Decreases and Increases used in Lace Knitting

These are some common stitches you'll need for lace knitting.

Single Decreases


(These "lean" visually to the right or left, depending on how you work them).


k2tog (Right leaning). Knit 2 together. On WS, p2tog: Purl 2 together.

k2tog-b (Left leaning). Knit 2 together through back loop. On WS, p2tog-b: Purl 2 together through back loop, inserting needle from the left.

ssk (Left leaning). Slip, slip, knit. Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit. Put left needle through front of both these stitches and knit together. Sl-k1-psso: (Left leaning). Slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch. Pass slipped stitch over knit stitch.

Double Decreases


(These are both called "central" double decreaseses, although I think that's a bit misleading. In the first version, sl1-k2-psso, the topmost stitch leans to the left. In the second version, the top most stitch is straight. The first makes more of a texture, while the second makes a ridge.)

sl1-k2tog-psso Slip 1 stitch, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over.

sl2-k1-p2sso Slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, pass 2 slipped stitches over.

Increases


yo Yarn over. Bring yarn between needles to front and then back over the right hand needle. If the next stitch is a knit, your yarn is in place. If the next stitch is a purl, bring the yarn to the front between the needles. The strand created across the needle becomes a new stitch.

k1, yo, k1 Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1 into one stitch. on WS p1, yo, p1.
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