The lace stitches used in my Beanstalk Hat and Ensata Hat are mostly familiar ones: yarn-overs, k2tog, ssk, and knitting through the back loop (k-tbl) for added texture. But when you get to the crown of the hat, twisted decreases are thrown into the mix. You’ll find the motions familiar when working the twisted versions of k2tog, ssk, and k3tog - the big difference is that the stitch which ends up on top needs to be re-oriented so that it will twist the same way as a k-tbl stitch.

The methods:

Tssk (twisted ssk):

• slip the next stitch purlwise

• slip the next stitch knitwise

• replace stitches on left needle in new orientation

• knit them together through the back loops (k2tog-tbl)

• (1 stitch decreased, left-leaning)

Tk2tog (twisted k2tog):

• slip the next stitch purlwise

• slip the next stitch as if to purl through the back loop

• replace stitches on left needle in new orientation

• knit them together (k2tog)

• (1 stitch decreased, right-leaning)

Tk3tog (twisted k3tog):

• similarly to working tk2tog, slip the next two stitches purlwise

• slip the next stitch as if to purl through the back loop

• replace stitches on left needle in new orientation

• knit them together (k3tog)

• (2 stitches decreased, right-leaning)

Tips:

• sharp needle tips make tk2tog and tk3tog much easier to work

• to speed up tssk: when replacing the stitches on the left needle, don’t pull the right hand needle out - just go straight to the next step and k2tog-tbl with the right needle in place.

In the video below you can see the moves for tssk and tk2tog (I’m working Round 1 of the ‘Crown Decreases 1’ section of the Beanstalk Hat pattern).

Find out more about my Beanstalk Hat pattern, including Ravelry and Payhip purchase options. My Ensata Hat is available on Ravelry and on Brooklyn Tweed’s website.