How to make a centred double decrease
If you want to decrease three stitches to one, you need to make a double decrease.
More often than not, you will want the middle stitch to lie on top. This is called a centred double decrease.
You already know how to
- cast on
- knit
- cast off
- slip the first stitch purlwise
- purl
- follow a knitting pattern containing abbreviations
- read a chart
- decrease by knitting two stitches together
- make a yarn over
- knit and purl through the back loop
- slip a stitch knitwise
- make a left-leaning decrease
New abbreviations
- cdd: centred double decrease
Instructions
Cast on 27 sts.
Work according to chart, i.e.:
Rows 1 to 5: Sl1p, k26.
Row 6 (RS): Sl1p, k3, p2, [k3, p3] twice, k3, p2, k4.
Row 7 (WS): Sl1p, k5, [p3, k3] twice, p3, k6.
Row 8 (RS): Sl1p, k3, p2, [yo, cdd, yo, p3] twice, yo, cdd, yo, p2, k4.
To make a centred double decrease, slip two stitches together knitwise, knit one, pass the two slipped stitches over.
Continue working from chart as set.
Cast off and weave in ends.
Geeky Notes 🤓
🧶 There are other ways of decreasing three stitches to one:
- slip the first stitch knitwise, knit the next two stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over,
- knit three stitches together or
- sssk, i.e. slip each of the three stitches knitwise and then knit them all together through the back loop, like you do with an ssk.
The first of these three produces a symmetrical decrease with the middle stitch underneath the two others.
The other two double decreases are asymmetrical.
🧶 The centred double decrease shown in this square is normally used in the point of a V-neckline.
If you successfully completed this square, you have learned how to
- make a centred double decrease
Annaplexis 