What a slip, slip, knit decrease does

A slip, slip, knit (often written as SSK) is a way to decrease one stitch that leans to the left. You slip two stitches one at a time, insert your left needle through both of them from left to right, and knit them together. The result looks like a mirror image of a knit two together (K2tog), which leans to the right.

You use SSK when a pattern calls for a left-leaning decrease, usually on the left side of a garment or in shaping that needs to balance a right-leaning decrease on the other side. It's common in raglan sleeves, V-necks, and anywhere the pattern needs the decreases to slope in opposite directions.

Key Takeaways

  • Slip two stitches one at a time knitwise, then insert your left needle through both from left to right and knit them together as one.
  • The finished decrease leans left, making it the mirror of a knit two together, which leans right.
  • SSK is worked on the knit side of your fabric and takes the same number of rows as any other decrease.
  • Practice the motion slowly on scrap yarn until the slip-and-insert step feels natural, because rushing it can twist the stitches.

Step-by-step: how to work an SSK

Step 1: Slip the first stitch. Insert your right needle through the first stitch on your left needle from left to right, as if you were going to knit it. Slide it off the left needle onto the right needle without knitting it. The stitch is now on your right needle.

Step 2: Slip the second stitch the same way. Insert your right needle through the next stitch knitwise and slip it onto the right needle. You now have two slipped stitches sitting on your right needle.

Step 3: Insert your left needle. Take your left needle and insert it through both slipped stitches from left to right (from the front of the work toward the back). Your left needle goes in from the outside, and both stitches sit on it now.

Step 4: Knit them together. Bring your right needle around and knit these two stitches as if they were one stitch. Pull the yarn through and slide both stitches off the left needle. You have now decreased one stitch, and the new stitch leans to the left.

Why the direction matters

The direction a decrease leans is purely visual—it doesn't affect how the garment fits. But when you're shaping both sides of a neckline or armhole, matching decreases that lean away from the center creates a balanced, professional look. If both sides lean the same direction, the shaping looks uneven.

On the right side of a garment, you typically use K2tog (which leans right). On the left side, you use SSK (which leans left). This pairing is so common that many patterns don't even name the decrease—they just say "decrease 1 stitch" and expect you to know which one to use based on which side you're on.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most frequent error is slipping the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise. If you insert your needle as if you were going to purl, the stitches twist slightly, and when you knit them together they won't sit flat. Always slip both stitches knitwise—insert from left to right as if you meant to knit.

Another mistake is inserting your left needle through the stitches from right to left instead of left to right. This reverses the decrease and makes it lean right instead of left. Remember: your left needle goes in from the front of the work, the same direction you'd normally knit.

If your SSK stitches look loose or uneven, you may be pulling the yarn too hard on the next stitch. After you knit the two stitches together, the tension should be the same as any other stitch—snug but not strangled.

When to use SSK versus other decreases

SSK is the standard left-leaning decrease, but it's not the only one. A slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (abbreviated SK1P or SKPO) also leans left and works the same way visually. Some knitters prefer one over the other based on how the stitch feels in their hands, but both are correct.

If your pattern doesn't specify which decrease to use, SSK is the safer choice because it's more common and most knitters recognize it. If a pattern specifically calls for SK1P or another decrease, follow that instruction—the designer may have chosen it for a reason related to the yarn weight or stitch pattern.

Practicing on scrap yarn

If you're new to SSK, spend five or ten minutes on a small swatch of scrap yarn before you work it into a real project. Cast on about twenty stitches and practice the decrease every few rows. The slip-and-insert motion becomes automatic once you've done it a few times, and you'll feel more confident when you reach that step in your actual garment.

Pay attention to how the finished decrease looks. It should sit flat and lean clearly to the left, with no twisted stitches or gaps. If something looks off, unravel back to the decrease and try again. There's no penalty for practice rows—they're just yarn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use SSK on the purl side of my work?

Yes, but it's less common. On the purl side, you would slip both stitches purlwise, insert your left needle through them, and purl them together. The decrease will lean left when viewed from the knit side. Most patterns work decreases on the knit side only, so you may never need to do this.

What if I slip the stitches purlwise by accident?

Your decrease will still work, but the stitches may look slightly twisted. If you notice it, you can unravel back to that row and redo it. As you practice, slipping knitwise will become automatic and you won't have to think about it.

Is SSK harder than knit two together?

It takes one extra step (the left needle insertion), but it's not harder once you've done it a few times. Many knitters find K2tog slightly faster because it's one motion instead of two, but SSK becomes just as quick with practice.

Do I count SSK as one stitch or two?

You count it as one stitch in your final stitch count. You started with two stitches on your needle and ended with one, so you've decreased by one. If your pattern says you should have 40 stitches after decreasing, SSK counts as one of those 40.