Techniques
3 Left-Leaning Decreases: SSK, SKP and K2tog tbl
SSK, SKP and k2tog tbl all turn two stitches into one that leans left. SSK slips two stitches knitwise and knits them together through the back; SKP slips one, knits one and passes the slipped stitch over; k2tog tbl simply knits two together through the back loops. Patterns treat them as interchangeable, and all three mirror the right-leaning k2tog.
By the Knit&Note team
Decreases are how knitting gets its shape. Two stitches become one, the fabric narrows, and a flat rectangle turns into a sleeve, a sock gusset or a raglan line. Most decreases lean, and the lean is visible: a little column of stitches tilting left or right along the shaping line.
The right-leaning decrease is easy. Knit two together, k2tog, done, and it looks great on the first try. The left-leaning side is where knitters start comparing notes, because the standard answer, ssk, has a reputation: it rarely looks quite as crisp as its right-leaning partner. That is why there are three common ways to lean left. Here they are, what separates them, and how to pick.
Why decreases lean at all
When two stitches are knitted together, one of them ends up lying on top. If the top stitch tilts right, the decrease leans right. If it tilts left, the decrease leans left. Every left-leaning method below is just a different way of getting the correct stitch on top. That is the entire mystery.
SSK: slip, slip, knit
The modern default, and what most patterns mean when they want a left lean.
Slip one stitch knitwise.
Slip the next stitch knitwise.
Insert the left needle into the fronts of both slipped stitches and knit them together through the back loops.
Slipping each stitch knitwise turns it around, so when you knit the pair together, the left-tilting stitch lands on top. The common complaint is that the top stitch of an ssk looks slightly loose and stretched next to a neat k2tog. It is not your fault; it is the geometry of reorienting stitches. Working the following row a touch firmer over the ssk helps, and blocking helps more.
A popular refinement: slip the first stitch knitwise but the second one purlwise, then knit both together through the back loops. Many knitters find this "improved ssk" lies flatter and matches k2tog better. If your ssk bothers you, try it. Same lean, same stitch count, tidier column.
SKP: slip, knit, pass over
The one you meet in older patterns, sometimes written "sl1, k1, psso".
Slip one stitch knitwise.
Knit the next stitch.
With the left needle, lift the slipped stitch over the knitted one and off the needle.
The result is close to ssk: same lean, near identical look, since the passing motion also lays the reoriented stitch on top. The main practical difference is the flow of the hands. Some find the lift-and-pass slower and a little harder to keep even; others grew up with it and find ssk fussy instead. If a vintage pattern says skp, you can knit ssk in its place without changing anything else. Nobody will ever know.
K2tog tbl: knit two together through the back loops
The minimalist option.
Insert the right needle into the back loops of the next two stitches.
Knit them together.
One motion, no slipping, and noticeably faster than both alternatives. The trade off is that the stitches do not get reoriented first, so the two stitches end up twisted. In smooth stockinette at a visible shaping line, a sharp eye can spot the twisted column. In garter stitch, textured patterns, fuzzy yarn like mohair, or anywhere speed matters more than a perfect column, it is a fine choice. Twisted is not wrong. It is just a different look.
In the Knit&Note app
In the Knit&Note reader, abbreviations like ssk, skp and k2tog tbl are tappable right in the pattern text, with a short explanation and video on the spot. The counter keeps track of your decrease rounds, which is exactly where "was that round 4 or 6?" tends to strike.
Which one does your pattern mean?
The pattern says ssk, skp or k2tog tbl by name: knit that, or substitute freely. They are interchangeable in stitch count and lean, and only subtly different in looks.
The pattern says "decrease, leaning left" or just "left-leaning decrease": pick your favorite. SSK is the safe default.
A lace pattern names a specific decrease: stay closer to the pattern. In lace, the decrease's appearance is part of the design and the twisted look of k2tog tbl can show.
Pairing with k2tog
Shaping is almost always mirrored, and the convention is simple: the decreases lean in toward each other, into the shaping.
Raglan lines and sock gussets: ssk at the start of the shaping section, k2tog at the end, so both lines lean toward the seam line between them.
A lace motif: the chart tells you which goes where; the leans point into the motif's center or along its spine.
Hat crowns: often k2tog only, because the spiral of right-leaning decreases is the design.
When you knit your decreases, read your knitting. After a few rounds you will see the two columns leaning like mirrored parentheses. Once you can see that, you can spot a misplaced decrease three rounds later and fix it before it becomes archaeology.
FAQ
Are ssk and skp the same thing?
Functionally yes. Both turn two stitches into one left-leaning stitch, and they can replace each other in any pattern. SSK is smoother for most modern knitters' hands and slightly tidier for most tensions, which is why new patterns prefer it.
Why does my ssk look worse than my k2tog?
Because of how the reoriented stitch sits, the top loop of an ssk tends to stretch. Try the improved version, first stitch slipped knitwise and second purlwise, and give the ssk stitch a firm tug of the working yarn on the next row. Blocking evens out most of what remains.
Is k2tog tbl really left-leaning?
Yes. It leans left, but the two stitches are twisted at the base, which gives the decrease line a slightly different texture than ssk. In textured fabric it is invisible; in smooth stockinette it can show.
What is the difference between k2tog and ssk?
K2tog leans right, ssk leans left. They are mirror images and almost always used as a pair, one at each end of a shaping section.
Can I replace ssk with k2tog if I find it easier?
You can, but the decrease line will lean the wrong way, which is visible on raglans, gussets and lace. If ssk frustrates you, switch to k2tog tbl or skp instead. Same lean, different hands.
