Glossary / Knit two together

k2tog

Knit two together

A right-leaning decrease that knits two stitches as one.

KnittingDecrease

How to work it

Insert the right needle through the next two stitches at once, as if to knit, then knit them together. It removes one stitch and leans to the right, so it pairs with ssk (which leans left) for symmetric shaping.

Common confusions

What does k2tog mean?

In knitting patterns, k2tog means Knit two together. A right-leaning decrease that knits two stitches as one.

Which way does k2tog lean?

Right. It is the right-leaning single decrease, and its mirror is ssk, which leans left. Patterns pair them at opposite edges so the shaping lines slant toward each other symmetrically.

Can I use k2tog everywhere instead of ssk?

It will work mechanically and your counts will be right, but the shaping will look lopsided because both edges will lean the same way. On anything visible, like a raglan or a lace panel, the mirrored pair is what makes the decreases read as deliberate.

In other languages

LanguageTermAbbreviation
EnglishKnit two togetherk2tog
EspañolDos puntos juntos del derecho2pjd
DeutschZwei Maschen rechts zusammen2 re zus
FrançaisDeux mailles ensemble à l’endroitno standard code
ItalianoDue maglie insieme a dirittono standard code
日本語左上2目一度no standard code

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