I am the Kat that Walks By Itself

Things like SSK, and PSSO are just ways of manipulating ordinary knit (or purl) stitches. SSK is just slipping stitches to the right needle, inserting the left needle, and once that's done, doing a knit stitch. PSSO I don't use as much, but it's just slip a stitch to the right needle, knit the next one in the ordinary way, then pass the slipped stitch over the one you just knitted, as if you're binding off. They're both ways of decreasing, as is K2T - knit two together - and which one you use depends on the pattern because they look different.

Not sure if that helps at all. Certainly I look up videos for anything new. Good sites to consult are Knit Purl Hunter, Very Pink, and Knitfreedom. They all have clear videos, but which one you prefer depends on whether you knit English (American in the US) style with the yarn in your right hand (like me) or Continental (yarn in the left hand). I knit English style, but I don't mind continental vids though they may confuse depending on your style.

Very Pink: English style with a finger, the way I do it
Knit Purl Hunter: English, but she uses her whole hand
Knit Freedom: continental but often shows both
All three are very clear and also on YouTube.

Crochet is better for bags, dishcloths etc
Yep, I made a crocheted market bag recently. I'm very pleased with it. Are you on Ravelry? If so, I'm Vilakins as usual (it's never taken).

Crochet is definitely faster. A good knitter will knit more stitches in the same time, but they're a lot smaller.