The Prairie Fire Shawl uses this left-leaning decrease (LLD) in place of the traditional ssk. This is a new-to-me knitting technique so I’m sharing this quick tutorial of the process for knitters.
In the pattern abbreviations, the LLD (left-leaning decrease) reads “worked over 2 sts, Insert the right-hand needle as if to knit into first stitch leaving it on the needle, then through the back loop of the second stitch. Pause. Wrap the yarn here to make a new stitch. Then pull the just wrapped stitch back out the same way you went in to form the decreased stitch.”
I took a quick video and pictures of a recent sample to walk you through my process. Here is the link to the video.
And here is a look at the process:
Into first stitch as if to knit. 
Through back of second stitch. Pause here.
Insert the right-hand needle as if to knit into first stitch leaving it on the needle. Then through the back loop of the second stitch. Pause here.
Wrap the yarn here to make the new stitch. 
Pull the just wrapped stitch back through the same way you went in.
Wrap the yarn here to make a new stitch. Then pull the just wrapped stitch back out the same way you went in to form the decreased stitch
You can see here the slight difference in appearance between this LLD and the traditional ssk.
And here again is another look.
I always want to give knitters choices in my patterns. So, I made sure to also include the traditional ssk in the pattern abbreviations and a short note telling knitters to feel free to use the left-leaning decrease they like best. Most of the time I use the traditional ssk. For this particular 8-row pattern repeat with the swirls going first one direction and then the other, I did find that I preferred the LLD.
The Prairie Fire Shawl is in test knitting right now and will be available this summer! Sign up here for my newsletter so you won’t miss new pattern releases and exclusive discounts.
