How To Decrease Stitches In Knitting For Beginners

Learn how to decrease stitches in knitting with this beginner-friendly guide.

Decreasing means reducing the number of stitches in your knitting so your project can shape properly, become narrower, or create a decorative effect.

You may see decreases used in sweaters, sleeves, raglans, shawls, hats, socks, lace patterns, armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and many other knitting projects.

In this guide, you’ll learn what it means to decrease stitches, how to decrease in knitting, which decrease methods beginners should know, and when to use each one.

You’ll also find links to full step-by-step tutorials for K2tog, SSK, P2tog, SSP, CDD, and PSSO.

Quick Answer: How Do You Decrease Stitches In Knitting?

To decrease stitches in knitting, you work two or more stitches together so they become fewer stitches.

For example, K2tog turns two stitches into one stitch, decreasing your stitch count by one.

Common knitting decreases include K2tog, SSK, P2tog, SSP, CDD, and PSSO.

Some decreases lean to the right, some lean to the left, and some are centered.

The best decrease to use depends on your knitting pattern and the shaping effect you want.

Knitting Decreases At A Glance

Decrease	Full Name	Best For	Finished Look
K2tog	Knit two together	Simple knit-side decreases	Right-leaning decrease
SSK	Slip slip knit	Mirrored knit-side shaping	Left-leaning decrease
P2tog	Purl two together	Purl-side decreases	Purl-side decrease
SSP	Slip slip purl	Mirrored purl-side shaping	Left-leaning decrease viewed from the knit side
CDD	Centered double decrease	Lace, motifs, centered shaping	Centered decrease
PSSO	Pass slipped stitch over	Lace, shaping, decorative decreases	Varies by pattern

How To Decrease Stitches In Knitting For Beginners

What Does Decrease Mean In Knitting?

In knitting, to decrease means to reduce the number of stitches on your needles.

Most decreases are worked by combining two or more stitches into one stitch.

For example, if you start with 20 stitches and work one single decrease, you will usually have 19 stitches afterward.

If you work a double decrease, such as CDD or S1 K2tog PSSO, you may reduce your stitch count by two stitches instead.

Why Do You Decrease Stitches In Knitting?

You decrease stitches in knitting when you need to shape your fabric, narrow your work, or create a decorative design.

Decreases are commonly used for:

Hat crowns
Sleeve shaping
Raglan shaping
Armholes
Necklines
Socks
Shawls
Sweaters
Cardigans
Lace patterns
Decorative stitch patterns

For example, a hat crown usually decreases over several rounds so the top of the hat closes neatly.

A sleeve may decrease or increase depending on the direction you are knitting.

A lace pattern may use decreases and yarn overs together to create eyelets, motifs, and shaping.

Before You Start

Before learning how to decrease stitches in knitting, it helps if you already know how to work a knit row, work a purl row, and identify the next stitch on your left needle.

Most decreases use the right needle and left needle to work two or more stitches together in a specific way.

Some decreases are worked in the usual way, like K2tog, while others ask you to slip stitches knitwise, sometimes written as knit wise in older patterns.

You may use decreases in many projects, including a scarf, blanket, mitten, hat, sweater, shawl, or sock.

Video Tutorial: Common Knitting Decreases

Watch the video tutorial below to see several common knitting decreases worked step by step.

This quick overview shows how different decrease methods reduce your stitch count and how they look in the knitted fabric.

1. K2tog: Knit Two Together

K2tog stands for knit two together.

This decrease is made by knitting two stitches together as if they were one stitch.

K2tog decreases your stitch count by one and creates a right-leaning decrease on the knit side of the fabric.

It is one of the easiest decreases for beginners and is commonly used in hats, sleeves, socks, shawls, sweaters, and simple shaping.

K2tog is a good first decrease to learn because it feels very similar to working a regular knit stitch, but you insert your right-hand needle through two stitches instead of one.

For the full step-by-step tutorial, see: How To Knit 2 Together (K2tog).

2. SSK: Slip Slip Knit

SSK stands for slip slip knit.

This decrease is made by slipping two stitches knitwise, returning them to the left-hand needle, and knitting them together through the back loops.

SSK decreases your stitch count by one and creates a left-leaning decrease on the knit side of the fabric.

It is often used with K2tog when a pattern needs mirrored shaping.

For example, a pattern may use SSK on one side of a marker and K2tog on the other side so the decreases lean neatly toward or away from each other.

SSK is common in garments, lace knitting, shawls, socks, hats, and decorative stitch patterns.

For the full step-by-step tutorial, see: SSK Knitting Tutorial: How To Slip Slip Knit.

3. P2tog: Purl Two Together

P2tog stands for purl two together.

This decrease is made by purling two stitches together as if they were one stitch.

P2tog decreases your stitch count by one and is usually worked on the purl side, or wrong side, of your fabric.

It is useful when a pattern asks you to decrease on a purl row.

P2tog is often used in garment shaping, ribbing, lace patterns, socks, hats, sleeves, and textured stitch patterns.

It is one of the most useful purl-side decreases to learn because it works much like a regular purl stitch, but through two stitches instead of one.

For the full step-by-step tutorial, see: P2tog Knitting: How To Purl Two Together.

4. SSP: Slip Slip Purl

SSP stands for slip slip purl.

This decrease is worked on the purl side of the fabric and is often considered the purl-side equivalent of SSK.

To work SSP, you slip two stitches knitwise, return them to the left-hand needle, then purl them together through the back loops.

SSP decreases your stitch count by one.

When viewed from the knit side of the fabric, it creates a left-leaning decrease.

SSP is less common than P2tog, but it is useful when a pattern needs a specific directional decrease on a wrong-side row.

You may see SSP in lace charts, garment shaping, socks, shawls, neckline shaping, armhole shaping, and decorative stitch patterns.

For the full step-by-step tutorial, see: SSP Knitting: How To Slip Slip Purl.

5. CDD: Centered Double Decrease

CDD stands for centered double decrease.

This decrease turns three stitches into one stitch, decreasing your stitch count by two.

CDD is made by slipping two stitches together knitwise, knitting the next stitch, then passing the slipped stitches over the knitted stitch.

It creates a centered decrease with one stitch sitting neatly in the middle.

CDD is often used in lace knitting, leaf motifs, chevrons, shawls, hats, decorative stitch patterns, and centered shaping.

Because it decreases two stitches at once, it is different from single decreases like K2tog, SSK, P2tog, and SSP.

For the full step-by-step tutorial, see: How To Knit CDD: Centered Double Decrease Tutorial.

6. PSSO: Pass Slipped Stitch Over

PSSO stands for pass slipped stitch over.

This instruction tells you to pass a slipped stitch over another stitch and off the needle.

PSSO is often used as part of a decrease, especially in lace knitting and decorative stitch patterns.

You may see it written as:

Sl 1, K1, PSSO
S1 K2tog PSSO
Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over

Depending on the instruction, PSSO may create a single decrease or a double decrease.

For example, Sl 1, K1, PSSO decreases one stitch.

S1 K2tog PSSO decreases two stitches and is often used in lace and centered motifs.

For the full step-by-step tutorial, see: PSSO Knitting: How To Pass Slipped Stitch Over.

Which Knitting Decrease Should You Use?

The best knitting decrease depends on the effect you want and the instructions in your pattern.

Use K2tog if you need a simple right-leaning knit-side decrease.
Use SSK if you need a left-leaning knit-side decrease.
Use P2tog if you need a simple purl-side decrease.
Use SSP if you need a purl-side decrease that mirrors SSK when viewed from the knit side.
Use CDD if you need a centered double decrease.
Use PSSO when your pattern asks you to pass a slipped stitch over, often in lace or decorative shaping.

If you are following a knitting pattern, always use the decrease method written in the instructions unless you are intentionally substituting another method.

Oversized Cardigan 4 views — **Raglan cardigan** with decreases to shape the shoulders and sleeves. – **Cardigan Knitting Pattern (Stay Home + Be Cozy)**

Right-Leaning Vs Left-Leaning Decreases

Some decreases lean to the right, while others lean to the left.

This matters when you want shaping to look balanced.

A right-leaning decrease slants toward the right side of the fabric.

A left-leaning decrease slants toward the left side of the fabric.

For example:

K2tog usually leans right.
SSK usually leans left.
P2tog and SSP are purl-side decreases, so their direction is usually discussed by how they look from the knit side.
CDD is centered and does not lean strongly left or right.

In many beginner patterns, the exact lean may not matter very much.

In lace patterns, garment shaping, and mirrored decreases, the direction can be important.

Single Decreases Vs Double Decreases

A single decrease reduces your stitch count by one.

Examples of single decreases include:

K2tog
SSK
P2tog
SSP
Sl 1, K1, PSSO

A double decrease reduces your stitch count by two.

Examples of double decreases include:

CDD
S1 K2tog PSSO

Single decreases are common in basic shaping.

Double decreases are often used in lace, motifs, chevrons, and centered shaping.

How To Decrease At The Beginning Or End Of A Row

Some patterns ask you to decrease at the beginning or end of a row.

This is common in sleeves, armholes, necklines, and shaping instructions.

For a neat edge, many patterns place the decrease one or two stitches in from the edge.

For example, instead of decreasing in the very first stitch, you may knit one stitch, work the decrease, then continue across the row.

At the end of a row, you may work until a few stitches remain, then work the decrease before the final edge stitch.

Always follow your pattern instructions if it tells you exactly where to place the decrease.

How To Decrease In The Middle Of A Row

You may also need to decrease in the middle of a row.

This is common in shawls, yokes, lace patterns, and decorative shaping.

A pattern may tell you to decrease before or after a marker.

For example:

Knit to marker, SSK, slip marker, K2tog.
Knit to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog, knit to next marker.
Work a centered double decrease over the middle three stitches.
Work a yarn over with a decrease to keep the stitch count balanced in lace.

The placement matters because it affects how your knitting narrows or how the design forms.

If your pattern uses markers, keep them in place so you can see where each decrease should happen.

How Do You Decrease Evenly Across A Row?

Some patterns may ask you to decrease evenly across a row.

This means you spread the decreases out across the row instead of working them all in one place.

For example, if you need to decrease 5 stitches across a row, you would place those decreases at roughly even intervals.

This helps the fabric narrow smoothly.

If a pattern does not give exact placement, you can divide the number of stitches by the number of decreases to estimate where they should go.

For example, if you have 50 stitches and need to decrease 5 stitches, you might work one decrease about every 10 stitches.

Make sure to count your stitches after the decrease row so your stitch count matches the pattern.

Common Knitting Decrease Mistakes

Forgetting to count your stitches

Decreases reduce your stitch count, so your number of stitches should change.

If your pattern says you should have 60 stitches after a decrease row, count your stitches before continuing.

Using the wrong decrease

Different decreases create different effects.

K2tog leans right, SSK leans left, CDD is centered, and PSSO depends on the instruction.

Use the decrease written in your pattern whenever possible.

Decreasing in the wrong place

Decrease placement matters.

If your pattern says to decrease before a marker, after a marker, at each end of a row, or in the center, make sure you place the decrease exactly where instructed.

A misplaced decrease can change the shape of your project.

Confusing single and double decreases

A single decrease usually reduces your stitch count by one.

A double decrease usually reduces your stitch count by two.

If your stitch count is wrong after a row, check whether the pattern asked for a single decrease or a double decrease.

Pulling the stitches too tight

Some decreases can feel tight, especially SSK, SSP, CDD, and PSSO.

Try to keep your tension even so the stitches are easier to work.

Forgetting that lace uses increases and decreases together

In lace knitting, a yarn over may add a stitch, while a decrease removes a stitch.

This can keep the stitch count balanced while creating eyelets and patterns.

If your stitch count changes unexpectedly, check whether you missed a yarn over or a decrease.

Blue cardigan making up step 3 — **Cardigan** shaping for the sleeves and shoulders. – Outlander Claire’s Blue Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Knitting Decrease FAQs

What does decrease mean in knitting?

To decrease in knitting means to reduce the number of stitches in your row or round.

Most decreases work two or more stitches together, so they become fewer stitches.

How do you decrease stitches in knitting?

You can decrease stitches in knitting with methods such as K2tog, SSK, P2tog, SSP, CDD, and PSSO.

Each method reduces your stitch count and creates a different shaping effect.

What is the easiest knitting decrease for beginners?

K2tog, or knit two together, is one of the easiest knitting decreases for beginners because it is worked much like a regular knit stitch.

What is the difference between K2tog and SSK?

K2tog usually creates a right-leaning decrease, while SSK usually creates a left-leaning decrease.

They are often used together for mirrored shaping.

What is the purl version of K2tog?

P2tog, or purl two together, is the purl-side version of a simple decrease.

It is often used on wrong-side rows.

What is the purl version of SSK?

SSP, or slip slip purl, is often considered the purl-side equivalent of SSK.

What is a centered double decrease?

A centered double decrease, or CDD, turns three stitches into one stitch and decreases your stitch count by two.

It creates a centered decrease often used in lace, motifs, and decorative shaping.

Is PSSO a decrease?

PSSO can be part of a decrease. Sl 1, K1, PSSO decreases one stitch, while S1 K2tog PSSO decreases two stitches.

How do you decrease evenly across a row?

To decrease evenly, spread your decreases across the row at roughly equal intervals.

For example, if you have 50 stitches and need to decrease 5 stitches, you may work one decrease about every 10 stitches.

How do I know which decrease to use?

Use the decrease written in your pattern.

If the pattern does not specify, K2tog is often the easiest beginner option, but the best choice depends on whether you need the decrease to lean right, lean left, sit centered, or stay hidden.