Slip Slip Knit (SSK) is the “sister stitch” to K2tog. Both decrease the number of stitches you have.
Like most knitting stitches, “Slip Slip Knit (SSK”), describes what you do…to reduce a stitch this way, you will carry out the following steps:
Slipping “knitwise” simply means putting your needle under the stitch as if you were going to knit it, but not knitting it, instead sliding it onto the right-hand needle. As shown in the picture below.
woohoo, one stitch down using SSK! nice! 🙂
So…why use SSK and K2tog?
When you’re following a pattern, you might find that the design uses SSK at one “side” of the row / item and K2tog at the other end.
Like Make 1 Left (M1L) and Make 1 Right (M1R), this is because SSK “leans” to the left and K2tog “leans” to the right.
For example, if we look at my Freddie the Field Mouse pattern, you will see that his body decreases slant each side.
You should use whichever stitch you pattern tells you to use…just now hopefully you understand why you will need both! 🙂
Happy Knitting!
Jo
Well I never knew that !
Hi I always do slip 1 st, knit the next then pass the slipped stitch over the knitted one
interesting. I know that as a “psso” decrease or a “pass slipped stitch over”. funny how we are all taught differently! 😊
What a great idea. I’ve never heard of this before, but will certainly use it in place of paso in future. It seems to be a lot neater. Thanks.
good! I’m glad it was useful! thanks! 😊
Thank you I did not know that – very helpful
Isn’t ssk the same as knit 2 together through back loop? Cheers, Dianne
Interesting question, on the face of it, yes it does seem the same but I think that something to do with slipping the stitches first stops the stitches from getting twisted. If you K1 through back loop, it will twist the stitch, I assume that the same is true if you K2tog BL too? SSK, just creates a leaning increase.
And of course it all changes if you knit continental like I do. My leading leg on my left hand needle is at the back and in this example it at the front. Who ever said knitting was zen?
true! I’ve never been able to master “continental” style! I can knit the odd row but I am so slow!
I’m glad to know why ssk. Also, I needed to know that the slip was as if to knit. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a charming way.
My hat pattern instructions are to ssk until I reach the marker then knit 2 together. I started with 18 stitches within each marker. When I reached the end of first marker, second round I have 3 stitches left. So if I ssk I will not be able to knit 2 together at end of marker. Am I supposed to disregard the markers after first round? How do I handle the uneven number. Thanks for your help.
Trankil tou for your very clear explanations.I have to translate a pattern from english to french and you helped me a lot !
you’re welcome!