As a knitter, you might come across the term "SSK”. It is an abbreviation for slip slip knit. Knitting includes various techniques and ‘slip slip knit’ is one such method. It helps to create a neat left-leaning decrease with knitting needles. It is easy and mostly used in shaping projects like sweaters and socks. There are several techniques for decreasing the stitch count in the row or round. This blog will explore the SSK technique, the steps, and tips and tricks to master the beautiful skill.

Let’s explore and understand it.

What exactly is SSK- Slip Slip Knit?

In simple words, SSK (Slip Slip Knit) is a method used in knitting to decrease stitches. You simply slip one stitch, then the next and then knit them together. Whether working on socks or a cardigan with double-pointed needles, you might need the decrease technique anytime on your project. Even if you are working on a shawl with circular knitting needles, the technique comes in handy for lace patterns and other decreases.

SSK makes two stitches as one with a sleek, left-slanting decrease instead of right-slanting in K2tog. You don’t need fancy tools for this technique. Learn more about the decrease technique by referring to our blog on how to master the art of decreasing knit stitches - a comprehensive guide.

How to do SSK?

SSK means slip slip knit and that are the only instructions that you need to follow. Once you get to the stitch where you need to make an SSK, place a stitch marker.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Insert the needle

• First, insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle but you don’t need to knit it. Instead, slip it onto your right-hand needle. Keep your slipped stitch loose and relaxed. It's simple and easy.

Step 2: Slip the stitch

• Now, in the same way, slip the second stitch and repeat the step 1. Till now, you’ve just slid two stitches and not knitted anything.

Step 3: Work with two slipped stitches

• Next, insert your left-hand needle into the front of the two slipped stitches on your right-hand needle. Knit them together through the back loops. This technique results in those two stitches becoming one, with a neat little left-leaning decrease.

You’ve just completed an SSK.

When to use an SSK method?

There are various techniques through, which you can decrease your stitches, from the ‘cast-off’ to the ‘pass one-over’. Each method offers a slightly different texture and finishing touch. You will mostly notice this in shaping necklines on sweaters, narrowing down the toe like in socks, or for rounded and neat shapes or giving the edges a beautiful look.

And once you master this technique in your knitting toolkit, you’ll feel ready to take on more advanced patterns. If you’re knitting a big, cozy blanket, circular needles will give you the space and flexibility you need.

Do you want to know what is K2tog? Refer to our blog on knitting tutorials: how do you knit two stitches together?

Pointy needle tips, such as stainless steel knitting needles from the Mindful Collection or Nova are preferred by knitters to smoothen the process and get the decrease right. A knitting needles set is a good choice as it ensures you get the right size for your job.

Other alternatives to SSK

Let’s check out some other methods:

• Knit2together (k2tog)

This is right leasing decreases in which, you need to insert the right needle into the next two stitches on the left needle and then, knit them together.

• Slip Slip Purl (SSP)

It creates a left-leaning decrease with a slightly different texture. In this method, slip the first stitch as if to knit, and then, slip the second stitch as if to purl. Afterward, insert the left needle into the front loops of both slipped stitches and purl them together.

• Purl Two Together (P2tog)

This is again a simple method wherein instead of knitting the stitches, you purl the next two stitches together as one.

• Centered double decrease (CDD)

This simple decrease method decreases the two stitches at the center of the row or round without a left or right leaning effect.

Keep in mind, that you will find various methods, and each can affect the appearance of your knitting, so it’s good to experiment and choose the one that best fits your project.

Finally, you’ve learned slip slip knit (SSK) like a pro. It wasn’t so difficult after all, right? Now you’re all set to add SSK to your knitting skill and impress all your friends. Grab your knitting needles, and yarn, and start using the method in your projects.

Intarsia knitting is a fascinating colorwork technique. Knitters can add distinct color blocks to their projects with knitting needles, producing complex designs without carrying many yarn strands across the back of the piece. This technique provides a flat, smooth fabric perfect for intricate designs and broad color regions. Let's discuss the fundamentals of intarsia knitting in this blog, along with materials, methods, and advice that will help you become an expert in this technique.

What is Intarsia Knitting?

Intarsia knitting is an advanced method that creates multicolored designs by working with separate balls of yarn colors. If you are interested in transferring pictures or complex designs into your knitting project, intarsia is a perfect option. This method differs from Fair Isle, where multiple colors are carried at the back of the work, while intarsia uses separate balls of yarn for each color section. Read our blog on Intarsia Knitting vs Fair Isle for more details. This results in clean and flat fabrics on both sides. With the circular knitting needles, you can easily create the intarsia project using large, solid colors or complex designs.

What Materials Do You Need?

To start the intarsia method, gather all the materials:

• Yarn: Choose the different yarn colors suitable for your project in terms of weight and fiber content. To keep your work consistent, make sure all of the yarns you choose have comparable weights and textures.
• Knitting Needles: You can choose any pair of single-pointed needles for back-forth knitting. However, when knitting in the round, you can either select a set of double-pointed needles or circular ones.
• Bobbins: Although they are not required, bobbins are useful for organizing and controlling different yarn colors, which helps you avoid tangling while working.
• Scissor: To cut the yarn when changing the color.
• Pattern: This is a must when knitting an intarsia pattern or chart that guides you when to change colors or designs.

Step-by-Step Knitting Intarsia in Round

Here are some simple steps that you can follow for knitting in round:

Step 1: Select the Design

• You can either select an intarsia pattern or create your own. You can move on to more sophisticated designs with intricate themes or graphics as your confidence grows. Keep in mind this method looks perfect when working with distinct color blocks or shapes.

Step 2: Getting Your Yarn Ready

• Create a different yarn source for every color component in your design. To deal with shorter lengths, you can make smaller quantities of yarn into bobbins. In this way, you can easily manage several colors at once and avoid tangling.

Step 3: Casting On

• Using the technique of your choice, cast on the necessary number of stitches using the main yarn color.

Step 4: Start With Knitting the First Row (Right Side)

• Follow the instructions on the pattern. While knitting with double-pointed needles or circular ones, when you reach the point where you need to join a new color then drop the main color (MC) and pick up the new color underneath the main color.
• Now, knit across the row with the new color (NW) until you reach the end of the color block or shape. Twisting the strands together, in this step stops holes or gaps from forming during the color change. Make sure to leave a tail of the new color so that it may be woven in later.

Step 5: Knitting the Second Row (Wrong Side)

• When you come to the color block or shape where you need to join the second color (SC), drop the NW and pick up the SC from underneath.
• Purl across the row with SC, until you reach the desired block or shape.

Step 6: Repeat the Process

• Continue to follow the process, knit, and purl as per the pattern instructions.

Step 7: Weaving in the End

• After completing your project, you will find several yarns for weaving. Use a darning needle to weave the ends.

Step 8: Finishing

• In the end, block your finished pieces to even out the stitches.

Tips for Successful Intarsia Knitting

• Start Small: To gain confidence and a better grasp of intarsia methods, start with easy tasks. Swatches, dishtowels, or scarves with simple color blocks are great places to start.
• Organize different yarns: To avoid tangling, keep your yarns neat. To store each color independently, use tiny containers or bobbins. To keep things organized, arrange them according to their purpose and untwist them occasionally.
• Practice: It's important to have patience when working with the intarsia method, it's not difficult but you need to be focused while changing the colors.
• Choose the Suitable Yarn: Select yarns with high stitch definition and a smooth texture.

With the intarsia technique, you can easily create numerous possibilities. The famous Intarsia knitwear designer is an artist named Kaffe Fassett and he also designs quilts and fabrics. One of the main reasons to learn this wonderful technique is that you can create your own designs for your loved ones. You'll quickly be able to add complex color patterns to various projects with patience and skill, giving your knitting projects a unique and creative flair.