Every now and then a pattern will require you to decrease on the purl side of the work. Just like knit-side decreases, some purl-side ones lean right and some lean left. This Purl 2 Together + Slip Slip Purl Tutorial shows you both. The purl 2 together (p2tog) decrease leans left, and if you’re working in stockinette stitch, you’ll see that it leans right on the knit side of the fabric, like a knit 2 together (k2tog). The slip slip purl (ssp) decrease leans right, and in stockinette stitch, it leans left on the knit side, like a slip slip knit (ssk). All of these decrease are worked over two stitches and decrease your stitch count by 1 stitch.

Note that an ssp is interchangeable with a p2tog tbl, although they are not exactly the same. The p2tog tbl twists the stitches, while an ssp maintains their orientation. The ssp more closely mimics the ssk that we like to use!

Let’s see this all in action!

Video Tutorial

Click To See Video Transcript

Hey, this is Laura from Purl Soho, and today I’m going to demonstrate how to work two purlwise decreases on the purl side of the fabric. As you can see here though, I have the knit side of the fabric facing, and that’s to show you the result of these decreases. A purl two together, or P two T O G creates this right-slanting line when you work it similar to a knit two together and an S S P or slip slip purl creates this left-slanting line when you work it and it mimics an S S K or slip slip knit. Alright, let’s get into it. 

Alright, I’m ready to purl two together. What I’m going to do is first make sure my working yarn is on the front of my work towards me like this. Next I’m going to take the tip of my right needle and insert it into both the first and second stitch on the left needle from back to front, as if to purl. After that, I’m going to take my working yarn and wrap it counter-clockwise around the right needle. Then I’m going to slowly and gently pull this needle through those stitches creating this new stitch, at which point I can let these two stitches fall off the left needle. And there we have it. We’ve purled two together and I’ve decreased one stitch. 

Alright, now let’s get into S S P or slip slip purl. But first, a quick note. There are a couple ways to work this decrease. I’m going to show you the way that mimics our S S K video in case you’re working. These two decreases in tandem. So let’s get into it. First, I want to make sure my working yarn is at the front of my work. So we’re ready on that front. Next, I’m going to slip one purlwise. I’m going to take the point of my…tip of my right needle, insert it into this first stitch, as if to purl, so from back to front, and slip it off that left needle. Next I’m going to slip one knitwise, again, taking the point of my right needle, inserting it into this first stitch, but this time from front to back as if to knit and slip it off that left needle. Now I want to transfer these two stitches back over to my left needle. So I’m going to kind of nudge them up towards the point of my right needle so that I can slip the tip of my left needle in while I pull the right needle out. And there we’ve transferred these stitches over. 

Alright, now let’s get into the actual decreasing step. I’m going to insert the tip of my right needle into the back legs of these two stitches. I’m going to insert it into the second stitch first and then the first stitch. So lemme show you how. So just kind of contort your stitches a little bit. There we go. Once you’ve done that, take your working yarn, wrap it counterclockwise around the tip of your right needle. Pull that right needle through those two stitches. Let the stitches fall off the left needle. And that is an S S P. We’ve decreased one stitch.

Written Instructions

How To Purl 2 Together (p2tog)

Bring the yarn to the front of the work and insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle purlwise (as if it purl), then insert it into the second stitch on the left needle, also purlwise. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the front needle, and pushing your needle back, pull the yarn through the two stitches and allow those stitches to fall off the left needle. Just like purling, but working through two stitches instead of one!

P2TOG CHEAT SHEET

Purl side: Leans left

Knit side: Leans right

Mimics: K2tog

How to Slip, Slip, Purl (ssp)

Bring the yarn to the front of the work and slip the next stitch purlwise (as if to purl). Slip the next stitch knitwise (as if to knit). Insert left needle through front legs of both slipped stitches and slip them back to left needle. Now, insert right needle into back legs of next two stitches, starting with the second stitch and bringing right needle to front. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the front needle, and pushing your needle back, pull the yarn through the two stitches and allow those stitches to fall off the left needle.

SSP (AND P2TOG TBL) CHEAT SHEET

Purl side: Leans right

Knit side: Leans left

Mimics: Ssk

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