HOW TO KNIT:

Ribbed Double Decrease

One of our favorite decrease methods for 1x1 ribbing, the Ribbed Double Decrease is completely reversible and elegantly maintains your ribbing pattern while decreasing two stitches. We show you how to work both right and left leaning ribbed double decreases, with and without a cable needle (a cable needle can be helpful while first learning this technique).

Step-By-Step

RIBBED DOUBLE DECREASE – RIGHT (RDD-R) WITH A CABLE NEEDLE

Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Step One

Step 1: Slip one stitch purlwise from your L to R needle.

Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Step Two
Step 2: Slip one stitch purlwise to your cable needle and hold to back.
Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Step Three

Step 3: Slip one stitch purlwise from your L to R needle.

Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Step Four

Step 4: Transfer the stitch on your cable needle back to your L needle.

Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Step Five

Step 5: Transfer the two slipped stitches on your R needle back to your L needle. The stitches on your L needle are now arranged as two knits followed by two purls.

Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Step Six

Step 6: Knit 2 together (K2tog).

Step 7: Work a slip-slip-purl (SSP):

    1. Slip two stitches knitwise one at a time from your L to R needle. (Image 7a)
    2. Transfer slipped stitches back to L needle in new orientation. (Image 7b)
    3. Purl the two stitches together through the back loops. (Image 7c)

RIBBED DOUBLE DECREASE – LEFT (RDD-L) WITH A CABLE NEEDLE

Work steps 1–5 from RDD-R instructions above.

Step 6: Work a slip-slip-knit (SSK)

    1. Slip two stitches knitwise one at a time from your L to R needle. (Image 6a)
    2. Transfer slipped stitches back to L needle in new orientation. (Image 6b)
    3. Knit the two stitches together through the back loops. (Image 6c)
Ribbed Double Decrease - Knitting Tutorial Left RDD-L Step  Seven

Step 7: Purl 2 together (P2tog).


Once you’ve mastered this technique, try it without a cable needle! Jump to 8:18 in the video above to learn how.

Practice this Technique

Hansmire Hat

Mawson

Featured Yarn

Arbor is a classic DK weight yarn with timeless versatility. American Targhee wool is worsted spun into a round and springy 3-ply yarn, perfect for crisp stitch definition and wear-everywhere knits. Skein-dyed in a painterly palette of solid colors.

Featured color in this tutorial:

Treehouse is a saturated spruce green that leans toward teal.

Read our other Arbor color stories.

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