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How to Knit Two Stitches Together – k2tog

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K2tog (knit 2 together) is a simple decrease used for shaping in knitting patterns.  You use exactly the same steps and technique as when you knit a stitch, except that you work into two stitches at the same time.

::: HOW TO WORK a k2tog :::

1) Insert your right hand (RH) needle through two stitches at the same time (from front to back).
2) Wrap the working yarn around the RH needle tip at the back of the work (exactly the same as you do when you knit a stitch), then use the RH needle tip to draw this loop from the back, through the 2 stitches, to the front, to create a new stitch on the RH needle.
3) Drop the two ‘old’ stitches off the LH needle.

Working a k2tog decreases the stitch count, because you have effectively gathered two stitches together into a single stitch.  If you work a series of k2togs (every other row) stacked on top of each other, you create a right-slanting line.

Similar decreases: k3tog (exactly the same, but working into 3 stitches at once)
Mirrored decreases: ssk or sl1-k1-psso (single left-slanting decreases)

Check out our FREE Simple Collection patterns

Barley hat pattern
Barley
Flax Sweater Pattern
Flax (free)
Rye Sock Pattern
Rye
Wheat Scarf Pattern
Wheat
Maize Mitts Pattern
Maize
Harvest Cardigan Pattern
Harvest

Emily Wessel

Hi! I’m Emily Wessel, I design fun-to-knit patterns and helpful technique tutorials. I live in Edinburgh, Scotland with my husband and two kids, where I like to run, knit, learn languages, and hang out with friends. I am co-founder and designer at Tin Can Knits - www.tincanknits.com

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15 Comments

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    November 5, 2020 @ 1:32 pm

    […] 1: [k6, p2tog, p2] around [45 (54, 63, 72) sts]Round 2: [k4, k2tog, p3] around [40 (48, 56, 64) sts]Round 3: [k5, p2tog, p1] around [35 (42, 49, 56) sts]Round 4: [k3, […]

  2. Let’s Knit a Cardigan | Tin Can Knits
    September 23, 2020 @ 12:12 pm

    […] round: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 [2 sts dec]Knit 8 (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2) rounds.Decrease round: […]

  3. Love Note Sweater: Yoke (3/6) | Tin Can Knits
    June 18, 2020 @ 6:04 am

    […] or the chart’s text instructions. This lace pattern has increases (yarn-overs) and decreases (k2tog, ssk, and sl1-k2tog-psso) on every round. Note: there are no ‘plain’ rounds in between, […]

  4. Love Note Sweater: Body and Sleeves (4/6) | Tin Can Knits
    June 18, 2020 @ 6:02 am

    […] of 8 sts for your size, then pick up 10 sts. On the very next round, work a decrease like ssk or k2tog to join the held stitches together with the picked-up underarm stitches. This helps to avoid a hole […]

  5. How to sl1-k2tog-psso – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over | Tin Can Knits
    April 1, 2020 @ 1:08 pm

    […] Knit the next two stitches on the left hand needle together (k2tog), […]

  6. Let’s make a Beloved Bonnet | Tin Can Knits
    March 31, 2020 @ 10:54 pm

    […] (RS): sl2, knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, SM, kfb, knit to the ‘doubled’ stitch, work k2tog to combine the stitch with the extra loop over the needle, then k10 to end [2 sts […]

  7. ARLENE SHIPPER
    October 10, 2019 @ 8:07 pm

    Thank you! I’ve been trying the mittens with the magic loop. I like your method much better!

  8. Let’s Knit an Antler Toque | Tin Can Knits
    February 9, 2017 @ 12:43 pm

    […] decreases for this hat are fairly straight forward written out line by line. If ssk and k2tog are new to you, click the links for a detailed explanation. For the Antler Toque decreases, just […]

  9. Barbara
    December 10, 2016 @ 5:52 am

    Your tutorials are excellent and very useful and understandable. Thank you 😊

  10. Let’s Knit some super simple mittens | Tin Can Knits
    December 1, 2016 @ 9:00 am

    […] you haven’t worked an ssk or a k2tog check out those tutorials as well. Got your last few sts? Great, almost […]

  11. Central Double Decreases: sl2-k1-p2sso and sl2tbl-p1-p2sso | Tin Can Knits
    January 21, 2016 @ 8:56 am

    […] decrease line that doesn’t slant to the left or the right, the way that the decreases k2tog, ssk, or sl1-k2tog-psso […]

  12. How to Knit Lace – an introduction to lace knitting | Tin Can Knits
    June 23, 2015 @ 12:00 am

    […] a lace chart (and follow text instructions) – how to work lace increases and decreases (yo, k2tog, ssk, sl1-k2tog-psso) – choosing needles and yarn for lace knitting – how to block lace […]

  13. One Row Buttonholes | Tin Can Knits
    April 27, 2015 @ 6:00 am

    […] 1-stitch buttonhole: This is my preferred method, it is simple and creates a small, tidy hole. To work a 1 stitch buttonhole simply work (yo, k2tog) […]

  14. Let’s Knit a Sweater | Tin Can Knits
    September 7, 2014 @ 9:37 pm

    […] round: k1, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before marker, ssk, […]

  15. itwasjudith
    August 17, 2013 @ 10:55 am

    thanks for the interesting free tutorials :)
    i’m knitting one of your recent patterns (lace scarf), so i got to use the all k2tog and ssk / sl1-k1-psso a lot!