“Purl 2 together” comes handy when we need to decrease stitches on the purl side of the fabric. This method forms a decrease that slants to the right on the knit side and it is simple and easy to do.
The only downside is – the fabric in the spot where we make this decrease is twice as thick as the rest of the fabric. It is not a big deal unless we work with chunky yarns or knit a delicate lace pattern.
In these cases and whenever you want to make your project neater, it is better to use an alternative way to make this decrease.
Here’s how we can do it in three (very!) simple steps.
If you are a visual learner, watch each step in a video tutorial:
STEP 1
With the yarn at the front of the work, slip 1 stitch from the left needle to the right needle. Do it purlwise, without twisting the stitch.
STEP 2
Purl the next stitch.
STEP 3
Insert the tip of the left needle from left to right into the slipped stitch that is now the second stitch from the tip of the right needle.
Pass this stitch over the purled stitch and off the right needle.
If you make these decreases in every other row and stack them on top of each other, you will form a neat line that is much flatter than the line formed by the usual “purl 2 together” decreases.
Aside from forming flatter decreases, this method also ensures that the stitches in the decreasing line are more uniform and the project looks better finished.
SAVE IT FOR LATER:
This and 41 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #6.