Decrease (dec) instructs a knitter or crocheter to reduce the total number of live stitches in the current row or round. This shapes the fabric inward, such as tapering a sleeve to the wrist or closing the crown of a hat. The specific method of decreasing depends on the pattern, but common techniques include knitting two stitches together or slipping a stitch over another.
Heard on the job
Knit to the last three stitches, dec 1, then knit the final stitch to shape the armhole.
Also heard as
- decrease