The Balanced 3-to-2 Decrease

When you get to round 33 of the Lace Doily Beret, there is a stitch sequence that might be new to you. In the pattern, the stitch sequence is abbreviated by a sequence of its parts: i.e. sl 2 tog kwise-k1-yo-p2sso. The Abbreviations section then gives more details for this special technique.

The stitches involved are not something new or difficult, but how they fit together to accomplish the balanced decrease of 3 stitches into 2 stitches might at first look intimidating in the written instructions.

First, let’s look at what the 3-to-2 Decrease stitch sequence will accomplish

The 3-to-2 Decrease is based on the center double decrease (cdd) we’ve used in several of our previous KAL projects this year (e.g. Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch, Kitty In Your Lap, Dolly’s Top-Down Tri Shawl, and Seemingly Seamless 2-Needle Preemie Hat). The cdd produces a balanced double decrease; i.e. 3 stitches are decreased to 1 stitch, producing a symmetrical pyramid shape with the center stitch of the 3 stitches lying on top of the others. You can think of the cdd as a balanced 3 – to-1 decrease.

On the other hand, sometimes lace designs require 3 stitches to be reduced to 2 stitches rather than 1 stitch.

The 3-to-2 Decrease used in Lacy Doily Beret is an aesthetically pleasing way of doing this. It produces the balanced pyramid shape of the cdd, but with the 2 new stitches symmetrically coming out of the cdd base rather than just 1 stitch.

Photo tutorial to create the balanced 3-to-2 decrease

Note: Since the Lace Doily Pattern calls for yarn over before the 3-to-2 decrease stitch sequence (which is typical of lace patterns for decreases of this type), to begin with the yarn is pictured to the front of the work in the photos below.

Insert right-hand needle knit-wise through next 2 stitches.

Slip the 2 stitches off the left-hand needle, leaving the stitches temporarily on the right-hand needle.

Insert left-hand needle into next stitch as to knit (i.e. the 3rd stitch of the 3-stitch sequence we are working with).

Knit that stitch as usual, leaving the completed stitch on the right-hand needle.

Bring yarn forward between needle tips to create the yarn over (yo). Important Point! This is the extra step to the normal cdd that turns a balanced 3-to-1 decrease into a balanced 3-to-2 decrease.

Insert left-hand needle left-to-right through the 2 stitches that were previously slipped.

Pass these 2 previously slipped stitches over both the k1 and yo stitches.

Now you have created 2 stitches on the new row/round in place of the 3 stitches that were there on the previous row/round.

Please let me know if you have questions so I can clarify anything that might help you enjoy this technique to its fullest. A 3-to-2 decrease is not often encountered, so count yourself in the elite of knitters to know it now.