Monica Knits

P2tog tbl Purl 2 stitches together through the backs of the loops. This is one of decreases used in the Leaf Pattern baby layette. Together with the K2tog tbl decrease, they create leftward slanting travelling decreases (as viewed from the right side) to form the leaf and stem shapes. The P2tog tbl is a rightward slanting decrease, but since it is created on the wrong side of the garment, it becomes leftward slanting, when viewed from the finished side. This is a tricky stitch to understand and if the tension is too tight, difficult to execute. The trick is in how you point the left hand needle when starting this stitch.

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Steps

1. With the yarn held in front of the work (purlwise), turn the point of the left needle towards you (90 ^o).
2. Insert the right needle through the back of the 2nd stitch (the one furthest away from you), then through the 1st stitch on the needle. The right needle will also be pointed towards you (90 ^o) for this step.
3. Hold the edge of the stitches with your left thumb and, using the right needle, push the yarn clockwise through the two loops towards the back. This is a purl stitch, but for this case I find it easier to push the yarn through than to pull it counterclockwise with the needle.
4. Once through the two stitches, draw the yarn with normal tension to create the regular sized loop. In the last photograph I have shown the stitch on the right needle and the direction the yarn is being drawn.