Once you have learned how to knit and how to purl, you may want to expand your horizons and start creating projects that require shaping. (REF: http://knitty.com) Shapes in knitting are created by increasing and decreasing the number of stitches in a row. Here, we will talk about how to decrease stitches.

There are many, many ways to decrease. The one we will use here is the most commonly-used method, called "knit two together". This is abbreviated as "k2tog" in a knitting pattern. You could use only this method for every decrease if you chose; just be aware that certain patterns require specific decrease methods in order to look as the designer intended. K2tog is a serviceable decrease, however, and you can get by on using it exclusively for a very long time. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/decreases

This tutorial will also teach the mirror image of the k2tog, which is called SSK (slip, slip, knit). By knowing these two decreases, you will be able to follow most knitting patterns.

This video shows two types of decreases: k2tog (which you learned here) and SKP, which is yet another type of decrease. The k2tog is first; watch how she inserts the needle into BOTH of the first two stitches, then knits them as one. Once you have the hang of it, try copying her SKP as well. It's only going to help you if you learn more types of decreases! http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/decreases

You will need:

1. knitting needles size US8 or US9
2. worsted weight yarn
3. a few rows of stockinette knitting already on the needles (Knit one row, purl the next, repeat these two rows until you have about 10 rows on the needle and you are about to start another knit row). Try to have about 24 stitches in the row so you can try the decrease multiple times.

If you need help, refer back to How To Cast On, How To Knit and How To Purl before starting this tutorial.

• Hold your needles so that you are about to knit the next row. Your stitches should be on the left needle and your empty needle is on the right.

• Insert the right needle into BOTH the first and second stitches on the left needle, from front to back and left to right. Wrap your yarn clockwise around the needle and pull the new stitch through BOTH of the stitches, dropping them off the left needle. You should now have one stitch on the right needle. You are essentially knitting both stitches at one time.

• Continue across your row and practice by knitting one stitch, then knitting two together. If you do this over 24 stitches, you will have 16 stitches when you're done.

• Switch hands and purl the next row. It will be easier to see your decreases this way. Notice how the decreases seem to lean to the right--this is called a right-leaning decrease. If you decrease in the same spot on each row, you will notice that the stitches will very clearly lean to the right.

Hold your needles so that you are about to knit the next row. Your stitches should be on the left needle and your empty needle is on the right.

As though you are going to knit, insert the tip of your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle. However, instead of wrapping your yarn around, you are just going to transfer the stitch from one needle to the next. Do this for the second stitch as well, so you have two stitches on your right needle.

Insert the tip of your left needle into both of the stitches on the right, without twisting them further. Make sure the left needle is closer to you than the right needle. NOW wrap your yarn around the tip of the right needle and pull the new stitch through. You will have one stitch where you had two.

Switch hands and purl the next row. It will be easier to see your decreases this way. On this method, you will notice how the decreases seem to lean to the left--this is called a left-leaning decrease. If you decrease in the same spot on each row, you will notice that the stitches will very clearly lean to the left.