K2tog (Knit Two Together)
K2tog is the basic right-leaning decrease. Insert the right needle into the next two stitches as if to knit, knit them together, and slip them off the left needle. The result is one stitch where there were two, leaning to the right.
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Mechanics
Insert the right needle from front to back through the second and first stitches on the left needle (in that order — the second stitch first). Wrap the yarn and pull through both stitches as one. Slip both stitches off together.
Visual leaning
The new stitch sits above the original two stitches and leans visibly to the right. On stockinette, k2tog reads as a small diagonal line going up and to the right.
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Pairing with ssk
k2tog is the partner of ssk. Together they form mirrored decreases on opposite sides of a shaping line — k2tog on the right side of a sleeve cap, ssk on the left, frame the cap symmetrically.
When to use alone
Single-decrease shaping on the right side of a piece (for example, the right side of a v-neck, or any decrease where the lean reinforces the shape). Also the standard decrease for converting yarn-overs to closed eyelets in lace.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| k2tog | knit two together |
| ssk | slip slip knit |
Tips
- Always pair k2tog with ssk for symmetric shaping.
- On the wrong side, the equivalent right-leaning decrease is p2tog through the back loop.
- In lace, k2tog after a yarn-over closes the eyelet to the right.
In depth
K2tog combines two stitches into one by knitting them as a single stitch. Because the second stitch from the left needle becomes the dominant (top) stitch in the resulting column, the decrease leans to the right under the new stitch.