We often see these decreases at the armholes of designer sweaters and cardigans, but they look equally well on hand-knitted projects, especially along the raglan lines.
It seems that the fabric was slightly pinched in spots where we use cable decreases to shape our knits. This effect adds a subtle detail that shows that this project is well-thought-through and well-finished.
There are a number of ways to make these decreases. We can use a cable needle, or reposition stitches on the needles by slipping some of them off the needle for a moment. The first approach is a bit tedious and slow. The second one – scary to those of us who don’t feel safe taking open stitches off the needles.
Luckily, there is a way that avoids both issues. Let’s see how it works.
If you are a visual learner, watch every step described below in a video tutorial:
SETUP
These decreases turn three stitches into two, getting rid of one stitch. Before you make a decrease, work to the three stitches involved in the cable decrease and then follow steps for right or left leaning decreases.
RIGHT-LEANING CABLE DECREASE ( CDR )
STEP 1
Insert the tip of the right needle from left to right into the third stitch from the tip of the left needle.
Bring the working yarn to the front of the left needle so that the yarn is between the left and the right needle.
Move the yarn over the right needle wrapping the tip of the needle for knitting.
Pull the yarn wrap through the stitch knitting this stitch through the front loop.
STEP 2
With the knitted stitch still on the left needle and the working yarn at the back of the work, insert the tip of the right needle from right to left into the first two stitches on the left needle.
Wrap the tip of the right needle with the yarn the same way you do when you knit a stitch.
Pull the yarn wrap through both stitches knitting them together through the back loop.
STEP 3
This step is the easiest one. Simply slip all three stitches off the left needle.
As you see, we’ve just formed a right-leaning cable underneath the right needle while decreasing one stitch.
Because we worked stitches without using a cable needle or repositioning them on the left needle, the cable might be a little bunched up. Pull the stitches of the cable sideways to straighten them.
LEFT-LEANING CABLE DECREASE ( CDL )
STEP 1
Insert the tip of the right needle from right to left into the second and third stitches on the left needle so that the right needle is at the back of the left needle.
Wrap the tip of the right needle with the yarn from front to back.
Pull the yarn wrap through both stitches knitting them together through the back loop.
STEP 2
In this step, we’ll deal with the first stitch on the left needle.
With the two knitted stitches still on the left needle and the working yarn at the back of the work, insert the tip of the right needle from left to right into the first stitch on the left needle.
Wrap the tip of the right needle with the yarn the same way you do when you are about to knit a stitch.
Pull the yarn wrap through the stitch knitting it through the front loop.
STEP 3
Slip all three stitches off the left needle.
Enjoy the look of the cute left-leaning cable that we’ve just formed underneath the right needle.
These decreases look best on the knit side of the project, and you can make them in every fourth row or round, or in every other row or round depending on the shaping you want to achieve.
The process is the same for projects worked back and forth and the ones worked in the round.
Whenever you need to make a cable decrease in your project, follow three steps to form a right or a left-leaning decrease. Then purl the resulting cable stitches in the next row if you work flat, or knit them if you work in the round.
SAVE IT FOR LATER:
This and 41 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #6.