Decreases: K2tog, SSK, SKPO, SSP

This video covers the basic decreases in knitting: K2TOG, SSK, SKPO, and SSP. The video demonstrates these techniques both in Continental and Throwing styles. It also covers how, when, and why to chose one decrease over another.

[@KjcIpswich]

Thanks for such a clear explanation, I've knit for years and am a thrower. I seem to have a passion for knitting hats and have never liked my deceases. They are functional and not pretty. Now I clearly know what to do. I appreciate your presentation.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Thanks for the kind words! So glad the style worked for you. And I do love a tidy decrease on a hat!

[@darjabednarik6534]

I have these knitting instructions for a knit animal that were advertised as a "beginners set" but I've had to just look up everything on KZbin. What makes it worse, the instructions are in Slovene but there are no Slovene tutorials. Videos like this one are a lifesaver. I'm saving this for later.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Darja - I find animals to be some of the more complicated things to make!! If I can ever help, please know that I have drop in help on Zoom at my shop. www.handsonknittingcenter.com. I am there every Tuesday at 2:00 PST (California) but would be happy to help at other times. But alas, I only speak English! Good luck!

[@darjabednarik6534]

@@handsonknittingcenter1294 I figured it out, slowly getting through the instructions for the sheep. But it was definitely not beginner friendly. 🤣 It took me about six months, but i managed to finish the sheep.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

@@darjabednarik6534 Well done!! So glad you were able to do it. The next one will be soooo much easier!

[@darjabednarik6534]

@@handsonknittingcenter1294 Thanx :) Videos like yours really did help a lot.

[@normanpatterson9604]

Needed to upgrade my knitting skills….joined different teachers to get a good sense of the different technics…was mostly crochetting….👍👍👍

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Hope it was helpful! I took up crochet lately and have really enjoyed it too!

[@riniantisocial4408]

Thank you so much! I couldn’t figure out why my stitches looked the same!!

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Glad it was helpful!

[@estherschmidt2805]

Thank you for showing it in CONTINENTAL!!!

[@SofieChanell]

I love your methods of illustrating and explaining the differences. Thank you.

[@taranjitkaur6482]

This is the most informative video I have encountered on this subject. I am greatly thankful for your clear explanations and your demonstrations.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Thank you for your feedback -- I am glad you found the video helpful.

[@Pluviophile218]

I saw a neat trick to make the SSK lie flatter and look more polished. Here it is: slip the first stitch as if to knit and the second stitch as if to purl, then complete the stitch. The finished stitch looks as neat on that side as the K2tog looks on the other. Give it a try.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

I am quite familiar with it. Loads of people swear by it -- it twists the bottom stitch making it smaller. I have no issue with this technique, I just have no issue with making my SSKs pretty! Glad this works for you!

[@abraun623]

I am really happy you made your comment about the twist added when doing k2tog tbl instead of ssk because I've been looking at ssk thinking why slip slip when you can just knit through the back loops. Thank you.

[@cataesve]

Thanks a lot! The most clear explanation that I have found.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad the video worked for you.

[@nancyincanada5553]

Very clear tutorial, excellent. Thank you.

[@sarahsoprano773]

This is the only tutorial on increasing and decreasing that actually make sense thank you

[@suzanneschineller3321]

this is so helpful! thank you!

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

So glad you found it helpful!

[@lucianebarbosa4630]

Thank you very much for publishing this video. It was really helpful. I was trying to make a lace stitch and it only worked after I understood the difference among the decreasing styles. God bless you!!!!

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

I am so glad you found it helpful! Thank you for the kind words.

[@gfixler]

Excellent video. You answered all my technical detail questions beautifully, with lots of details I wouldn't have thought of.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Thank you! I am so glad you found the video helpful!

[@genevievesosnowski9015]

Excellent demo, thank you.

[@silviochan89]

very helpful, thank you very much

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

So glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@bonniekonjevich7574]

It really helps to see the variations and drawn graphics. Though experienced, it helped to once again see the different slanting outcomes. Excellent teaching! Thanks!

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@pallmall5014]

Omgosh, I really appreciate how you explain & show in complete detail. Excellent tutorial, thank you for making this easy to understand!! Edit: I sub'd after I checked out your channel!

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Thanks for the kind comment! I am glad you like the videos and subscribed. I went through cancer last year and my fingers are finally back - at least 90% so I will be adding new videos soon!

[@sookiecrochet]

I love your skills

[@jc1diver]

Thank you for the best explanation of the difference between SSK and knit two through the back loops (without twisting first). I always did knit two through the back loops but with some yarn and patterns, it really looks better slipping knit-wise first. Also I was getting a big loop on the ssk and k2tog. I believe your "tip" on knitting at the tips eliminates that.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Jenny, so glad the video worked for you! It is interesting, owning a yarn shop and teaching a ton I have really noticed those little differences - and they make a big difference in our end result. I am happy to share!

[@ancapasca]

Brilliantly explained, thanks a million! Would be great if you had more basic tutorials like this!

[@jirafstudio]

Thank you! Now I understand why my decreases were so huge and unsightly.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

My pleasure to help! I like a tidy little decrease!

[@sailboatlady1]

Excellent.

[@NickyMercado]

Awesome! You knit continental style!

[@redredwine1277]

Excellent video tutorial🎄thanks for sharing, Happy New Year 2018🎄

[@bsfb3ar]

BY any chance you have tutorial how to grow knitting. I do coninenatal but I'm not sure how to wind he yarn around the finger for i o work? Thanks

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Hi! I think you are asking about tensioning your yarn. If I am misunderstanding your question, please feel free to clarify. We do a 30 minute demo on Facebook every Friday at 2:30 Pacific time. We did a session on tension. Here is the link: facebook.com/HandsOnKnittingCenter/videos/232285721745089

[@hunnybSue]

Whenever I knit the slip slip knit, my sts are always loose, so I have to slip as if to purl

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

When you slip as if to purl you are twisting the stitches - hence they appear smaller. If you work the stitches on the tips of the needle rather than the shaft they will look better. And I really like the look of slipping the first stitch knitwise and the second purlwise so the twisted and smaller stitch hides under the top stitch. But bottom line - it is your knitting so do your own thing and knit happy!

[@sounsure9108]

But what if the pattern says ssk but your on a purl row

[@abraun623]

I wonder this too. I hope she responds.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

It depends a bit on the pattern. If it is in garter stitch it does not matter. If the pattern is stockinette or lace you will want to make an SSP. Slip two stitches individually knitwise, pass the two stitches back to the lh needled (slip with needles tip to tip, do not twist), insert rh needle purleise into the back of the two stitches and work them together. It is a bit tricky. I want to say I shot a video for this but I need to check. Hope that helps!!

[@sounsure9108]

Thanks so much for the 😊answer . So the pattern writer was lazy or assumed that folks would know? The rows are variations on : k p yo p some ever increasing ssk p k And k p yo k... p k

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

@@sounsure9108 It is always important to make sure that you have not made a mistake and are decreasing on the wrong row. OR that there is not a mistake in the pattern. Probably 90% of the time we decrease on the right side only so I usually assume something is wrong if it appears the instructions are having us decrease on the wrong side. Although there are definitely times we do this - especially in sweater shaping!

[@mariamkinen8036]

Decreases for the crotch of baby trousers. I already got it.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

I hope this was helpful? Not sure if you comment was a Yay or a Yawn! But if a yawn -super happy you know how to do it!

[@joycesigle134]

@@handsonknittingcenter1294and and

[@ev.adelemandagie4589]

Cannot see. Texts

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Adele, what are you looking for that you cannot see? Molly

[@jamiecaldwell3817]

Your video must be for expierenced knitters as you instruction/demonstration is too fast to follow.

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Jamie, I am so sorry you did not find it helpful. You can slow down the video if that helps. I went as slow as I know how to. But the joy of KZbin is that there are lots of videos so I hope you found another that worked better for you.

[@gaynorevans5905]

Video a little bit too quick for a beginner 🙄

[@handsonknittingcenter1294]

Gaynor Evans , I am sorry it was too fast. You can actually slow down the video