will also lead to projects that you can be proud of. Happy knitting!