Making a sharply angled edge

I am designing my own cardi pattern, and I’m trying to come up with a way to shape one half (the right or left side) of a v neck at a sharp angle without binding off too many stitches. The pattern is in stockinette.

Let’s say I have 20 stitches, and I’ve knit a sizable rectangle already. I want the right edge of the work to come in 5 stitches over a length 5 inches. But 1 stitch per inch does not make a very steep angle of an edge.

I’ve tried k2tog at the edge and then making one right afterward, but that doesn’t give me the slant at all. The m1 cancels out the k2tog.

I’ve tried k2tog at the edge and then making one in the middle of the work (for ex: k2tog, k8, m1, k to the end of row). I do this for every right side row. But every inch, I do not m1 (so that there is a decrease; remember decreasing 5 st. over 5 inches). But if I m1 in the same place every row (or every other row) an ugly, very visible increase forms right in the middle of the rectangle.

The question is: How can I make my work seem as if I am consistently decreasing without losing more stitches than necessary?

I will be experimenting to see if I can come with something, just wanted to hear other peoples thoughts. :knitting:

Interesting problem. You want it to look like you decreased more than 5 over the 5 inches so you have a nice slant, but you don’t really want to decrease them. Hmmm, I don’t know if you can get that to work. It reminds me of the old adage that goes, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” But this is knitting, not cake and there may be a way. But I don’t know it. :lol: