Twisted SSK & Twisted K2TOG – Crisp, Elegant Decreases

Shaina Scott
Aug 8
2 min read

If you’ve ever knit a beautiful lace or cable project only to notice that your decreases look a little fuzzy or loose, you’re not imagining it. Some decrease methods naturally leave a softer edge—which can be lovely—but when you want sharp, sculpted lines, twisting your stitches can make all the difference.

Enter the Twisted SSK and Twisted K2TOG. These are simply standard decreases with a small twist (literally!) that tighten the stitch, giving you a neater, more defined result.

🪡 Why Twist Your Decreases?

Cleaner stitch definition – Great for lace, cables, or any pattern where decreases are a design feature.
More structure – Twisted stitches lie flat and hold their shape better.
Polished look – Especially noticeable in lighter yarns, smooth fibers, or openwork patterns.

📖 Twisted SSK (Left-Leaning Decrease)

The standard SSK (slip, slip, knit) can sometimes look a little soft. Twisting it tightens the stitch so the left-leaning decrease is crisp.

How to work it:

Slip the first stitch knitwise.
Slip the second stitch knitwise.
Return both stitches to the left needle without untwisting them.
Knit the two stitches together through the back loops.

This extra twist pulls the stitch in neatly for a more defined lean to the left.

📖 Twisted K2TOG (Right-Leaning Decrease)

The standard K2TOG (knit two together) is usually tidy enough, but if you want it to match the sharpness of your twisted SSK, you can twist this one too.

How to work it:

Slip the first stitch purlwise.
Slip the second stitch purlwise.
Slip the second stitch back to the left needle by inserting the tip of the left needle from right to left to twist it.
Slip the first stitch back to the left needle without twisting.
Knit these two stitches together.

This easily reverses and tightens the stitch mount, giving you a right-leaning decrease with the same polished edge as your twisted SSK.

🔍 When to Use Them

In lace panels where decreases form part of the motif.
In cables where you want the edges to stay crisp.
Along necklines, armholes, or borders for a tailored finish.

💡 Pro Tip

If you’re mixing twisted and regular decreases in the same project, be consistent within each section. That way, your fabric looks intentional rather than uneven.

✨ Final Thoughts

Twisted decreases are a small change with a big impact. They don’t take more time to work, but they can make your knitting look sharper and more professional—especially in projects where every stitch is on display, like the Clematis Scarf.