A Better Way to SSK

Learn a better way to create a left leaning decrease!
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[@KathiTrujillo-kn6qn]

"Old chicks can learn new tricks". I love it!

[@francesjackson2511]

This old chick just turned 94 and I'm overjoyed to learn this new trick! For many years I've been unhappy with the un-matching sides of my sock heels, and this is a wonderful solution. Thank you so much for posting this!

[@donnas9599]

How nice of you to share…I’ve been following Patty’s tricks & classes for ages. The BEST SSK!

[@maryannbergeron9531]

At 77, I agree “Old chicks can definitely learn new tricks!” Thanks for sharing. I am ordering the book. ❤

[@brokahontis62]

Thank you for demonstrating the method! Your video is perfect! You always zoom enough to clearly show what you're doing. ❤❤❤

[@PurlTogether]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lainieepstein7753]

I learned this from Patty Lyons a couple of years ago and works great for all projects but especially for lace. Her book is excellent!

[@maryrakas4901]

What an awesome technique! I love this so much better than the old way

[@joycestone5292]

AWESOME!!! I’ve always hated that raised leg on my SSKs on my socks! Thanks for sharing that tip. I’ll need to get that book!

[@doreensickling7031]

In England we’re always taught to place our right hand needle through the back of the two stitches together and knit them off they always come out straight. Much easier.

[@vskywark]

But twisted

[@beverlyhess611]

I so agree with you! It always bothers me too that they are wonky….this seems like a great reprieve! Thanks for sharing!

[@laurieosterndorf]

Credit where credit is due. I learned this years ago at Meg Swanson’s Knitting Camp. She learned it from her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, the OG of knitting brilliantly.

[@ceb2737]

Exactly!

[@skhelmick]

Thanks so much Jana! I've had Patty's book, but seeing this improved SSK in video made it much clearer for me!

[@ooohlaa13]

wow I love elevating knitting into the fine art that it is ... I am heading for my local library to check out Patty' s book. thanx so much love your no nonsense non cutie delivery, just pure professional!

[@kyleelizabethcook3787]

I would love it if, when teaching a stitch, we were also taught to "tink" it! Thanks for the great information!

[@jeandekeyser6262]

Thanks Jana! I got Patty's book for Christmas and agree with you, it's a great book! Glad to see you to the SSK the way she describes, I'll be giving it a try.

[@LoriNeu19]

I discovered Patty Lyon and her books on the recent ITIKH podcast. And I was delighted to find her Tricks book at my local bookstore! Thanks for doing the video, Jana; I learn things much faster from watching your demonstrations.

[@lisalloki]

❤ Book ordered. You rock.

[@vivienneclarke2421]

Perfect timing ~!! I just started a lacy baby blanket for my new grandson due in September,,it has ALOT of ssk's.......going to try this right now~!! Thank you🧶🥢

[@carolynrockafellow417]

Wow so awesome. Thank you for sharing this.

[@44jaxmom]

Thanks so much for this!! I'm excited

[@Kate-yx7rk]

Ha! - I changed my SSK to Patti Lyon's method just last night!! Getting that stitch through the 'triangle' is a little tricky to begin with but so worth it when you see what a difference in the finished decrease. Thanks for doing this little vid.

[@marymorris6897]

6:00 for exact stitch. Wonderful!!!

[@EvieO1950]

We certainly can!! Thanks for sharing a great tip!

[@ursulamanwiller5630]

Wow. I’m anxious to try it. Very tidy. Thank you.

[@user-cv4ii7hd7x]

Very nice and thanks for the new book. ❤

[@lynnechinnock4020]

Absolutely brilliant Jana, thanks 👍🏻

[@midwestkatie4]

Love this! Going to have to practice it!

[@jeanrichards8042]

Holy cow! I've been knitting socks (b/c that's why I started knitting to begin with) and I noticed this w/ask too! I had no idea about Patty Lyons book but it's on my must read list now, thanks for always bringing us knitter's such valuable info and your delightful personality too😁

[@lindacornelius3451]

Thank you, I have this book. Thank you

[@nickycarpinelli8128]

Agree-great book!

[@ginnyc]

Patty Lyons book is great! Thanks for demonstrating. 💜

[@3232siobhan]

When I started to knit three years ago, I stumbled on Patty Lyons' videos and she is brilliant!!

[@Melanie-Jay77]

Hello ! Great to see you! Have a great weekend!

[@theastewart6721]

Great technique. Thanks for sharing.😊

[@cozycomfy589]

Been doing that technique for a year and love it.

[@laurabeatrizlanglegarcia9225]

Very interesting! I'll try it for sure! Thanks for sharing!

[@gailterry3134]

What a great way to do SSKs!! Very tidy. Thank you for sharing.

[@cynthia2553]

Thank you for this video!!!!!!❤❤❤

[@trixieknits]

That’s fantastic!!!!

[@anitawessels3932]

Thanks Jana. I will practice on my after through heal.

[@andreasissons7766]

This is such great info. I'm going to try it on my next knitted hat.

[@annmargaretwatts6474]

That’s a great stitch to learn. Thank you.

[@alleneileen]

so great for socks! I showed this to all my knitter friends after learning it from Patti, thanks for sharing!

[@crochetlady_]

Thanks for sharing will be doing this one now 😊

[@gabriellejacobs1192]

That is really useful. I'm going to try it today on my raglans!

[@aggiemakes]

Awesome thank you!❤❤

[@karenalbery2773]

I just started doing this too. I saw her book of knitting tricks now has a workbook! With stickers!!!

[@adrahtaylor7993]

Thank you for great information.

[@aquinnahsun]

Great tutorial, Jana. I had seen Patty demonstrate this in a video a few years ago, and it’s become my go-to SSK.

[@karenb136]

Thanks. I will try that.

[@sydssong]

Love this book! Have been using her technique ever since getting her book last year. Thank you for this demonstration!

[@ingernordli8626]

Thank you from Norway 😊❤

[@yvonnemariereibin9891]

Thank you very much. This is an awesome idea. I need to practice,practice,practice.

[@jodydcrawford5470]

I’ve just recently ordered her book and am very much looking forward to sinking my teeth into it. Thanks for sharing, Jana.

[@tinaporubsky]

Very timely & helpful because I just started decreases on sweater sleeves. I can’t wait to try this technique.

[@evaromain3199]

Really great tip. Thanks a lot👌

[@carlacrazymom]

very awesome. thanks for this.

[@gailsardoni8260]

Thank you for showing this! And for introducing Patty Lyons book. I have not liked the look of my SSKs either. In my current project, I’m making diamonds, which look so similar to your sample. I’m excited to try this technique!! I was terribly displeased with the look of my SSK’s compared to my K2TOGs that I undid my 1st 22 rows 4 times. Finally I chose to simply K2TOG through the back loop instead of SSK which looks a lot better but not as prominent. I am going to try this way. I am sure that finally the left and the right sides of my diamonds will be symmetrical.

[@nanfredman1991]

This is great! And thanks so much for the pointer to Patty Lyons’ book. It’s pretty fabulous!👍❤️

[@SewYarnarm-ge2wu]

Brilliant 👏 Thanks

[@joejames2167]

Thank you for sharing this tip! it's something I've never noticed probably because I never really looked. I looking forward to trying this out as I'm currently working the gussets on a pair of socks. Happy 4th!

[@pollyolaughlin2762]

Thank you for showing us this technique. I'm trying to knit a tank top with lace pattern at the bottom. I'm loving using this left leaning decrease. ❤❤❤

[@Knits-WIPs-N-Chains]

OMGosh. I'm definitely going to be trying this. Thank You. I just always assumed that I was doing something wrong.

[@Darvit_Nu]

I had to come back to say a HUGE thank you for recommending Patty Lyon's "Knitting Bag if Tricks" book & providing the link! I ordered it & took a peek at the ebook sample pages. I've been knitting & crocheting most of my life & am really excited to read Patty's book. I saw some great information already in the sample pages. ❤ The workbook is most likely going to be pre-ordered as well. I enjoy the style of her writing & the information. The illustrations really are fantastic. I'm a very visual & hands on learner so I thoroughly appreciate tutorials in the style that you upload on your channel! Very clear to see what you're doing & the explanation is very clear of what you're doing, why & the effect it creates in the work. 😇

[@jaggcalgary.7938]

I bought this book immediately! There's always a use for new ways of doing things. You are so right about the illustrations too. That was the first thing I checked when looking at a sample of the book. The illustrations are great. I also have the Vogue book which is also a good resource but their illustrations will make your eyes go curly.

[@CourtReporter7]

OMG. I have that book! I bought it a couple years ago after I finally taught myself how to knit (been a crocheter for 40 years), but I’ve barely cracked it open. I’m going to be scouring it now that you’ve reminded me of it! 😂

[@carmeslynn]

Hi Jana, Thank you so much for sharing the modified ssk technique. I used it on a pair of socks today and could not believe how even and tidy the ssk stitches turned out. I will use it from now on. Carrie from Northern San Francisco Bay Area.🥰❤🐕🐑☕🧵🪡🧶

[@melsharp4613]

I just knit my last pair of socks with this decrease...soooo much neater!!

[@janetg4551]

OMG 🤩 Thank you ❤❤❤

[@dianastrub3669]

This is very helpful

[@reenafleischhauer1140]

Wow that’s pretty neat.

[@oppositeofh8]

wow, thanks for all the valuable information. i had never heard of that author/book. i'll be picking one up soon. 😻😻😻😻😻 5/5

[@dianeazzopardi6269]

That was the best ever SSK.

[@user-wg9ij2ro5l]

great stuff thankyou

[@nobleelf]

I did get Patty's book. I do have to say that, as great as the illustrations are, having YOU talk through the steps and show them, really made a difference! ❤ I will also mention that I wish I'd either bought the Kindle or the spiral bound edition, as it's a bit difficult holding the book open and working through her ideas. I will definitely do that with the Workbook, and use my tablet to more easily access and see what she is teaching!

[@TheSuzberry]

I think I’ve seen this in one of the Russian knitting videos but without the instructions. Thanks so much!

[@LouiseMaryification]

I think this is going to be a game changer going forwards!

[@tracya6702]

brilliant!

[@doreenarcher8543]

Thank you thank you❤️Finally.

[@ginp6077]

I just watched Patty Lyons' video right before this one but she didn't mention her book. I hopped over to my public library website and happily, they have her book on Hoopla so I checked it out. Thanks for the suggestion! I thought your demonstration was very clear and easy to follow.

[@cynthiagilbreth1352]

Thank you for this! I have the book but haven’t reached that part. I plan on buying the workbook as it is always better to knit lots of swatches and the workbook will make it fun.

[@kjrussell8831]

I wish I had known about this better method when I knitted a raglan sweater. I haven’t completed the seaming yet so I’m hoping blocking will improve it.

[@debreischool]

Great tip, thanks! I am a TKGAMHK and very open for good tips, it’s the result that counts 😍. Ordered Patty Lyons book and workbook (delivery in Europe in October 🤪) and I look forward to the mystery call, also ordered. Casapinka is new to me and I love your humor and way of presenting. I’ll be following you from the Netherlands (the crazy orange bunch)! When you’re around Holland some time, please visit my knitting school on Wednesday afternoon, they won’t understand the language but we’ll have fun knitting! Cheers ❤

[@marsy1480]

Lovely sock yarn!

[@PurlTogether]

This swatch is actually a worsted weight called Berroco Renew.

[@sueholubeshen9960]

I have always knit together through the back loop as taught by my grandmother many many years ago as it's one step and basically the same thing as the book

[@jnz9389]

K2tog tbl is the way my Scottish grandmother taught me

[@DanaBarbieri]

Patty's method keeps the resulting stitch mount correct.

[@jacquelineleibfried4691]

Thank you

[@Craftingbug92]

Wow, great tip. Now to order the book 😂

[@ingriddurfee6582]

I LOVE Patty Lyons’ book! Full of excellent tips.

[@maeleetieman4403]

Mind = blown! I'm about to abandon my current WIP to start a hat just to try this out! 🤣 Thanks!!

[@Tinacrafts2]

Yes, I have tried that technique. A little fiddly at first. I just have to remember to do it this way. 🤭 Someone on IG also posted a tip for socks. After doing the SSK on gusset decreases, just K tbl on next row to straighten things better. I’m also an “old” chick who needs that book too!

[@PurlTogether]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@auntylinda7640]

Whatever happened to sl1, k1, psso? That looks the best as long as you don't stretch your stitches. X

[@PurlTogether]

That works too, it's just a different look.

[@shllybkwrm]

If you think about the direction your yarn is going thru the stitches by the end of this, I'm pretty sure it's the same as a k2tog

[@shllybkwrm]

However, slipping knitwise can make something different!

[@CornbreadOracle]

I’ve been doing this for years. Don’t even remember where I picked it up. It’s just how I do a left leaning decrease and substitute it for ssk without even thinking. I note it as K2togL. In my head cannon it’s knit two together left.

[@countyofcaptivatingcorgwn4784]

That is amazing!! My SSK’s are definitely not very smooth!

[@balgrantango460]

Wonderful !!! Thanks so much. It always bothered me too that my sock gussets were not the same on each side. Thanks again!

[@barbarawood3209]

Me, too!😁😁😁

[@vivianpowell1732]

I have found that Slip one knitwise, Slip one purlwise, Knit2tog works just as well.

[@BrigitteSchoeppl]

thank you so much - that's really great!❤ I tryed it immediately - absolutely perfect! May I ask you a favour? please, next time, if possible take some yarn in white, beige, yellow, light blue or something like that. In dark colours it is very difficult to see the pattern... thank you so much❤

[@maryfrank2175]

I LOVE this book...and learned the same trick from it! It DOES work well... Definitely an Old Chick! 😂

[@susannehoward3718]

Ha funny, I came to the same conclusion by myself, but since I have trouble with going into the second stitch and then coming back out, i just slip the stitch to the right and back to the left, twisting it, and just knitting both together. Of course, thats more than 1 step, plus i cant adjust tension, so I may have to try again....

[@MrsGump]

Ive never noticed the "step" of the stich before (still new to knitting) until i saw this & now its driving me INSANE 🤣