Rules for knitting. More like guidelines, actually!
Aaaah…The pattern says: “Dec ea end EO RS row 4x”.
What to do?
First, decipher the instructions:
Dec=Decrease
Ea= each
EO= Every other
RS= Right Side (This is the PUBLIC side of the item.)
4x= Four times (remember algebra?)
So, you might assume that you are going to decrease on each end (the beginning and end of a row) every other right side row four times.
Now what?
Here is where you have some major decisions to make about your decreases. Oh, sorry, not MAJOR, you know, just “thinking ahead” kinds of decisions.
Question #1: In which direction do you want the decreases to lean?
There are many ways to decrease in knitting. In this next section, we will discuss two common decrease methods. A “knit two together” (abbreviated K2tog) decrease leans to the right. Simply insert the right hand needle into the next two stitches together and knit them as one.
A “slip, slip, knit” (abbreviated SSK) decrease leans to the left. Insert the right hand needle into the next stitch as if you are about to knit it, but instead of knitting that stitch, just move it to the right needle (slip). Repeat that process to slip a second stitch to the right hand needle. Now you have two slipped stitches on the right hand needle that need to be worked together. To work those two slipped stitches together, insert your left hand needle from left to right into the front of both of those stitches, wrap the working yarn knitwise and pull the remaining single stitch through. I personally like to use a modified ssk in which the second stitch is slipped purlwise instead of knitwise.
While it might not seem important, having your decreases lean right or left can make the edges look different. For example, if you want your decreases to blend in with the edge, you will use the same decrease as the direction you are slanting the edge. The edge slants left, use a ssk. The edge slants right, use a k2tog.
If you want your decreases to be more obvious, use the opposite slanting decrease as the edge. The edge slants left, the opposite would be a right slanting decrease, k2tog. The edge slants right, the opposite decrease is ssk. This technique is also referred to as “full- fashioned decreasing”, or “fully fashioned decreasing”.
Question #2: Is this garment going to be seamed in any way?
If the garment is to be seamed, NEVER (and I usually don’t say this in knitting), decrease on the first two stitches or the last two stitches of a row. Never might be too strong a word. But really, unless you can avoid it, follow my advice. NEVER decrease on the first two stitches or the last two stitches of a row. Seriously, I mean it. If you only have 5 stitches or less, of course you will have to decrease on the first or last two stitches. Let’s be sensible, here!
“Why”, you might ask? The short answer is, if you leave at least one stitch at the sides of a knitted item, with no decreases, it is Easier To Seam. Bold. Italics. Capitol Letters. Underline.
When you have at least one pristine stitch on the end, using mattress stitch to seam up the sides of a garment is so much easier because the indentation of the decrease or the extra fabric of an increase at the edge is not in the pathway of your seaming.
Question #3: What if the garment is not going to be seamed, should you still decrease at least 1 stitch in from the edge?
If it is not a seamed garment, such as a blanket, shawl or scarf, the edges look neater and prettier if they have a “clean” edge stitch or stitches.
Picture driving on a road: Straight and even roads are much easier to drive on than bumpy, curvy ones. This applies to your knitting as well.
From now on, c’mon, say it out loud to yourself: “I promise never to decrease on the first or last stitch of a row unless it is unavoidable.”
There. Now do it. Good job.
