Those ugly stretch marks.....

I've been studying my decreases. They are, in a word, hideous. I started thinking about decreases. I love the way the decreases line up during toe making with socks. Their bulk is part of their beauty. Decreasing every few rows, as in my raglan sleeves, leaves abominable bumps. They are spoilers.

I searched Ravelry forums under : avoiding ugly decreases.
Of course, it had been discussed before.
The very best tip I read said: avoid stretching the stitches at all cost. Bring the stitches to be worked together in the decrease to the very tip, nearly the point of the needles. This minimizes the stretch. I also readathat slipping the first stitich knitwise and the second purlwise helps a little too, before they are knit together for the decrease.

Al took out some of her sweaters to show me her decreases were bumpy too. (hardly) You can see them a tiny bit in her green sweater photographed with her sunflowers. She also mentioned, yarn snob/snot that she is, that all her sweaters were knit with wool and wool blends. I am using ugly acrylic for the practice cardigan. She blames my acrylic yarn for a good part of the problem.

So I've started the decreases on the second sleeve, using the needle tip technique. It does make a difference. A measurable difference. It's all in the tricks, this knitting business. That is what I tell newcomers to our knit world. Just learn the tricks, our knits can be as lovely as we intend them to be.
I'll talk to you in the comments. :)