Sloppy SSK'S & How To Fix Them

Sloppy SSK's and How To Fix That

When knitting in the round, If you are going to SSK Stitches 3 and 4 on Round 2 of your knitting, do this for a nice, tight SSK on Round 2:

On ROUND 1, you will 'set up' the stitches for the SSK on Round 2 like this:  On ROUND 1, (previous round), slip stitch no. 2, and continue knitting your round.

On ROUND 2, the SSK round, when you get to Stitch No. 2, the slipped stitch, pick up the 'bar' behind that slipped stitch with your left needle, and pull it through the slipped stitch with your right needle. You have now tightened the first stitch in your SSK.  Knit the SSK stitch as you normally would.

Please refer to this excellent video by Cat Bordhi to see how the 'bar' is pulled through the slipped stitch on the SSK round: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMHXK3JxrJA

Annie Modesitt also has a technique as well:  

http://sulia.com/channel/crafts/f/e92147d4-41b1-4154-b5cd-63120a3c86f5/?source=fb&random=0.634486375605#

Slanting Decreases

An easy way to remember which way a decrease slants is by using this logic. A left slanting decrease is an SSK which has a left slant (the S) in the middle of it. A right slanting decrease is a K2tog which has a right slant (the 2). See: S2 = \ /. Left slant, right slant.

Armhole Shaping, SSK, K2Tog

When working armhole shaping of a sweater, start the RS (right side) rows with a ssk (slip, slip, knit) and end with a k2tog (knit 2 together) to following the line of the armhole. You can remember this by knowing the "s" in ssk means to start the row (but work the slant in a stitch or two).

Decreasing Slants - k2tog or ssk

If you have a hard time remembering when to use a k2tog and when to use a ssk while decreasing when using a chart, here’s a tip for you. The symbols on the chart follow the shape of how you work the stitch so use this guide:
/ follows the curve of the number 2 so you k2tog (knit two stitches together)
\ follows the curve of the letter S so you ssk
(slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise (or purlwise), then knit both of those stitches together through the back loop)