How to Purl Two Together (P2TOG) – Beginner Decrease Technique!

The P2TOG (purl two together) technique is one of the most common decrease stitches in knitting and:

• Decreases by one stitch

• Works as the purl-side equivalent of K2TOG

• Leans to the right when looking at the right-side of your knitting.

It's more challenging and symmetrical 'twin', the purl two together through the back loop (P2TOGtbl), is also detailed in this post.

Decreasing is a must know part of knitting — click here to read my Beginner’s Guide to Decreasing in Knitting for a full breakdown of the most important decreases to know.

How to Purl Two Together (P2TOG) — Step by Step

Before you begin, make sure your working yarn is at the front of the work, ready to purl, and that your stitches aren’t crowded at the tip of the left-hand needle.

1. Insert the right-hand needle from back to front (purl wise) through the next two stitches on the left-hand needle at the same time.

2. Wrap the working yarn anti-clockwise around the right needle.

3. Pull the yarn through both stitches together.

4. Slip the two original stitches off the left-hand needle at once.

You’ve now completed a P2TOG decrease and two stitches have become one!

How to Purl Two Together Through the Back Loop (P2TOGtbl)

You may also see P2TOGtbl in knitting patterns. This stands for purl two together through the back loop and is a more challenging variation of the standard P2TOG decrease.

Compared to P2TOG:

• It also reduces your stitch count by one,

• Stitches are worked twisted causing the decrease to lean to the left

• It works as the purl-side equivalent of the SSK decrease

How to Work P2TOGtbl (Step by Step)

1. With the yarn at the front, insert the right-hand needle purlwise through the back loops of the next two stitches on the left-hand needle. To do this, rotate your right-hand needle around the back of the work so it sits almost parallel to the left-hand needle.

2. When the tip of the right needle appears at the front of the work, gently guide it through and wrap the working yarn anti-clockwise around the needle.

3. Pull the yarn through both stitches at once.

4. Slip the two original stitches off the left-hand needle together.

You’ve now worked a P2TOGtbl decrease, reducing your stitch count by one.

Practise the P2TOG Decrease

The best way to get comfortable with any new technique is to practise it on a small swatch or as part of a beginner-friendly pattern that includes simple shaping. Repetition will help your hands build muscle memory and make your decreases more consistent over time! Practise makes perfect after all.

What to Read Next

Try these tutorials next:

• How to Increase in Knitting: A Must-Read Beginner Knitters Guide

• Knitting Bind Off: Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

• How to do the Long-Tail Cast On: A Step-by-Step, Beginner-Friendly Guide