How to Decrease Stitches in Knitting: Four Methods That Work

The four ways to decrease stitches

Decreasing stitches means removing one or more loops from your needle to narrow your fabric. The four main methods are knit two together (K2tog), slip slip knit (SSK), purl two together (P2tog), and pass slipped stitch over (PSSO). Each one leans the decrease in a different direction, which matters when you're shaping a garment — a sleeve cap or a sock toe, for instance — because the slant affects how the finished edge looks.

The direction a decrease leans is called its bias. K2tog and P2tog lean right. SSK and PSSO lean left. When you pair a right-leaning decrease on one side of a garment with a left-leaning decrease on the other side, the shaping looks balanced and intentional rather than accidental. Most patterns tell you which decrease to use and where.

Key Takeaways

Knit two together (K2tog) and purl two together (P2tog) are the fastest decreases and lean to the right.
Slip slip knit (SSK) and pass slipped stitch over (PSSO) lean to the left and are used to balance right-leaning decreases.
The direction a decrease leans matters for shaping — matching decreases on opposite sides of a garment makes the edge look even.
All four methods remove one stitch from your needle, but the way they cross the loops changes how the decrease sits in the fabric.

Knit two together (K2tog): the fastest right-leaning decrease

K2tog is the simplest decrease. Insert your right needle through two stitches on your left needle from left to right, as if you were going to knit them normally. Knit them together as one stitch. You have now removed one stitch from your needle.

This decrease leans to the right because the stitch on top crosses over the stitch underneath it in that direction. Use K2tog when your pattern calls for a right-leaning decrease, or when you're decreasing on the right side of a piece (like the right edge of a sleeve cap). K2tog works on both knit rows and purl rows — on a purl row, you would purl two together instead.

Slip slip knit (SSK): the left-leaning decrease

SSK takes one extra step but creates a mirror image of K2tog. Slip one stitch knitwise (as if to knit) onto your right needle. Slip the next stitch knitwise onto your right needle as well. Now you have two slipped stitches on your right needle. Insert your left needle through both of them from left to right and knit them together.

The result leans to the left because the stitches cross in the opposite direction from K2tog. Use SSK on the left side of a piece to balance a K2tog on the right side. If your pattern says "SSK" without specifying a row type, it means a knit row. On a purl row, the equivalent is slip, slip, purl (SSP), which follows the same steps but uses purl instead of knit at the end.

Purl two together (P2tog): right-leaning on purl rows

P2tog works exactly like K2tog but on purl rows. Insert your right needle through two stitches on your left needle from right to left (the purl direction), and purl them together as one stitch. The decrease leans right, the same direction as K2tog.

Use P2tog when you're working on the wrong side of your fabric and need a right-leaning decrease to show on the right side. Many patterns use P2tog on the purl rows of stockinette stitch to keep the shaping consistent with K2tog decreases on the knit rows.

Pass slipped stitch over (PSSO): a left-leaning alternative

PSSO is less common than SSK but creates the same left-leaning effect. Slip one stitch knitwise onto your right needle. Knit the next stitch normally. Now use your left needle to lift the slipped stitch up and over the knit stitch, dropping it off the right needle. The slipped stitch passes over the knit stitch, hence the name.

PSSO leans left and balances K2tog, just like SSK does. Some knitters find it easier to control than SSK because there's less fumbling with two slipped stitches. Others find it slower. Try both and see which one fits your hands better. Patterns rarely specify PSSO anymore — SSK is the modern standard — but you will see it in older patterns.

When to use each decrease in a pattern

Most patterns tell you exactly which decrease to use and where. A typical instruction might read: "K2tog at the beginning of the row and SSK at the end of the row." This creates balanced shaping because the decreases lean toward the center of the piece.

If a pattern does not specify which decrease to use, follow this rule: use K2tog or P2tog on the right side of the garment (or the side facing you), and use SSK or SSP on the left side. This keeps the shaping symmetrical. For a sock toe or hat crown where you're decreasing all the way around, alternate K2tog and SSK every other stitch to keep the fabric even.

The bias of a decrease becomes visible once you've worked several rows. If your shaping looks lopsided or the edges don't match, check whether you used the right decrease in the right place. Switching from K2tog to SSK (or vice versa) mid-project can fix an unbalanced look.

Decreasing multiple stitches at once

Sometimes a pattern asks you to decrease more than one stitch in a single row — for instance, "decrease 5 stitches evenly across." You can do this by spacing single decreases across the row, or by using a double decrease that removes two stitches at once.

A double decrease removes two stitches in one motion. The most common is slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass the slipped stitches over (called a centered double decrease). This leans slightly left and is useful for crown shaping in hats. Another option is knit 3 together (K3tog), which removes two stitches and leans right. Patterns that use double decreases will name them explicitly, so you do not have to guess.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between K2tog and SSK?

K2tog and SSK both remove one stitch, but they lean in opposite directions. K2tog leans right; SSK leans left. Patterns use both on the same row to create balanced shaping — K2tog on one side and SSK on the other. If you use only K2tog throughout, your edges will look uneven.

Can I use K2tog instead of SSK if I do not like SSK?

You can, but your shaping will look lopsided. If a pattern calls for SSK on the left edge and K2tog on the right edge, using K2tog on both sides will make one edge slant the wrong way. Try practicing SSK a few times — most knitters find it becomes automatic after a dozen or so attempts.

Do I count a decrease as one stitch or two?

You count it as one stitch on your needle after the decrease is complete. If you had 20 stitches and worked K2tog, you now have 19 stitches. The pattern's stitch count should reflect this. If your stitch count does not match the pattern after decreasing, you may have accidentally increased or missed a decrease.

What does it mean if my decreases look twisted?

Twisted decreases usually mean you inserted your needle through the stitches in the wrong direction. For K2tog, insert left to right (as if to knit). For SSK, slip knitwise (left to right), then insert your left needle left to right through both slipped stitches. Check your needle direction and try again on the next row.

Can I decrease on every row?

Yes, many patterns decrease on every row or every other row, depending on how quickly you need to narrow the fabric. Decreasing every row creates a steeper slant (like a sock toe). Decreasing every other row creates a gentler slant (like a sleeve cap). Follow your pattern's instructions for row spacing.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.