SSK is a left-leaning decrease that slants the opposite way from a knit two together

SSK stands for slip, slip, knit. It is a way to decrease one stitch by combining two stitches into one, and the result leans to the left on your fabric. If your pattern calls for SSK, you slip two stitches one at a time from the left needle to the right needle, then insert the left needle through both of them from left to right and knit them together as one stitch. The finished decrease slopes toward the left side of your work.

SSK is paired with K2tog (knit two together) in most patterns because they are mirror images of each other. K2tog leans right; SSK leans left. When you use them on opposite sides of a piece—like on either side of a center stitch in a shawl or the edges of a sleeve cap—they create a balanced, symmetrical look. Learning SSK takes a few tries, but once your hands know the motion, it becomes automatic.

Key Takeaways

  • SSK requires you to slip two stitches individually, then knit them together through the back loop, creating a left-leaning decrease.
  • The motion is: slip one stitch knitwise, slip the second stitch knitwise, insert the left needle into both from the left, and knit them together.
  • SSK and K2tog are mirror decreases and are often used together in the same row to create symmetrical shaping.
  • Practice the hand position and the needle angle on scrap yarn before working SSK in a finished project.

Step-by-step: How to work an SSK

Start with stitches on your left needle and your working yarn in the back. Insert your right needle through the first stitch on the left needle from left to right, as if you were going to knit it. Slip that stitch onto the right needle without knitting it. Do not drop it from the left needle yet—it is now on both needles.

Repeat the motion with the second stitch: insert the right needle through it from left to right and slip it onto the right needle. Now you have two slipped stitches sitting on the right needle, and the left needle is empty at that point.

Insert the left needle through both slipped stitches from the left side (so the left needle goes in from left to right, and the tip points toward the right). The left needle should pass through both stitches at once. Wrap the working yarn around the right needle and pull it through both stitches, completing one knit stitch. You have now decreased by one stitch, and the new stitch leans to the left.

Why the slipping direction matters

When you slip stitches for SSK, you slip them knitwise—meaning the needle goes through them the same way it would if you were knitting them. This twists the stitches slightly on the needle. That twist is what allows you to knit them together through the back loop in the final step, which creates the left-leaning angle.

If you slip the stitches purlwise instead (the way you would for a purl stitch), the twist goes the wrong direction and the decrease will not look right. Always slip knitwise for SSK, even though it feels less natural at first.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common error is inserting the left needle through the slipped stitches from the wrong direction. You should insert it from the left side, so the needle tip points to the right. If you insert from the right, you will be working into the back of the stitches and the decrease will twist the wrong way. Slow down on this step until it becomes automatic.

Another mistake is knitting the two stitches separately instead of together. After you have slipped both stitches onto the right needle and inserted the left needle through them, you must knit them as a single unit. If you knit the first stitch, drop it, and then knit the second stitch, you have not decreased—you have just rearranged your stitches.

Some knitters also slip the stitches purlwise by accident, especially if they are used to slipping stitches for other techniques. Watch your needle angle: for SSK, the right needle should go through the stitch the same way it would for a knit stitch, not a purl stitch.

SSK versus K2tog: When to use each one

Both SSK and K2tog reduce your stitch count by one, but they lean in opposite directions. K2tog leans to the right because you knit two stitches together without slipping them first. SSK leans to the left because of the slip-slip-knit motion.

In a pattern, you will often see both decreases used in the same row, placed symmetrically. For example, a raglan sleeve cap might call for SSK at the beginning of a row and K2tog at the end of the same row. This creates a balanced shaping line on both sides of the sleeve. If you used K2tog on both sides, the decreases would lean the same direction and the shaping would look uneven.

Some patterns use only SSK or only K2tog throughout. In those cases, the lean is intentional and part of the design. Always follow the pattern as written, because the designer chose the decreases to match the look they wanted.

Practice tips for getting SSK smooth

Work SSK on scrap yarn in a straightforward stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) until the motion feels natural. Do not try to learn it while working a complicated lace pattern or colorwork—save SSK practice for plain knitting where you can focus on the hand position.

Knit a few rows, then work a row of SSK decreases spaced out across the row. This gives you multiple chances to practice without running out of stitches. After a few rows of practice, the slip-slip-knit motion will become muscle memory and you will not have to think about it.

If your SSK stitches look loose or uneven compared to the rest of your knitting, try tightening the working yarn slightly as you complete the decrease. Some knitters find that a gentle tug on the yarn after knitting the two stitches together helps the stitch sit neatly on the needle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SSK the same as K2tog?

No. Both decrease one stitch, but SSK leans left and K2tog leans right. They are mirror images of each other. Patterns use both together to create balanced shaping, especially in garment construction.

Can I use K2tog instead of SSK if I do not like how SSK feels?

You can, but the shaping will look different. If the pattern calls for SSK on one side and K2tog on the other, using K2tog on both sides will make the decreases lean the same direction and the piece may look lopsided. For symmetrical shaping, stick with what the pattern specifies.

What does it mean to knit through the back loop?

After you slip two stitches and insert the left needle through them, you knit them together by wrapping the yarn and pulling it through. The left needle is going through the back of the stitches (the side away from you), which is what creates the left-leaning decrease. This is the key difference from K2tog.

Why does my SSK look twisted?

The most common cause is slipping the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise. Make sure the right needle goes through each stitch the same way it would for a knit stitch. Also check that you are inserting the left needle from the left side when you knit the two stitches together.

Do I need to slip the stitches knitwise every time?

Yes. For SSK, always slip knitwise. This is what creates the correct twist in the stitches so the decrease leans left. Other techniques use purlwise slips, but SSK specifically requires knitwise slips.