Decreases are the backbone of knitted lace and lace knitting.
For the most part the right leaning decrease is usually fairly straight forward and done as a k2tog (knit two together) or p2tog (purl two together) on the wrong side. However, it's the left leaning decreases that manage provoke some to hold onto strong opinions and even "draw a line in the sand".
The most common left leaning decrease are:
- ssk - slip slip knit
- skp - slip 1, knit 1, psso (pass slipped stitch over)
- K2togb - knit two together thru the back loop.
- p2togb - purl two together thru the back loops (wrong side)
I have used all four of these in different projects or have used them interchangably within a project. All four of the stitches creates a visual line paired with a yarnover or other increase that leans to the left.
The ssk stitch seems to be the subtlest of leaning stitches, while the other three create a distinctive, almost raised line in the knitting.....especially if the decreases are done on both the right and wrong sides of the knitting.
Want to know a secret..... promise not to tell.......ok then, true confessions......lately I have been substituting k2togb for the traditional ssk. To me its faster and not noticably different especially after blocking
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