5 to 3 Bunny Ears Front Decrease

After seeing many of the different "unvented" decreases, I decided to make one of my own! Well, not really. I was trying to figure out an alternative double decrease to "sl2-k1-p2sso", and I didn't want to use k3tog or the like. So I "unvented" a decrease that's similar to the bunny ears front decrease, but worked over 5 stitches. Note: While the symbol used for the decrease is the 5 to 3 gather, for this chart you work the symbol …

After seeing many of the different "unvented" decreases, I decided to make one of my own! Well, not really. I was trying to figure out an alternative double decrease to "sl2-k1-p2sso", and I didn't want to use k3tog or the like. So I "unvented" a decrease that's similar to the bunny ears front decrease, but worked over 5 stitches. Note: While the symbol used for the decrease is the 5 to 3 gather, for this chart you work the symbol as the 5 to 3 Bunny Ears Front Decrease.

Here are the instructions:

To work the first part of the decrease, you k3tog. Alternatively, you can k2tog, slip the first stich on your right hand needle to your left hand needle, and pass the second stitch on your left hand needle over the first before slipping the resulting stitch back onto your right hand needle. This is my preferred method, as it gives the look of the k3tog without its fiddliness, but you can use any method you like. Just make sure that you make a double decrease that leans right.

Then, with the tip of your left hand needle, pick up the second stitch in your right leaning decrease. It should be right behind the first stitch. It's a little fiddly at first, but you should be able to pick it up. You then knit that stitch. Your decrease should look similar to a 1/2 RC.

Now, with your right hand needle, pick up the first stitch in your right leaning decrease. Don't knit it or anything. We're going to treat this like a slip stitch. Over the next 2 stitches on your left hand needle, work a ssk decrease, and pass the "slip stitch" (aka stitch we picked up) over the first stitch on needle.

And that's it! I'm sure that someone else has thought of this before me - cause nothing's new under the sun - but I think I'm the first to share the idea on Stitch Maps! Enjoy!

Shown with a cast-on count of 13 stitches.   Getting chart...

  • Row 1 (RS): K4, yo, 5-to-3 gather, yo, k4.
  • Rows 2 and 4: Purl.
  • Rows 3 and 5: Knit.