It’s a standard decrease which slants to the left. What you do is move (slip) one stitch to the right hand needle as if you were going to knit it but without knitting it, then knit the next stitch normally, then move the stitch you just slipped over the stitch you just knitted and off the end of the needle. There’s an alternative decrease recommended by Barbara Walker called slip-slip-knit (ssk) which might be easier. To use this one, slip two stitches to the right hand needle then knit them together through the back loop. I’ve used both, but I prefer the second way of doing it. Either one should look good.
Thorny Platypus, I may have something for you here. Apparently, there’s a knitting group which meets at the Starbucks in Oldtown Tacoma on Wednesdays except for the first Wednesday of the month when they meet at the Anna Lemon Memorial Library on North 26th Street. I hope that makes sense to you – I’m afraid I’ve never been to Tacoma. They sound like a fairly nice group.
By the way, I highly recommend Barbara Walker’s knitting books, especially her Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. I’ve used a simple knit and purl pattern to make a gorgeous cowl for a friend and there are lace and cable patterns I’ve had a blast with, not to mention some fascinating edgings.
Thorny Platypus, monica, I hope I’ve helped.