As part of this stitch pattern that I encountered, there was also this “k4tog bf” decrease. The abbreviation stands for “knit 4 stitches together back front”. It’s a new to me way to reduce the number of stitches from 4 to 2 stitches. Of course, you could also just combine a k2tog and your choice of a left-leaning decrease, take for example the skp decrease. However, the k4tog bf decrease looks quite different, so it really has its place. And that stitch pattern I encountered it in? I will post it soon!
Below you can find how to work this decrease, so get your materials and follow along!
Materials
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Lime.
Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.
Working a k4tog bf step by step
- First, work your way across the row until you’ve reached the point where you want to make the decrease. In this case, I want to work the decrease over the 4 stitches in the middle of the swatch.
- Next, insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the first 4 stitches at the same time as if to knit through the back loop. This is easier when using very sharp needles. I also find it helps to pull the fabric below the 4 stitches down a bit, to open up the loops that are on the needle.
- Wrap the yarn around the needle…
- …and pull it through the stitches you inserted the right-hand needle in.
- Next, we’re going to work the “front” part of the decrease. Insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the first 4 stitches at the same time as if to knit. Again, this is easier when using very sharp needles or pulling the fabric down a bit, to open up the loops that are on the needle.
- Wrap the yarn around the needle…
- …and pull it through the stitches you inserted the right-hand needle in.
- To finish the k4tog bf decrease, slip the original stitches off the left-hand needle.
The below picture shows how it looks after 2 more decrease rows have been worked over the center 4 stitches in the swatch. Below it, you can find another picture showing the wrong side of the swatch.
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