A simple technique for a polished finish

One of my favorite finishing techniques is also one of the simplest. And it’s the one I get the most questions about.

In all my sock patterns, wherever there’s an ssk decrease, the following row has a k1tbl worked directly on top of it. People often ask if this is a typo because most patterns simply knit the stitch in the column above the decrease. It’s not.

The ssk is a left-leaning decrease. A normal knit stitch sits straight up and down with the right leg remaining dominant. When you combine a left-leaning decrease with a stitch sitting straight, you get a small set of "stairs" running up your pattern. It’s not wrong or bad, but it doesn’t look quite as clean to me.

Instead, I use a k1tbl to create a twisted stitch that puts the left leg in front. This makes the left leg dominant, pulling it slightly to the left. This small shift allows the column of stitches to become a clean, slanted line.

I’m not saying this is the "right" way to knit this combination; there is no single right way. But to me, this looks a little more polished. It appeals to my aesthetic, and I hope it does the same for yours!

Ready to try the technique? The Patterloop Sock Pattern is a DK weight knit that utilizes this technique as part of the Diamond Gusset and the toe decreases.