HKL015 – Increasing & Decreasing Part 2 [Sample]

HKL015 - Increasing & Decreasing Part 2

Swatch #2

In this lesson, learn how to make increases and decreases. Increases and decreases are used to shape the sides of the knit like for a sweater. This lesson will cover the basic increasing and decreasing techniques. There are additional techniques for increasing and decreasing in the Techniques section on the Diamond Site.

Below are instructions for knitting three small swatches for these techniques. These are meant to be practice swatches... mistakes CAN be made.

Yarn
Pick a basic yarn that is smooth, not too fuzzy or loopy. Larger or thicker yarns are best when starting out because it's easier to see. These are some ideal sample yarns that are easy to find, and they are inexpensive. If these yarns aren't available in your area, ask at your local hand knit yarn shop of a basic worsted weight yarn to make a sample swatch.

Tamm: Nordic
Lion Brand: Cotton-Ease, Wool-Ease or Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
Bernat: Cottontots

You may wish to get the same type of yarn that will be used for one of the project patterns for this lesson. If so, buy an additional ball or skein of yarn for the sample swatch.

There are 3 swatches for this lesson. You might try using a different color for each to make it easier to identify later.

A contrast color stripe is used in each swatch to separate techniques. It's a good idea to use the contrast color so that you can see where a technique begins and ends.

Needles
Straight needles are required for this lesson. The needles can be single point or double pointed needles. The needles need to be the size that works best for the yarn. The wrapper of the yarn normally suggests a needle size. This needle size generally works.

Swatch #2 - ssk & ssp
Cast on 20 stitches total. This includes the slip knot at the beginning of the cast on.

Make a Slip Knot HKT1 & then Cast On HKT2 19 stitches.

R1: P HKT8 all. Turn.

R2: K2, ssk, K until 4 st rem, ssk, K2.

How to Knit R2: K2 HKT3.

Ssk is a type of decrease which means to slip, slip, knit or slip 1 stitch to right needle, slip 2nd stitch to right needle, then knit both stitches as if they are 1 stitch. It is different from K2tog because of how the stitches are rearranged on the left needle. This is a 1 stitch decrease.

Slip the end stitch on left needle to the right needle knitwise. Knitwise means to slip the stitch as if making a knit stitch, but only slip the stitch from the left to the right needle.

Slip the next end stitch on the left needle to the right needle knitwise. The 2 end stitches on the right needle have not been knit.

Take the left needle point through both stitches going through the 1st slip stitch (2nd from needle point) first.