Learn how to p2togtbl or purl two together through back loops, this knitting decrease is most often done on the wrong side of your knitting project and should be part of every knitter’s arsenal!

Admittedly, p2togtbl is not the most common decrease stitch in knitting. It’s usually done on the wrong side of the project to produce the equivalent of an ssk decrease when you flip it over to the right side.

But I’m not going to lie, it’s an awkward stitch to do, and it definitely feels like you’re doing something wrong when you do it. I actually read one article that said this is the most difficult of all knitting stitches.

That seems like a little much, it’s not THAT bad. (I mean, have you ever had to use kitchener stitch?!)

Don’t worry, just follow the pics below and you should be ok.

Anyway, this is not a stitch you’re going to find very often in patterns, but if you’re here, you probably googled it because you did run into it! And I’m striving for covering as many basic stitches as I can in my little learn to knit library so here we are!

How to p2togtbl (Purl Two Together Through Back Loops)

1. To p2togtbl, start with the yarn in front of your work
2. Insert the right needle from behind through the back of the first two stitches on the left knitting needle from left to right
3. Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle to purl
4. Pull the yarn through
5. To finish the p2togtbl, drop the original two stitches from the left knitting needle

And that’s it! You learned how to p2togtbl! Come on back and visit when you don’t use this stitch again for a long time and then by that time have forgotten exactly how it works, ha! We’ve all been there!

How To p2togtbl (Purl Two Together Through Back Loops)

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Learn how to p2togtbl (purl two together through back loops) an easy decrease stitch for your knitting!

Active Time 1 minute

Total Time 1 minute

Difficulty Intermediate

Estimated Cost $0

Materials

• Yarn

Tools

• Knitting needles

Instructions

1. To p2togtbl, start with the yarn in front of your work
2. Insert the right needle from behind through the back of the first two stitches on the left knitting needle from left to right
3. Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle to purl
4. Pull the yarn through
5. To finish the p2togtbl, drop the original two stitches from the left knitting needle

Notes

Watch the video to see how to p2togtbl in action!

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Cassie May

Craft and Knitwear Designer at Little Red Window Design

Welcome to Little Red Window! I’m Cassie, a professional craft and knitwear designer working in the field for more than 10 years. I have a degree in Art History from Northwestern University and a Master's Degree in Architecture and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I've designed more than 300 separate knitting patterns, hundreds of craft projects, and I love to bring joy to your crafts and knitting with well-designed, easy to understand tutorials and patterns.

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