Nothing wrong with garter stitch...

Even though a famous knitting designer and teacher says beginning knitters should not be limited to "garter stitch scarves."

Some of us may never get past garter stitch, without some kind of key to decode knitting instructions.

Tonight I spent far too long trying to work out instructions that seemed quite straightforward. Four or five rows into the pattern (which is supposed to produce, through a series of decreases, a beautifully mitered knit block) I discovered I was actually INCREASING. Ripped out, started over. Same result.

Finally got out the Vogue Knitting Book, hoping for one of its diagrams to sort out the confusion. Now I more or less understand "yo," (that's "yarn over," not "YO!") but I'm still not sure about "ssk."

Explain to me why one pattern book carefully defines "ssk:" "Slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time. Insert left needle into fronts of both stitches and knit in the usual way."

Vogue says, "Slip slip knit."

My grandmother and my mother were both phenomenal knitters. I should have asked more questions when they were still available to answer.

Fortunately, there are clever people at knitting shops who make the most complicated patterns seem easy. Meanwhile, garter stitch is an honorable pursuit.