Why do you need to decrease knitting stitches?

Being able to decrease knitting stitches is a handy skill for a knitter. While it can be tricky for beginners and is often not needed in simple patterns, it can be required in patterns for complex accessories and garments.

Shaping

Decreasing stitches can help add curves and angles to the shape of the fabric. In a garment like a sweater, it can be used to create an hourglass shape, while at the arm holes, it can form the sleeve cap.

To get the best results for sweaters, use the right yarn with double knit or DK yarn, a popular choice. This can easily be found at high street craft shops and from specialist online retailers like https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/dk-yarn.

Patterns

Decreasing stitches can be used as part of a pattern design, adding variety to your knitting projects from decorative motifs and texture variations to lace knitting patterns. See for ideas on projects and patterns.

Necklines

Necklines come in a variety of shapes including round necks and V-necks. Decreasing stitches at specific intervals is a good way to allow the fabric to gradually narrow until you have created the required shape.

Garment Construction

Garments have many places where decreasing the stitches will help. From the shoulders of a top to the crown of a hat, decreases can help create the shape needed.

Fingers and Toes

If making socks, booties, gloves, or mittens, you will likely need to know how to decrease knitting stitches. This will help create the shape of the fingers of gloves and mittens, while socks and booties will require the tapered, rounded shape that can be formed by gradually decreasing stitches to accommodate the toes.

Adding Versatility

As you try more complex projects, you will find that being able to decrease the stitches will allow more versatility to customise the knitted fabric. As well as being able to create the desired fit, decreasing stitches allows greater creativity. From shapes to patterns and textures, the possibilities created by decreasing your stitches are endless, giving you scope for designs as simple or as intricate as you choose.