Elegantly Simple Left Slanting Triple Decrease

There are 2 techniques in this month’s Elegantly Simple KAL that you might not have used before:

• the 3\ left slanting triple decrease
• the /3 right slanting triple decrease

These decreases produce beautifully embossed, sculpted lines in the Elegantly Simple stitch pattern. They might look complicated, but are simply made up of several stitch maneuvers you already know how to do.

I’ve given step-by-step written instructions for these special triple decreases in the Abbreviations section of the Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket pattern. If you don’t over-think what you are doing and just follow the instructions, the multiple steps will not seem like such a mystery.

If you are a visual person, the step-by step photo series below and in the next support article are for you! 

Note: You can click each photo to get a pop-up enlarged view if you need to see larger pictures.

The 3\ Abbreviation

3\ is used as the symbolic abbreviation in my instructions as a reminder that you are decreasing 3 stitches and the resulting stitch is left-slanting.

Another way this technique is sometimes abbreviated is: sl1-k3tog-psso i.e. like sl1-k2tog-psso except with a k3tog instead of k2tog.

You’ll be working over a total of 4 stitches to decrease down to 1 stitch.

Step-by-step to make left slanting triple decrease

1. Slip 1 stitch knit-wise with yarn in back.

insert right-hand needle knit-wise into next stitch on left-hand needle

slip stitch to right-hand needle

2. Knit the next 3 stitches together.

insert right-hand needle for k3tog

Tip: A Less Stressful k3tog

wrap yarn around right-hand needle counter-clockwise

pull yarn through all 3 stitches

the k3tog completed

3. Pass slipped stitch over.

insert left-hand needle into the previously slipped stitch

pull slipped stitch over …

,,, and off needle

The completed 3\

completed left-slanting triple decrease

With a little practice (this month’s KAL includes a small bookmark project just for that purpose), I think you will find that your hands get into a rhythm. Enjoy!