How To Knit Two Stitches Together {K2tog}

In this post, you will learn how to knit two stitches together.

A basic stitch in knitting is K2Tog (or knit two together) this means that you knit two stitches together.

K2tog Explained

It’s commonly used in knitting patterns and is one way to decrease the number of stitches on your needle.

• Knitting two together is a basic method of decreasing stitches.
• It makes a decrease that is abbreviated as K2Tog or k2tog in patterns.
• To ‘knit two together’ is just like making a regular knit stitch, but you work through two stitches instead of just one.
• You can do the same thing with purl stitches, which is known as purl two together (P2Tog).

What is K2tog in Knitting?

• Knit two together is the most basic decrease in knitting.
• The decrease that it makes in your work will lean slightly to the right.
• You will see this abbreviated as K2tog in knitting patterns.
• In some patterns, it might say to K3tog, which is worked in the same way, except you knit three stitches together instead of two.
• This can be seen in some intermediate to advanced patterns when tight decreases are needed.
• You may also see P2tog which means to purl two stitches together.
• You may also see P3tog, which is purling three stitches together for a tight decrease.

The sea glass shawl where K2tog and SSK are used to create the design.

How To Knit Two Stitches Together

Step 1 – Insert your needle into the next two stitches

Place your needle into the two stitches that you need to knit together, just as you would if you were going to knit one stitch. 

Step 2 – Yarn over the needle and knit

Knit those two stitches, just the same as you would knit into one stitch.

Step 3 – Slide the stitch off the needle

Slide the stitch off the needle – you should just have one loop on your right-hand needle.

That is it – really easy and you have just completed a decrease.

If you check the back of the work, you will see that you have completed your decrease and that you have knitted two stitches together successfully.

Is K2tog The Same As SSK?

They are different types of decreases, K2tog leans to the right when decreased.

SSK is a slightly different decrease and one that leans to the left.

SSK is an abbreviation that means Slip Slip Knit.

Both of those decreases are used in many patterns to create lacy or intricate patterns.

You can see an example of how both of these decreases are used to make a lacy design in my Sea Glass Shaw Pattern Here.

Which Patterns Use K2tog?

Many patterns use this popular decrease from sweaters to hats.

To practice this stitch you could knit a garter stitch swatch and practice knitting two stitches together.

The following hat patterns for men and women all use K2tog to decrease the crown of the hat to shape;

• Mariner’s Hat Pattern
• Easy men’s Hat Pattern
• Fair Isle Men’s Hat Pattern
• Striped Men’s Hat Pattern
• Knit Hat Pattern | Love Story
• The easy beginner hat pattern
• The Chloe Hat Knitting Pattern
• The Alexia Hat Knitting Pattern

If you are interested in learning more about the knitting basics, please visit this post – Knitting Lessons