A left leaning decrease slants your stitches to the left

A left leaning decrease (often written as SSK or slip-slip-knit) is a decrease that makes your knitting slant toward the left side of your work. It pairs with the right leaning decrease to create balanced shaping — the two mirror each other. You use it when a pattern calls for shaping that leans left, usually on the left side of a garment or to balance a right leaning decrease on the opposite side.

The most common method is the slip-slip-knit, which takes three stitches and turns them into one. It is straightforward once you see it done, and it produces a clean, professional edge on your finished piece.

Key Takeaways

  • Slip-slip-knit (SSK) is the standard left leaning decrease: slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loop.
  • The decrease slants left because you are working the stitches in reverse order before knitting them together.
  • SSK and right leaning decreases (like knit two together) are mirror images and are used on opposite sides of shaping to keep edges even.
  • Practice the motion slowly on a practice swatch until the slip-and-knit motion becomes automatic.

The slip-slip-knit method step by step

Start with your working yarn in back and your needles positioned as if you are about to knit a stitch. Slip the first stitch on your left needle knitwise (insert your right needle through the stitch from left to right, as if to knit, then slide it off the left needle onto the right needle without knitting it). Do not twist the stitch.

Slip the second stitch knitwise the same way. You now have two slipped stitches on your right needle. Insert your left needle through both stitches from left to right — you are going through them from the front, and your needle will pass through the back loops of both stitches. Knit these two stitches together through the back loop. You have decreased one stitch and created a left leaning slant.

The reason this decreases left is that you slipped the stitches in reverse order before knitting them together. When you knit them through the back loop, they sit on the fabric leaning toward the left.

Why slip-slip-knit instead of other decreases

Knit two together (K2tog) is faster — you straightforward knit two stitches as one — but it leans right. Slip-slip-knit takes an extra motion but produces a left lean, which is why patterns specify it when they need that direction.

Some knitters use a different method called knit through the back loop (K1tbl, K1tbl, then knit them together), but slip-slip-knit is more common because it is easier to keep even tension. The slip motion gives you a moment to settle the stitches before you knit them together.

If your pattern says SSK, use slip-slip-knit. If it says P2tog tbl (purl two together through the back loop) on a purl row, that is the purl version of the same decrease and leans the same direction.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most frequent error is slipping the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise. If you insert your needle from right to left (as if to purl), you twist the stitch, and your decrease will look uneven or sit at an angle. Always slip knitwise — insert from left to right, the way you would if you were about to knit.

Another mistake is forgetting to knit through the back loop. If you knit through the front loop instead, your decrease will lean right, not left. The back loop is essential — that is what creates the left lean. If your decrease is leaning the wrong direction, you slipped knitwise but knitted through the front loop by accident.

Tension can also be uneven if you pull too hard on the yarn after the decrease. Keep your tension the same as the rest of your row. If the stitch looks tight or bunched, loosen your next stitch slightly.

When to use left leaning decreases in your projects

Use a left leaning decrease on the left edge of shaping — for example, on the left side of a V-neck or the left side of an armhole. Pair it with a right leaning decrease (K2tog) on the right edge. This creates balanced, symmetrical shaping that looks intentional rather than accidental.

If a pattern says "SSK at the beginning of the row" and "K2tog at the end of the row," that is telling you to decrease left on one side and right on the other. Both decrease one stitch, but they lean in opposite directions, so the edges match.

Some patterns use SSK on every decrease row, and some use it only on certain rows. Follow the pattern instructions. If the pattern does not specify which decrease to use, SSK on the left and K2tog on the right is the standard choice.

Practice on a swatch before your project

Knit a small practice swatch — about 20 stitches and 30 rows — and practice the slip-slip-knit motion on it. Work a few rows in stockinette stitch, then do an SSK decrease, work a few more rows, and do another one. This gives you a feel for the motion without the pressure of working on an actual garment.

Once the slip-and-knit motion feels natural, you can work faster and keep more even tension. Many knitters find that after a few decreases, the motion becomes automatic and they stop thinking about each step.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SSK and K2tog?

Both decrease one stitch, but they lean in opposite directions. K2tog leans right because you knit two stitches together in order. SSK leans left because you slip them in reverse order before knitting them together. Patterns use both to create balanced shaping on opposite sides of a piece.

Can I use SSK on a purl row?

Yes, but it is called P2tog tbl (purl two together through the back loop). Slip two stitches purlwise one at a time, insert your left needle through both from right to left, and purl them together through the back loop. It creates the same left lean on the purl side.

Why does my SSK look twisted or uneven?

You likely slipped the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise, or you knitted through the front loop instead of the back loop. Always slip knitwise (left to right) and always knit through the back loop. Check your next decrease and correct the motion.

Do I have to use SSK or can I use a different left leaning decrease?

SSK is the most common, but other left leaning decreases exist (like CDD, central double decrease). If your pattern specifies SSK, use that. If it just says "left leaning decrease," SSK is the standard choice and will match the pattern's intent.