Expert: Frances Rhea - 10/2/2009

Question
I am knitting a pair of socks for the first time, and I'm having a really hard time turning the heel. The pattern I'm following is this:
Sl 1, k12, skp, turn;
*sl1, p6, p2tog, turn;
sl1, k6, skp, turn.
Rep from * until all sts have been worked--8 sts on your needle.

I just can't get it to turn out right! I'm not sure what it means by skip, and I can't figure out why it keeps coming out lopsided. I've taken it out and tried over twice, and I never end up with 8 stitches. What am I doing wrong?

Answer
skp does not mean skip. skp is the same as slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitched over. This is similar to knitting or purling two together only it makes the stitch tilt to the opposite direction.

See http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary for knitting abbreviations.

Fran