The slip slip knit decrease creates a left-leaning slant on your fabric

The slip slip knit (often written as SSK) is a decrease that leans to the left. You slip two stitches one at a time as if to knit, then insert your left needle through both from the left side and knit them together. The result is a single stitch that angles toward the left side of your work — the opposite direction of a knit two together (K2tog), which leans right.

SSK appears in nearly every knitting pattern that involves shaping: armholes, necklines, sleeve caps, and decorative decreases in lace. Learning this one technique opens up patterns you cannot complete with K2tog alone, because the direction of the slant matters to how the finished piece looks.

The motion takes about five seconds once your hands know the path. Most knitters master it within a few practice rows.

Key Takeaways

  • Slip slip knit decreases one stitch and makes it lean left, which is the opposite of knit two together.
  • The three steps are: slip one stitch as if to knit, slip a second stitch the same way, then knit both together through the back loop.
  • SSK appears in shaping instructions for armholes, necklines, and sleeve caps because the left lean balances a right-leaning decrease on the other side.
  • The stitch sits one row below your working yarn, so count down from your needle if you lose track of where you are.

Step-by-step: the three motions of slip slip knit

Step 1: Slip the first stitch. Insert your right needle through the first stitch on your left needle as if you were about to knit it (from left to right, through the front of the loop). Slide that stitch onto your right needle without knitting it. You now have one slipped stitch on your right needle.

Step 2: Slip the second stitch the same way. Insert your right needle through the next stitch on your left needle as if to knit, and slide it onto your right needle. You now have two slipped stitches sitting on your right needle, one in front of the other.

Step 3: Knit both together through the back loop. Insert your left needle through both slipped stitches from the left side (you are going in from the back). Wrap your working yarn around your right needle and pull a new loop through both stitches at once. One new stitch sits on your right needle. The two slipped stitches have been consumed and decreased into one.

That single new stitch leans to the left because of the way the yarn wrapped around the stitches during the slip and knit motion.

Why the left lean matters in pattern instructions

Patterns pair SSK with K2tog to create balanced shaping. On a V-neck, for example, you might work SSK on the left side of the V and K2tog on the right side. The left-leaning decrease on one side mirrors the right-leaning decrease on the other, so the neckline looks symmetrical.

Without this balance, one side of the decrease line would look like it is tilting away from the center, and the other would tilt toward it. The eye catches that imbalance when ready, even if you cannot name what you are seeing.

In lace patterns, the direction of decreases is part of the stitch pattern itself. A leaf motif or a diamond shape relies on decreases that lean in specific directions to outline the shape. Substituting K2tog for SSK changes the visual design, even though both remove one stitch.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common error is slipping the stitches as if to purl instead of as if to knit. When you slip as if to purl, you insert your needle from right to left, which twists the stitch slightly. This changes how it sits on your needle and can make the final decrease look uneven. Always insert from left to right, the knit direction, even though you are not actually knitting yet.

The second mistake is forgetting to knit through the back loop. If you knit through the front loop instead, the decrease leans right instead of left — you have accidentally made a K2tog. The back loop is the one farther from you; inserting your left needle from the back side ensures you catch both stitches in the twisted position that creates the left lean.

If your SSK looks loose or uneven, the issue is usually tension on the working yarn as you pull the new stitch through. Keep even tension on the yarn as you complete the knit motion, the same way you would for any other stitch.

Where SSK shows up in patterns

Shaping instructions use SSK at the beginning of a row or section. You might see "SSK, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog" — this decreases one stitch on each side of the row, creating a symmetrical taper. Armhole shaping often calls for SSK on the right side of the work and K2tog on the left side, which creates the angled edges that fit a sleeve cap.

Lace patterns embed SSK within the stitch pattern itself. A row might read "K3, SSK, yarn over, K2tog, yarn over, SSK, K3" — the decreases and yarn overs create the openwork design. In these patterns, the position and direction of each decrease is intentional and affects how the lace looks when finished.

Raglan shaping (where the sleeve decreases meet the body at a diagonal line) uses SSK and K2tog in pairs to create that diagonal line. The decreases happen every few rows, and the left and right leans work together to form a clean, angled edge.

Practicing SSK before you use it in a project

If you have not done SSK before, spend ten minutes on a practice swatch before you work it into an actual project. Cast on 20 stitches in a worsted-weight yarn and a size that feels comfortable in your hands. Knit five rows in garter stitch (knit every row).

On row 6, knit 5 stitches, then work SSK, knit to the end. On row 7, knit across. Repeat rows 6 and 7 until you have only 10 stitches left. You will see the left-leaning decrease line form down the middle of your swatch. Once the motion feels automatic, you are ready to use it in a pattern.

The practice swatch also shows you what SSK looks like in your yarn and gauge, which helps you recognize it when you are reading your own finished work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SSK and K2tog?

Both decrease one stitch, but they lean in opposite directions. SSK leans left; K2tog leans right. Patterns use both to create balanced shaping and to outline stitch patterns in lace. You cannot substitute one for the other without changing how the finished piece looks.

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

Yes. The purl-side version is called P2tog through the back loop (P2tog tbl). You purl two stitches together through the back loop, which creates a left-leaning decrease on the purl side. It pairs with SSK on the knit side to create balanced shaping.

What if I slip the stitches as if to purl by accident?

Your decrease will still work, but it may look slightly twisted or uneven. The stitch sits on your needle in a different position, which changes how the yarn wraps around it. For the cleanest look, always slip as if to knit, even though you are not knitting the stitches yet.

Does SSK use more yarn than K2tog?

No. Both decreases consume the same amount of yarn and remove one stitch. The only difference is the direction the stitch leans. Yarn usage and gauge remain the same.

How do I know if I did SSK correctly?

The new stitch should lean noticeably to the left. If you look at the base of the stitch on your needle, the yarn should angle from right to left. If it angles left to right, you made a K2tog instead. Practice on a swatch until the lean is clear and consistent.