P2tog (purl two together) is similar to K2tog but is worked on the purl side of the fabric. It is exactly as it sounds…….you purl 2 stitches together, decreasing your total number of stitches by one. It is just like making a regular purl stitch but you work through two stitches instead of one.

How to work a P2tog decrease

So I have cast on 10 stitches and worked a few rows in stocking stitch, on the next purl row the instructions are :

P1, P2tog, purl to end.  (9 sts)

I have purled the first stitch of the row and am now ready to work P2tog:

Step 1

Step 1 – Insert the right hand needle through the next two stitches on the needle, through the front of the stitches from right to left (as you would if you were purling a normal stitch).

Step 2

Step 2 – Pass the yarn counter clockwise around the right hand needle (as you would if you were purling a normal stitch).

Step 3

Step 3 – Pull the yarn through the two stitches, slipping them off the left hand needle.

One descrease completed.

On the above sample I have worked a few more rows with a P2tog decrease near the start of each purl row. This decrease slants to the right on the knit side of the work.