It's me again, any knitters about, that can help me work out decreases please?

[piemashandliquer]

Sorry to bother everyone again but I need a bit of help. I am knitting a garter stitch chunky hat. I've come to the decreases and realised I should have cast on 42 instead I've done 40. From a size point of view it's no bad thing as it's for my DD and she is on the wee side, but now of course my decreases don't work out. I'm loathe to rip it all out, can anyone help me with decreases please?

The pattern says:
:K4, K2 tog, repeat from to end (35)
Knit 1row
K3, K2 tog, rep from to end (28)
K1 row
k2, k2 tog, rep from To end (21)
Knit 1row
k1, k2 tog, rep from to end (14)
Knit 1 row
k2 tog, rep from to end (7)

Thanks in advance!

If my maths is correct, you naturally get back to the original pattern pretty quickly just by following the pattern for the stitches you have (which should be fine for garter stitch - would be a bit different if you were doing rib or something).

So the first decrease row, you will end after a K4 and will have 34 stitches (as opposed to ending after a K2 tog with 35 stitches)

Then knit 1 row, as it says. Then on your next decrease row, after your final K3 you will find yourself with just one stitch left, rather than two. So just knit that stitch as normal and you'll have 28 stitches, like you should do at that point.

Hope that made sense - let me know if it's unclear!

I would try:

Knitting 2 extra rows instead of the first 2 pattern decreases

Then
K3, k2 tog to end (32 sts)
K1 row
K2, k2 tog to end (24 sts)
K1 row
K1, k2 tog to end (16 sts)
K1 row
K2 tog to end (8 sts)

This way you will work the same number of rows but decrease 8 sts per row instead of 7. Just look at your finished work to judge if the decreasing is too rapid in case it goes a bit "pointy"

Thanks for your help, I will try Coco 's suggestion first and if it looks a bit odd, I'll try Woolly's.

Just back to report that the hat turned out fab thanks to your excellent advice. I went with coco's advice Much appreciated.

No problem, glad it worked out well! Hope DD enjoys her new hat!

I put the mother of all pom-poms on the top, she's 4, what's not to like?! Thanks again for your help coco.