• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

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

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

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 & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Knitflix for Halloween
Next Post: Picks of the Week »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • One-Step Provisional Cast On with Video TutorialOne-Step Provisional Cast On with Video Tutorial
  • Advanced Intarsia Knitting TipsAdvanced Intarsia Knitting Tips
  • How to Knit Intarsia Without Bobbins or ButterfliesHow to Knit Intarsia Without Bobbins or Butterflies
  • How to Estimate & Manage Yarn Tails in Intarsia KnittingHow to Estimate & Manage Yarn Tails in Intarsia Knitting

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

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.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
.
Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
.
I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
.
I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
.

#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
.
The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
.
I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
.
#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
.
What’s on your needles this week? 
.
Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
.
I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
.
#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
.
Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
.
[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy