What the Double Stitch Is and Why You'd Use It
The double stitch (also called the knit two together or k2tog) is a decrease stitch that combines two stitches into one. When you work a double stitch, you insert your needle through two stitches at once instead of one, then knit them as if they were a single stitch. The result is one new stitch on your right needle, and you've reduced your stitch count by one.
You use the double stitch whenever a pattern calls for a decrease—usually to shape garments like sleeves that taper toward the wrist, or to create shaping in the crown of a hat. It's one of the most common decreases in knitting, and once you learn it, you'll see it in nearly every pattern that involves fitted pieces.
The double stitch leans slightly to the right on your fabric. If you want a decrease that leans left, you'd use a slip-slip-knit (ssk) instead. But for most everyday shaping, the double stitch is what you'll reach for.
Key Takeaways
- Insert your right needle through two stitches on your left needle at the same time, from left to right.
- Wrap your yarn around the right needle and pull through both stitches in one motion, just as you would for a regular knit stitch.
- You now have one new stitch on your right needle instead of two, which reduces your total stitch count by one.
- The double stitch creates a visible slant to the right and is used in patterns whenever you need to shape a garment or decrease stitches.
How to Insert Your Needle Through Two Stitches
Start with your left needle holding your active stitches and your right needle ready to work. Locate the two stitches you want to decrease—usually these are marked in your pattern, or you straightforward work across until the pattern tells you to decrease.
Insert the tip of your right needle through the first stitch on your left needle, then when ready through the second stitch, from left to right. Both stitches should now be sitting on the tip of your right needle. This is the key difference from a regular knit stitch: you're threading through two loops instead of one, and you do it in a single motion.
If you hesitate or insert the needle through only one stitch first, then try to add the second, you'll find it awkward. The smoother approach is to aim for both stitches at once, as if they were a single, thicker loop.
Wrapping the Yarn and Completing the Stitch
Once both stitches are on your right needle, wrap your yarn around the right needle exactly as you would for a regular knit stitch. Bring the yarn from the back of your work to the front, loop it around the needle, and pull it back through.
When you pull the yarn through, it passes through both loops at once. You'll feel the two stitches slip off your left needle together. On your right needle, you now have a single new stitch where two used to be.
The motion should feel natural and continuous—insert through two, wrap yarn, pull through. If you find yourself pulling hard or the yarn feels tight, you may have twisted the stitches slightly. Loosen your tension a little and try the next decrease.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most frequent error is inserting the needle through the stitches in the wrong direction. The double stitch requires a left-to-right insertion. If you insert from right to left (as you would for a purl stitch), you'll twist the decrease and it won't sit flat on your fabric.
Another common problem is accidentally knitting only one of the two stitches, leaving the second stitch still on your left needle. This happens when you don't fully commit to threading through both loops. Slow down slightly and make sure the needle passes completely through the second stitch before you wrap the yarn.
Some knitters also tighten up unconsciously when working decreases, making the stitches around the decrease look pinched. Keep your tension consistent with the rest of your work. If the decrease stitches look too tight, your next row will feel harder to work.
Where Double Stitches Appear in Patterns
Patterns abbreviate the double stitch as k2tog (knit two together). When you see this in your pattern instructions, it means work a double stitch at that point. You'll often see it in pairs or groups, especially in shaping sequences.
For example, a sleeve cap shaping might read: "k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog." This means you decrease one stitch at the beginning of the row and one at the end, creating an even taper. Decreases at the edges of a piece are called "edge decreases" and are standard in fitted garment construction.
You'll also see double stitches in lace patterns, where they're paired with yarn overs to create openwork designs. In lace, the decrease and the yarn over balance each other—the decrease removes a stitch, and the yarn over adds one back, keeping your stitch count steady while creating a hole in the fabric.
Practicing the Double Stitch on a Swatch
Before you work a decrease into an actual project, practice on a small swatch. Cast on about 20 stitches and knit a few rows in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) until you have a rectangle about 2 inches tall.
On your next right-side row, knit 5 stitches, then work a k2tog, knit to the end. On the next row, purl across. Repeat this every other row (every right-side row) until you've worked 4 or 5 decreases. You should see the fabric narrowing on one side, and the decreases should form a visible diagonal line.
Once you're comfortable with the motion and the result looks even, you're ready to use the double stitch in a real project. The swatch also gives you a reference to look back at if you forget the motion later.
Double Stitch vs. Other Common Decreases
The double stitch is one of three main decreases you'll encounter in knitting patterns. The slip-slip-knit (ssk) is worked by slipping two stitches one at a time, then inserting your left needle through both slipped stitches and knitting them together. The ssk leans to the left, making it the mirror image of the k2tog. Many patterns use both decreases on the same row to create balanced shaping.
The purl two together (p2tog) is straightforward the double stitch worked on a purl row. You insert your needle through two stitches from right to left (the purl direction) and purl them together. It works the same way as the k2tog, just on the wrong side of the fabric.
For most everyday knitting, the double stitch and the ssk are all you need. Once you're comfortable with both, you'll recognize them when ready in patterns and won't have to stop and look them up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between k2tog and ssk?
Both decrease one stitch, but they lean in opposite directions. The k2tog leans right; the ssk leans left. Patterns often pair them on the same row—k2tog on the right side and ssk on the left side—to create balanced, symmetrical shaping. The motion is different, but the result is a one-stitch decrease either way.
Can I work a double stitch on a purl row?
Yes. Insert your needle through two stitches from right to left (the purl direction) and purl them together. This is called p2tog and works exactly like the k2tog, just on the wrong side of your fabric. The decrease still leans right on the knit side.
What if I accidentally knit only one of the two stitches?
You'll have an extra stitch on your left needle that should have been decreased. If you notice it right away, you can drop the extra stitch and tighten the loop. If you don't notice until later, you may need to unravel back to that point. The best prevention is to slow down and make sure the needle passes fully through both stitches before you wrap the yarn.
Do I need to tension the yarn differently for a double stitch?
No. Keep your tension the same as the rest of your knitting. If the decrease stitches look too tight or too loose compared to the surrounding fabric, adjust your overall tension rather than treating the decrease specially. Consistent tension across the whole piece makes the decreases blend in naturally.
Why does my double stitch look twisted?
This usually means you inserted the needle through the stitches from right to left instead of left to right. The double stitch requires a left-to-right insertion. Check your needle direction on the next decrease and make sure you're threading through both stitches in the correct direction.