How to decrease size of rib knit band

[mothrhn_]

Merry Christmas! I am knitting a sweater bottom up that started with a k2p2 rib knit band for about 6 inches. My daughter tried on the sweater and all fits except the rib knit band is too large. It needs to decrease 4 ribs front and back on both sides. How do I do this?
Thanks for any help.

[suzeeq]

If you don't want to start over, cut a stitch in the knit row above the ribbing, put the sts on needles and either use a smaller needle or decrease the 8 (or 16?) sts needed, evenly spaced around the row and reknit the ribbing.

[mothrhn_]

Thank you so much. The top of the sweater took a long time to knit so really don't want to do it all over. Can I undo the cast on, rip out the ribbing up to the body and knit it over again from there down?

[suzeeq]

You can't rip out your knitting from the cast on when you have knit and purl sts, especially if it's knit flat. It may be doable in the round, but might turn out to be a mess. Try it and see, if it tangles up, then you'll have to cut a stitch just above the ribbing and work it down from there.

[mothrhn_]

Will try it and let you know how it goes.
Thanks, again