I prefer the bamboo needles too. I have a bunch of addis and I'm always dropping stitches when I put them down to deal with a cat/teen/husband/house problem. Getting a set of Denise needles is good if you knit with circulars a lot. I don't like plastic that much but it's a cheap way to have every size needle and length you need on hand. You can always change the length (very carefully!) if you need to go shorter or longer while knitting.

I hope you have a peaceful weekend, Laurie. My kitties (Tommy, Penny, Julie, Stewart, Fiona and Lily) send their love to your kitties!!!

I know you're going to hear this a zillion times after this post, but here it is anyway: PLEASE consider doing a how-to book? Your descriptions and photos are always so much better and more clear than any others ever seen!!

Thanks, Laurie! (And Soba.) :)

Love, love, love your assistant.

I love Sobo.... what a good helper you have!!!

hehehe... my assistant was very, um, cooperative ;) Look at that little face though! So! Cute!

She growled every time I tried to move, so no stitch marker though. That will teach me.

this doesn't look scary at all! (even the cat!) thanks ! :-)

I to love the bamboo. So much so that I sold off my addis (the two that I had).

oh and yeah, i see why the color of that yarn is Pepto!

I still love the addis, depends on the yarn. But my very fave needles are still Lantern Moons, dpn and straights!

thanks for the lesson, Miz Purl. I think your pics are so clear, I'm a gonna send one of my friends here to learn to knit.

Thanks!

heh, everytime I look at her little face in the pic where I'm knitting the first stitch, it cracks me up. She's like "Human! You are destroying my peace and quiet!"

Ah, yes, do not move, for the lap cat will turn into an angry pile of sharp things! Is a routine I know well.

My joins also look sort of icky, on both dpns and circs. I find that it works itself out in a few rounds. To make that first round look not-so-assy, I usually use the tail of the yarn to sort of pull those first two stitches together a bit when I weave it in. Does that make sense? However, if it doesn't, perhaps someone will have *actual* pretty join advice, instead of "how to hide your assy join" advice.

I learned to knit in the round from reading a combo of the easy roll brim hat recipe and Stitch N Bitch. Yay! The best advice for joining that I read - probably in the comments here as I think I am now an official stalker - is to cast on an extra stitch at the end of casting on, move it to the left needle, and then knit the first two stitches together for a tighter join. (I hope I am explaining that right). My only question is where do I place the marker - after or before that join?!

Also, I must say to other knitters, I much prefer using two circular needles for small circumference (diameter? I forget) knitting as opposed to the dpns. I can do dpns, and they aren't so bad, but I find that once you understand how to use the two circulars together, it is much less cumbersome and I find I have fewer dropped stitches and mistakes. And it goes faster, and there's less chance of having ladders. I learned how by watching the video on knittinghelp.com (which also rocks).

I just bought the Denise set... I hope I like it! I have never used addis but I already know that me and metal needles would be a disaster.

Oh, that last photo of Soba - priceless!

To join, I always cast on one extra stitch, then knit the last extra stitch together with the first stitch. Very nice. Very smooth. Very simple.

I can't believe that you posted this how to the day I was going to the store to buy my first set of circular needles to start the roll brim hat. What a weird coincidence!

Thanks for all of your tutorials for all of us new kniters.

Hi, Laurie,

One trick for tidying up the join is to: Cast on one extra stitch, knit the first round up to but not including the extra st, place your marker, slip the extra st to the left hand needle, then knit the extra st and first st together. Stitch count is back to normal, and the join is very smooth - trust me on this, once the project is finished and all ends darned in, ask any non-knitter to find the join - can't do it!

There's always a tiny bit of wonkiness at the join, because you're knitting in a spiral rather than a true circle. When I use circulars, it's usually not too bad, but on dpns the stitches between the needles can get pretty sloppy and result in ugly "ladders." I always try to make sure that I snug up the first couple of stitches on each needle as much as I can to avoid sloppy stitches. Also, if the pattern allows, you can knit the first couple stitches on the new needle onto the old needle, thereby always changing where the gap between the needle lays.

Great tutorial CAP - one small correction: the circ length is the length from needle tip to needle tip, not the length of the cord.

Another joining tip: After casting on, but before knitting a stitch, do the following:

1. Move the last cast on stitch from the right needle to the left needle.

2. Move the first cast on stitch to the right-hand needle. So this by using your right hand needle to lift the first cast on stitch over the one you just moved to the left hand needle.

3. Place marker and knit the first stitch on the left-hand needle. The first stitch will be alittle loose from all this maneuvering, but you can tighten it back up by giving the tail a little tug.

This sounds more complicated than casting on an extra stitch and knitting it together with the first stitch, but it's actually easy to do. I think it looks a little bit neater too.

Tina - when using the extra stitch method of minimizing the join, the marker goes on after you place the last stitch on the first needle - your first stitch is your first stitch, if that makes sense.

My method for neater joins is probably not as effective as the other ones mentioned, but very quite simple. I just slip the left stitch onto the right needle, and then pass the last stitch on the right needle over to the left needle. Begin round.
Soba is so funny.

I knit in the round all the time, on size 0 needles, and for the first row or two the join ALWAYS looks icky. Magically this clears up in a few more rounds...I have no idea why. Gnomes? I have done the "cast on an extra stitch and knit together" deal too, but I don't find it makes that big a difference to deal with it. Just keep on knitting, round and round, and let the gnomes do their thing.

Love the Sobakawa Paw of Death...in fact, I love all your cats and their internal dialogues.

Hey, I bet I know what you're making! Shhhhh.

(Um, if I'm totally off base here and you have no idea what I'm shhhhing about .... chalk it up to me being crazy and have a nice day!)

I have always preferred bamboo needles to the metal ones. If you want to get adventurous, check out a nice Fair Isle or Aran pattern as these are usually knit in the round.

I love the extra cast-on tip for joining a round! I had so much fun making my first hat with my addis, it was all so quick and easy. But I know what you mean about their slipperiness. One of my next projects will be your ribbed hat. My hat didn't have the fancy finish on top that yours does, so that will be a challenge, to use dpns. They seem so scary to me.

xoxo

Aww, Soba looks so much like my Tigger (God I miss her). Tortoiseshells really are the best cats.

Your comment about "Loose women casting on!" made me think fondly of my time in Southern California, when I'd watch Lakers games and the ads for the local news always, always featured some sort of underdressed women, whether Laker Girls or Local Girls Gone Wild or Naughty Strip Bars. Ah, LA, I miss you!

And there is no shame in preferring Clover bamboo to Addis! They're both good for different things. And bamboo is better for your hands because it's more flexible. :)

Soba is not only beautiful but helpful. I think she'll make a kind and benevolent Empress of the Universe.

Dawn, Margo Chris, Jeanne, Imbrium and Mimsie used up all my tricks for nicer looking joins.

I like the bamboo needles too, mostly, but it depends on the yarn and the project. For magic loops the super-long Addis are nice. (And you're kinda stuck with them if you're gonna do magic loop as bamboo circs don't come that long.)

Either suggestion given above for joining will work. I also like to knit a row or two back and forth before joining. It just makes it easier for some reason.

You should indeed do a book.

SOBA. SOBA. SOBA.

We are not worthy.

Very easy neat join to avoid twisted knitting-

Leave a long tail.
Knit two or three rows in stockinette (Knit one row, purl one row). This gives you some meat to hang on to so you will never twist your knitting.
At the third or fourth row continue around instead of turning your work. Continue knitting in circular.

Weave in the tail to close the gap. You can also use the gap as a stitch marker to tell where you started knitting if you leave it open until the end.

Thank you...thank you...thank you for the tutorial on cicular needles. I'm a new knitter (just learned in Jan!) and I've been trying to master using the circulars. I love all your instructions because they're always clear and easy to follow.

I have tried the slip stitches onto the opposite needles trick and I think it works pretty well. Also, I use the tail and the working yarn at the same time to knit the first 3 or so stitches. That will keep your join tight and save you from weaving in the end. Just make sure when you get back around to the beginning on your second round that you don't see both strands and knit into each. That would be bad.

Yay! Thank you, I've been wondering what to do with those circs ever since I bought them months ago. Weekend project!

Here's one more joining technique (although I use the pass-the-first-stitch-over-the-last, then knit what-was-the-last-stitch-and-is-now-the-first method that other people described above):
It only works well if you're not using too bulky a yarn.
knit the first cast-on stitch with both the tail of the yarn and the working yarn - just hold both yarns together. Maybe the 2nd stitch too, if it looks better. Then just let the tail hang loose and keep working with the rest of the yarn.

I say, use whatever needles you prefer! I find metal DPNs ESPECIALLY annoying and much prefer bamboo or wood. I use circular needles even for flat knitting because I'm such a clutch that I drop needles all the time and you can't drop a circular if you're clutching the yarn.

I prefer the bamboo needles too. (Or the hardwoods, like the Brittany birches, they're good.) Metal is too dang slippery for me. And I totally agree with Tiffany's method of nice-neat-joining; that's how I do it, too. And Miss Soba! There could be no evil behind that sweet face! And I sound like such a lemming in this comment, just agreeing with everybody, except...well, others got here first and I think they're right. Ha!

Great tutorial! I like to use bamboo needles too, but not so much because of slippery metal, but because I always have cold hands. Bamboo is "warmer" on my poor hands.

Also a note about the needles being close to your boobs with the cable facing away. It is the best way I would say, but not the only way. I can not knit that way. I knit away from me which of course results in knitting something inside out. Take it from me, it does not matter. Just follow the directions knit to your hearts content, and then when you are done or almost done flip it right side out. I know this works cause I do it all the time. My socks are always knitted inside out, and then at the very end, I flip them to kitchener the toe closed. So far I am the only one I know of that knits inside out though.

Thanks Laurie for your tutorials. Sometimes I have to put my knitting aside because I get frustrated, and I had originally started to knit to help me relax. Ugh! Anyway, I have a couple of random questions now that I am de-lurking . . .

*If I only knit hats and scarves am I still a knitter? I have ventured into sweaters but I can't knit a sweater while watching The Office and my Mary Tyler Moore DVDs. It's too darn distracting when I have to increase and decrease.

*Is it bad karma to knit with yarn that an ex-friend gave me? A very good friend of mine gave me some yummy yarn and then "broke up" with me a few months later. I'm making a scarf with it, but I know that if I wear it I'll think of her sadly, and I'm afraid if I give it to a friend the bad luck with spawn. What to do?

Hi to everyone here!

best way not to have a sloppy join... lets see if I can simply explain this...

basically you are going to line everything up in the circle on the first needle to your left is the cast on tail, on the needle to your right is the last needle of the round.

Take the first stitch cast on using the last needle of the round and pull it over to that needle. then take the last stitch cast on (now the second to last stitch on that needle to the right) and slip it over the stitch you just brought over.

now the number of stitches are all the same as before things are joined and you start the knitting like demonstrated above.

Make any sense??

You are not alone... I don't like addis either. They're not pointy enough for me. (Maybe that's my evil, Soba side showing?)

I love love love the Magnum. It is fabulous yarn. And it is the perfect yarn for felting.

Thanks everyone for such good ideas!!

I think Soba has a myspace page. She's been online when I'm not at home, I know it.

Colleen-- answers:

*If I only knit hats and scarves am I still a knitter?
Um-- that's pretty much all I knit! It's what I find enjoyable, portable, and keeps my tiny ADD-like brain happy.

*Is it bad karma to knit with yarn that an ex-friend gave me?
Hmmm. Dilemma. I would knit with it and either A) Give to a coworker you don't love or B) Give to charity? So hard. I wonder... if you felt it or otherwise "alter" the yarn, does it lose its karma/associations?

And Donna-- you are so right! As Annie says, there is no wrong way to knit if you like the results!!

I have figured out the solution to multiple circulars! Denise Interchangeables!

http://www.knitdenise.com/

I am sure many of your readers use them. I had my dad buy them for me (he is the best dad -ever) and they are the only needles I use. (not that I am such a professional knitter or anything).

Colleen,

Knit a fabulous scarf and lovingly give it away. No bad karma will pass on. This gift will still be knit with love and care from you. Who knows...it could even build a new and more lasting friendship.

I think always having the yarn around and not doing anything with it would be worse for me, like the yarn was a challenge I could not take on. But that is just me. ;-)

that is some pink.

So, just to add to the joining situation- I only knit with dpns, call me cheap but I bought a slew of them for super-duper cheap and don't feel like buying circs.

so, how i avoid both icky joins and "ladders" (when the space between two rows of stockinette stitch (stst) is too big because you're switching yarns is this:

on the first join: maybe i'm blasphemous for doing this, but i use the tail of my cast-on, slip it between your first two stitches on your left-hand needle, and tie a knot. yes, indeed, tie a knot. that way, you're all free and clear.

for ladders: when i'm using dpns (which is always...) i always move each needle over a stich every round. i know that makes no sense, so here goes the explain-y part: once you have knit all stiches from your left-hand needle onto your right-hand needle, instead of immediately switching needles, knit one stich from your new left hand needle onto your existing right-hand needle. this effectively moves your needles around in a spiral as you go, and therefore moves which stich is streched a bit by the gap between two needles. hope that made sense.....

To make my joins look super sexy, I cast on one extra stitch. Then I knit the first stitch normally and pass the stitch on my right hand needle over it (which would be the last stitch originally cast on). Does that make sense? It's just knit one, pass a stitch over. You end up casting off one stitch to compensate for the extra stitch cast on. It works great, especially for mittens - I've found that if I don't do it, when I weave in that yarn tail it tends to unravel with wear.

Thanks Laurie! It's a relief that I'm not the only one who prefers just knitting scarves and hats. I agree, I find them fun, portable, and easy enough for me to multitask: i.e. watch tv and drink and talk on the phone . . . nothing major getting done :0)

Thanks Trixie! I like the idea of passing the new scarf on with love. After all, the old friendship did have a lot of good in it.

LOVE the Denise Interchangeables and highly recommend them for knitting in the round, though I am pretty rough on them, and snapped TWO of the connector ends OFF while working on my last project. I need to chill!...it is supposed to be fun, right?

Actual knitting content!

I'm a lifelong knitter and I knit with DPNs all the time - mainly soccs & baby sweater sleeves. I wanted to mention in response to some of the posts above regarding loose or laddery looking stitches at needle intersections - this will all work itself in the wash. Literally. Once you soak your finished item in water all these stitches will magically appear even. Really!

In case you like the feel of the Addi cord but also NEED bamboo needles, try Addi Natura. Same cord and join as the turbo with the convenience and pleasure of bamboo. I love the Addi Naturas!

I am so happy it's Friday. fo reals.

Kelly, do they come in size itty bitty (like 2 or smaller)? That is the dilemma for those of us who actually like tiny yarn and needles: the Addis aren't pointy enough (and you can sharpen bamboo, carefully, but not metal), and the bamboos are not strong enough for the small sizes (bamboo double points in size 2 or smaller break really easily) and not long enough for magic loop.

mmmmmmmmmSayid.

damn, cheap bamboo circs? Unfair! The only circs you can get here are those horrible coated metal ones. Luckily I have my Denise needles (ordered on the internet) for most situations.

Good on you for all the demon-exorcising you've been doing this week, it's been really inspiring actually.

It's been a week where I have been pondering the question "am I ready for another boyfriend?" but I think the only reason I was actually considering that is I haven't been having a happy week. So the answer is NO WAY! I work hard, so I like my spare time to myself, and it'll take someone very very special to convince me otherwise.

sarah... I ponder that question myself. I do get lonely... but then, I don't know. I'm not ready. But I sort of am. It's weird.

My (limited) free time is really important to me. But it would be so nice to have someone huggable hugging on me. Have someone look at you *that way*

anyway.

Since we are talking knitting today, I have a question. It's a little off topic. I am about to finish a clapotis for my mama and I have never blocked. This project seems worthy of blocking. But, I only have an iron that steams, not a cool steamer. My iron will only really steam on the vertical. Now, how do I pull this off? Or can I? Yikes!

Trixie, what kind of yarn did you use in the clapotis? I mean, what kind of fiber content?

I have had EXCELLENT luck blocking stuff without steam... just get a cheapo spray bottle, fill with hot water.

Then pin one end of your shawl on your blocking surface (I use the guest bed covered by a clean sheet) and start spritzing, pinning the whole thing into shape as you go. I used LOTS of pins on my scarf that I blocked this way, but so worth it!

Then, when it's all pinned out, spritz again for good measure. Cover with some towels and let dry.

That's what I would do, anyway :)

Wow! That's easy....are you talking straight pins, like for sewing? And the fiber content is 50% silk and 50% wool. My mama is so lucky!

I'll bet you couldn't have done all that with Sobakawa's assistance.

Argh! I meant to say WITHOUT Sobakawa's assistance. How embarrassing.

Not having the vast wealth for all size and lengths of circulars, I got a set of Denises for Christmas. Although I prefer wood, the plastic isn't that bad. However, you can only go up to size 15. I use Addis for anything larger. If you've ever seen the size 36 ones, they resemble something that should be used for milking a cow with. Soba growls? I guess you're not whistling dixie when you say she's evil. She looks so sweet though. Roy must have been napping during the demo.

Yes, Soba was the Dictator LOL

Trixie... yeah, I blocked my Noro Transitions that way, it has all those different fiber contents and I didn't have a steamer back then anyway.

So I used regular sewing pins, although people will warn you... make sure they are rustproof, but I haven't ever had a rust problem with the sewing pins I use. Actually, I use the longer quilting pins, which go into the mattress of the bed better.

If you're concerned, though, that your pins are rustproof, maybe do a test on a white washcloth, wet the washcloth, pin it down and see if your sewing pins rust? LOL.

Hey, first of all I LOVE your blog!

Secondly, I noticed you are using super bulky yarn. What kind of pattern are you planning to use for it? I recently found myself buying several pounds of gorgeous super bulky yarn, but I can't find any patterns that I like. Any recommendations?

This may be a dumb question, but how do you do ribbing with circular needles? I'm wondering because I have legwarmers to do and it sounds like circs (YO YO :) ) would be so much faster. I just don't get how the stockinette stitch comes about without purling, and, yah, I always wondered about the marker thing, too!

Love your blog! I'm a groupie now.

I've been knitting almost my entire life, and I'm still able to learn new things from you and your commenters. I agree that you should write a knitting book, cat pictures and all!

Kes, to do ribbing in the round, you simply throw in a few purl stitches in the mix (yo yo!)

So, for my ribbed-brim hat, I cast on 72 stitches. Then I knit four, purl 4 all the way across each round until my brim is as long as I would like it.

Hope that helps!!

Annie -- I wasn't actually making anything with the yarn, just testing it out on my needles. I think I may make a felted bag out of it, or maybe a big, drop-stitch scarf (which will keep it from being *too* bulky to wear.) Or, heck, maybe a kitty pi LOL.

Hahaha! Laurie, you NEED to write a book! It'll be a best seller!

Now that I am away from the frustrating and overflowing toilet and the three-year old and only at work, balancing aircraft...I can say THANK YOU! I was a bit concerned, because I have never tried to block. Thanks for helping me out.

Awww! I love a cat who can look cute and evil at the same time!

Hey, I think I just might have another joining tip that hasn't been mentioned yet!

CO an extra stitch. When you join your circle, bring the last stitch over the first stitch like a noose (sort of like a Slip one, Knit one, Pass Slipped Stitch Over), and pull on the tail to tighten it up. This only works if you use a non-long-tail cast on, I think. Or if you're funny like me and you do a long-tail cast on, then turn it backwards to join it up.

And another important tip I haven't read anywhere else: before you join in a circle, make sure your yarn is oriented correctly. In other words, if you're going to start with a knitted stitch, make sure you pull the working yarn behind the needle and have a clear path for it! Otherwise, your yarn ball will be stuck on the wrong side of your circ. Trust me, it's ugly and messy and annoying, and eventually you'll either try to shove your yarn ball through the center of your circular needle or you'll just frog the whole darned thing. Same goes for knitting in the round with DPNs. More so, in fact!

Purl, please tell us you watch ladies' figure skating on the Olympics. . . I'm not the only geek, am I?

;)

Helen

Helen,

You are not alone. My husband has recorded onto disk all the biathalon. Also, we have been totally hypnotized by CURLING! I'm threatening to move my family to Whitehorse, Yukon where I know there is a curling venue with a bar.

You know, I really am begining to think you are crazy. But in an oh so addictive and utterly awesome way.

are you knitting a cat??
wassup with that ? yo ?

(internet friends are SO MUCH BETTER than men friends....cause they don't leave the toilet seat up...)

I'm just sayin is all....

What gorgeous cats you have. That Bob, so debonair...That Soba, so dainty yet so megalomaniacal... (I hope I spelled that right)

Yarn cake! (Did you coin that yourself or have I just not heard of it before...checking the stitchonary.) I "join" by having the first and last sts switch places (same as Margot).

I love to knit in the round!

1. I didn't read all of the comments first, so maybe you've been asked/told some of these things already. I'm just getting the apologizing out of the way first thing. Sorry.

2. Have you ever tried the Addi Naturas? The thing that gets me with the Clover circs is that the cable is so evil and stiff. The cable on the Addis is just wonderful, and I've never had to steam it to straighten it out, I just use them straight from the package. I'm all about doing things as simply as possible.

3. My tip for a smoother join is to cast on an additional stitch, move it to the left needle, and then the first thing you do is knit those two together. Also, the way you weave in your end can help minimize that jog - take it back over the gap, which will help to pull everything together.

ok, i carefully (yeah right) read through all the comments, and didn't find a join that i've used on occasion

cast on all your stitches. bring your yarn forward, like you're going to purl. pass the first stitch on the left needle to the right. bring the yarn to the back again. pass the stitch back to the left needle. knit as needed. it makes a very "tight" join, and isn't all that apparent. sound good?

Your hat 'recipe' is great, very clear and ez to read -- but the part that really saved me -- when I'd screwed up several times with other patterns...is your explanation of decreasing stitches. It finally made sense and I was able to whip up a great hat, instead of a lopsided stove pipes! Please put that in part deux!

Oh, and how do you keep the kitties from chomping the bamboo needles, or is that just a feline peculiarity around here?

Laurie

I'm a Bamboo girl myself, despite the fact that I have *hundreds* of metal needles (both straight and circs YO YO) inherited from my Grandma. And I bought a set of Denise interchangeables...but I'm afraid I just couldn't do plastic, no matter how much I tried. So I got rid of the Denises. And THEN!! I found the greatest, and possibly the CUTEST, little set of bamboo interchangeable circs!!! They totally rock and I truly don't know how I knit without them before. YOU GOTTA GET YOU SOME, YO! There are brand-name ones out there (called Bamboo Sisters I think made by Plymouth - over $100) OR you can buy "no-name" brand sets (which I got) ~ exactly the same~ and about $40. And the absolute best part? The whole set fits into a tiny case about 4X5 inches. It's soooooo tiny cute.

I was never able to achieve a smooth join before I read this trick. I cast on an extra stitch. Then, I knit the first and last cast on stitches together. That's it.

I just finished knitting a wire bracelet in the round on dpns. I did not apply this trick as wire does not stretch. Anyway, pix of the process and the finished bracelet are on my blog.

I'm hoping that if this Pepto yarn does become a hat, that you'll give us another tutorial when you start decreasing and then especially when you switch to DPN's. That's the truly scary part for me.

For what it's worth, two days later... I love my Addi Turbos with some yarn, and I love my Clover circulars with some yarn, and I don't even mind too much my aluminum Boye and Susan Bates needles, with some yarns. Those of you who like Boye, they have an interchangeable set like the Denise set. The best place to go for this is Hobby Lobby, because you can buy individual parts and see how you like it -- one set of points and a cable of whatever length you need.

Actually I love almost all my knitting needles, aluminum, steel, plastic, birch, ebony, bamboo, circular, straight, flex, dpn. I do not love the stiff cable on Boye needles, though it's OK once you get enough knitting on it to weight it down. I do not love aluminum dpns. I also do not love my one set of Lion Brand dpns (size 5, red plastic with rattly metal wire inside, I guess for strength). And I do not love my one set of Clover straight needles which keep splintering. I have some amazingly cute tiny pastel plastic circular needles by Clover, in weird Japanese sizes (beware, web sites claim these are US sizes, but they're not -- they're smaller) which so far I can't make work and so I don't love them yet, but maybe we'll get to like each other when I find the right project for them (socks?). But dang they're cute. (Does Clover make anything that's NOT cute?)

I love my Brittany Birch needles because I was able to sharpen up the points when I couldn't make them behave. This was when I was trying to knit Douceur et Soie on size 4 needles. Size 4 is a little big for this yarn, but it's too fuzzy to knit tightly and anyway I was making lace and wanted it loose. But the points just would not go under the yarn, so I filed them down sharper.

ribbed hat?
i made the easy recipe in 20 or more steps... and loved it. and did it during the various olympic events. (either knit or start smoking again, is my motto)
so is there a ribbed recipe somewhere?

also - is there someone out there who can explain ssk, psso to me? please? (it was in another pattern... which i am almost ready to give up on because i don't exactly get it or what it's for.)

thanks!

I was going to email this but then I figured if I post it as a comment, someone might see it and correct any egregious errors. Because there probably are some. Sorry, Laurie, I'm cluttering up your space with overlong comments.

Kathy, does your pattern really have ssk, psso together? If so I think that might be an error, though I would not want to swear to it because I'm a relative novice.

The general purpose is a decrease. Ssk -- slip, slip, knit -- is like knit 2 together, except you slip a stitch knitwise to the right needle, then slip another one knitwise, then put both of them back on the left needle, and THEN you knit them together.
The business about slipping them first changes the way the stitches face. There is a reason for that -- see below.

The other thing you often see is s1, k1, psso. To do this, you slip one stitch to the right needle knitwise. Then you knit the next stitch on the left needle in the normal way. Then you take the stitch you previously slipped, which is now the next to last stitch on the right needle, and pull it over the stitch you just knitted and off the end of the needle, a lot like how you bind off. That's the psso -- "pass slipped stitch over."

Either way, you have decreased one stitch. The really magic part is that, according to my big knitting book, ssk and s1, k1, psso produce exactly the same result! So if you see one, you can use the other. I usually use ssk except when I have yarn that just doesn't cooperate with ssk because it's knitting up tightly or is bulky or something. Then s1, k1, psso may be easier to do.

The end result, in both cases, is that the decrease slants in a particular direction. Why do you care? Sometimes you don't, but if you are doing something where you have symmetrical shaping on opposite sides, and those lines of decreases will show, then you probably care. So knit 2 together slants one way and ssk (or s1, k1, psso) slants the other, so you might use them on the opposite sides of, say, a sweater.

So ssk, psso would not make sense, at least not to me. But there is surely some kind of decrease going on.