How to Decrease (SSK)

Tutorial Overview

SSK is an abbreviation for 'slip, slip, knit', a method used to create a left leaning decrease in knitting. We often use this method when creating garments that require right leaning decreases on one side (for example k2tog) and left leaning decreases on the other, such as shaping for shoulders and sleeves. 

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Step-by-step guide

Step 1:

Knit until you've reached the SSK abbreviation in your pattern.

Step 2:

Insert your right needle through the next stitch on the left needle, as if to knit.
Slip this stitch from your left needle to your right.

Step 3:

Repeat this a second time. Insert your right needle through the next stitch on the left needle.
Slip this stitch from your left needle to your right.

Step 4:

You'll now insert your left needle through the front of those 2 slipped stitches on your right-hand needle.

Step 5:

Then loop the yarn around the tip of the right-hand needle anticlockwise.

Step 6:

Pull the loop through the 2 stitches to the front of your work.

Step 7:

Then slide out the left-hand needle.

You have now decreased your number of stitches by one! This decrease will lean towards the left.

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