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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Master 4 Double Increases & Decreases

October 26, 2017 3 Comments

Learn 4 knitting increases and decreases using easy-to-follow video tutorials. Up your knitting game & level up your lacework with double increases and decreases, including: incto3, sk2p2, k3tog, & p3tog. Central double increases & decreases might sound intimidating, but they're really pretty & useful in lace knitting.
Double increases and decreases can be intimidating the first time you try them. You’re knitting along, and maybe you’ve even been knitting for years, and suddenly you find yourself thrown for a loop when you come across an abbreviation like sk2p2 or incto3. “What fresh heck is this?” you might ask yourself. “This must be a typo or some regional knitting thing I’ve not yet encountered.” Or maybe that was just my reaction the first time I found myself faced with a central double increase…

At any rate, there are a variety of double increases & decreases in knitting, but today I want to focus on four of them: central double increase (incto3), central double decrease (sk2p2), knit 3 together (k3tog) & purl 3 together (p3tog). Why focus on these 4 in particular? All four of these are included in The Scarf of Dreams, our current Read Along Knit Along Design, specifically the current section of the pattern we’re all knitting.

For some context: On Ravelry, Instagram & in real life, the Read Along Knit Along is underway! Clue 3 of 4 for our mystery pattern arrived in inboxes this week, and we’ll be knitting our way through section 3 of The Scarf of Dreams pattern while we read part 3 of The Night Circus, the book that inspired the infinity scarf we’re knitting. Even if you’re not knitting The Scarf of Dreams with us during the current knit along, this set of tutorials applies to any knitting project featuring these double increases & decreases. 

Learn 4 knitting increases and decreases using easy-to-follow video tutorials. Up your knitting game & level up your lacework with double increases and decreases, including: incto3, sk2p2, k3tog, & p3tog. Central double increases & decreases might sound intimidating, but they're really useful in lace knitting.

4 Double Increases & Decreases for Knitting

I decided to add a whole crop of increase & decrease videos to the Hands Occupied YouTube channel this week, and I’m making sure to keep them easy-to-follow, right to the point, and quick. Most of the time we knitters need remember how to work a stitch we don’t come across every day, we just need a quick refresh – so each of these little tutorials features a demo of each stitch right away, and then I work it one more time so you can see it. Since YouTube is all on-demand, you can be in control of how many times you go back and rewatch how to knit each of these. I hope you all find these useful! These are the first four of many to come, so stay tuned.

Knit 3 Together (k3tog)

Learn how to knit a k3tog decrease with an easy-to-follow video tutorial. Using a knit 3 together, you're working a double decrease, reducing your stitch count by two.
A knit 3 together is probably one of the easiest ways to knit a double decrease. Using a knit 3 together, you’re working a double decrease, reducing your stitch count by two. A k3tog is worked just like a k2tog, except you’re working with three stitches instead of two. Check it out in action:

Purl 3 Together (p3tog)

Learn how to knit a p3tog decrease with an easy-to-follow video tutorial. Using a purl 3 together, you're knitting a double decrease, reducing your stitch count by two.
Much like a k3tog is like a k2tog, a purl 3 together is a lot like a purl 2 together worked with one more stitch. Of course, you’ll often work a p3tog on the wrong side of your work (if it has one).

Central Double Decrease (sk2p2, sl2-k1-p2sso, cdd)

Knitting a central double decrease can be intimidating to learn, but the elegant, symmetrical result is so worth it. Master this stitch with an easy-to-follow video tutorial showing you how to turn three stitches into one, decreasing your stitch count by two.
How pretty is this decrease? Once again, a central double decrease takes us from 3 stitches to 1 in our knitting, but what’s special about this one is the elegant “spine” formed by how the stitches are passed over each other. An alternative to an sk2p2 could be an sk2p (sl1-k2tog-psso), but the resulting stitches lay just a bit differently with an sk2p2.

Central Double Increase (incto3, cdi)

Knitting a central double increase can be intimidating the first time. Eliminate your anxiety with an easy-to-follow video tutorial showing you how to turn one stitch into three, increasing your stitch count by two.
Last but certainly not least, there’s the central double increase, the most complicated of this quartet. As I say in the video, you often find this increase described in just words in knitting patterns, and it’s pretty hard to understand how to work a central double increase based on text alone. Never fear! I’ve got you covered with this quick tutorial.

The yarn featured in these videos is LB Collection® Superwash Merino Yarn in Dijon & was provided by Lion Brand Yarn. 

Filed Under: Knit Along, Knitting Tagged With: central double increase, double decrease, double increase, incto3, k3tog, Knitting, p3tog, ralkal, sk2p2, video tutorial

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Alka

    October 26, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    Very well explained double increase and all. It is helpful for all knitters. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Violet

    May 15, 2019 at 2:53 am

    hey thanks for your handy video. My pattern just said Dbl inc. Then describes it as knit stitch through back loop, leave on left needle, knit stitch again through front loop, move two stitches onto right needle, pick up horizontal bump made between these two stitches and lift it onto the left needle, knit into the back loop. I was a bit lost and usually fudged it somehow to make it work but I was always wondering exactly what it meant. Thanks to your clear explanation I can do a perfect hat now.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 16, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      Yay! You’re so welcome. :)

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
The first lesson of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest K The first lesson of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest Knit Along is now up on the bl0g! First thing’s first: better understanding gauge in intarsia, a.k.a. my most-requested intarsia tutorial topic. 🧶
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Maybe it isn’t the flashiest or funnest of topics, but knitting your patterns at gauge accomplishes 2 important things for projects like the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. 1️⃣ Your garment will fit properly. 2️⃣ The intarsia you’ve worked hard to knit won’t look squished like an image in Print Wizard 2000. (Is that software reference too niche? 🖨️)
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Find the first #spiralhillsweatervest Knit Along lesson at the 🔗 in my profle. 
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P.S. I’m currently finishing editing a related video for the lesson, which will be live on You2ube later today/tomorrow. I’ll post in Stories when it’s up.👍🏻 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #knittinggauge #knitting #sweaterknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #knitting_inspiration #stopswatchandblockit #swatching
This audio was me last summer while secretly desig This audio was me last summer while secretly designing the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern behind the scenes. 😆 I very often design with primary colors, so trying to explain suddenly working with black, white and grey was awkward/kinda funny. 🩶
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In case you missed it, this is my design from the new book ‘Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town,’ available now from @insighteditions & @tanisknits. We’re doing a knit along starting very soon, and we’ll be knitting this pattern! I’ve got weekly video tutorials planned for this educationally-focused knit along. This KAL is especially for you if you’re eager to work on your intarsia. 🧶
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Full KAL details, yarn quantities & pattern information are available on my bl0g, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #handsoccupied #spiralhillsweatervest #knitting #halloweenknitting #knitalong #kal #knitting_inspiration #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #learntoknit
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
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