Twisted stitches are mini-cables, 1 over 1 stitch, or 1 over 2 stitches. There are lots of different ways to do these twists, but this method, which is very similar to working ssk and k2tog (and sssk and k3tog) decreases, is quick, easy, and the method I've stuck with after trying lots of different ways.

In the photos, the twists are all pictured on a stockinette stitch background, meaning all stitches are knit, but the same methods all work with purled stitches. The tutorials state which are the front stitches and which are the back stitches.

Use these techniques in leethal patterns like Siskiyou, Lerro, Krewe, Andrew, Warren, Rumours, and Wild is the Wind.

Here's a detailed video tutorial (on YouTube here); scroll down for short mini-videos of individual twists, and photos and written how-to's...

Twist left: 1 over 1

this will feel like working an ssk decrease

slip first stitch, knitwise

slip second stitch, knitwise

insert left-hand needle through the 2 stitches, so the needle tips are pointing in the same direction

slip the 2 stitches together back to the left-hand needle in this manner, twisting them so their order is reversed

knit or purl the first stitch, which is the back stitch

knit the second stitch, which is the front stitch

Twist left: 1 over 2 (TL2)

twist 1 over 2 stitches left, using the same method but with 3 stitches total instead of 2 - this results in the 3 stitches being twisted (instead of like a 1 over 2 cable)

slip the next 3 stitches knitwise, one at a time

insert the left-hand needle through the 3 slipped stitches, so the needle tips are pointing in the same direction

slip the stitches back onto the left-hand needle, then knit or purl all 3 - the first 2 are the back stitches, the third is the front stitch

Twist right: 1 over 1

this will feel like working a k2tog decrease

insert right-hand needle through next 2 stitches knitwise, together as if to knit 2 together

slip those stitches onto the right-hand needle this way

insert the left-hand needle through the 2 slipped stitches, straight through, so needles are positioned as if slipping purlwise

now stitches are on the left-hand needle in the correct twisted order, but they have become twisted (the other meaning of twisted, the individual knit loops are on the needle the wrong way)

knit the first stitch through the back loop, which will untwist it - this is the front stitch

knit or purl the second stitch through the back loop - this is the back stitch

Twist right: 1 over 2 (TR2)

twist 1 over 2 stitches right, using the same method but with 3 stitches total instead of 2 - this results in the 3 stitches being twisted (instead of like a 1 over 2 cable)

start by slipping 3 as if knitting 3 together

slip the 3 stitches back to the left-hand needle, straight across so needles are positioned as if slipping purlwise

knit or purl the 3 stitches, through back loops to untwist - the first stitch is the front stitch, the second and third are the back stitches