Decreasing K2 P2

#1

How do I decrease the K2 P2 stitches without ruining the pattern?

Thanks for the help!

C

#2

I’m not sure what you are knitting. If knit flat and you are only decrease by a stitch or two, do your decreases at the end of the row.

Chances are, though, you wouldn’t be asking if this were the case. If you are knitting in the round, simply place your decreases at even intervals.

The next row will appear to be off. You may have a pattern like:
K2, P2, K2, P1, K2, P2…
This is ok.

The next time you hit a decrease row, decrease in the same place so that your pattern becomes
K2, P2, K4, P2…

The next decrease row will be
K2, P2, K3, P2…

But the time you get to your fourth decrease, your pattern comes back together as the K3 becomes a K2
K2, P2, K2, P2…

The key is not to worry. Don’t start changing the whole row of stitches, just let the little deviation at the decrease point be.
I use this technique in a couple of hats on my site.
You can see them here:
http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/HisHat/hishat.html
This is what the top looks like

And this hat
http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/Pismo/index.html
This is what the top looks like

Both are worked in K1, P1 ribbing but the concept is the same.

Hope this answers your question.