Decrease without stairsteps

[wannabe]

I am decreasing my first sweater sleeve and find that each new row leaves a "jump" from the last row--like stairsteps. I know there is a way to make it a smooth transition, but don't understand how to do that--any help will be great!

[cam90066]

Are you talking about the sleeve cap or the decs worked over the length of the sleeve? If on the length you shouldn't have any stepping. If you're referring to the cap BOs, you can avoid the stepping and create gradual slopes. What part of the sleeve are you working?

ETA: here is an existing thread in which I posted info on how to avoid stepping.

cam

[MerigoldinWA]

I went and read Cam's way of doing it. It is almost identical to Elizabeth Zimmermann's way, only instead of slipping the stitch at the end of the row before the BO just work two together (like knit 2tog, or P2tog whichever is needed). Then turn and bind off one less than they call for because you already got rid of one. I have used EZs method, but not tried Cam's. Hers could be better still. Try them both and see which works best for you and is easiest to remember.

[cam90066]

This thread has image of armhole done my way. This method, when worked on the sleeve cap, gives the same slope (just reversed so the cap/armscye are mirror images).

cam