Whether you knit or crochet for most yarn projects you begin with the slip knot. You make an adjustable knot with the yarn on the knitting needles or crochet hook and then begin the next steps. It lays the foundation for everything, from basic scarves to intricate colorwork projects. The best part? It's quite simple to learn! In this blog, we’ll explore three simple techniques to create a slip knot in this blog post.
What is a Slip Knot?
Slip knots are used in knitting and crochet to attach your yarn to the needle. It's the first step in casting on stitches and crocheting a chain. While knitting counts the slip knot as the first stitch, crochet does not.
Method 1 - Classic Slip Knot Method
This method is the most commonly used and easiest for beginners.
Why it is best: Simple to tie, and quickly adjustable.
Step 1 - Pick up the yarn, 6-8" from the end. Pinch it between your fingers and make a U-shape (also known as bight) as it falls under your fingers. You don't need to measure the yarn precisely; just give yourself enough extra yarn to work with.
Step 2 - Twist your fingers clockwise to make the yarn cross over, forming a loop. All it requires is a half turn or so, and the yarn should naturally cross over itself.
Step 3 - Put your two fingers inside the loop, expanding it out. Make sure your other hand is holding onto the strands of yarn below your loop, keeping the shape intact.
Step 4 - Using the fingers in the loop, grab the standing yarn and pull it partially through. The standing yarn is the line that leads back to your ball of yarn. The shorter side, leading to the end, is called the tail. Pulling the standing line through will form another bight (U-shaped bend in the yarn).
You only need to pull a few inches of yarn through.
Step 5 - Pull the tail of the yarn to tighten the knot about halfway. You don't want to cinch the whole thing down yet. You can, however, pull on the tail to bring the knot closer together and "clean it up."
It should look a bit like a noose, with a knot on the bottom of a yarn loop.
Step 6 - Slide your knitting needle or crochet hook into the loop and pull both ends of yarn tight. A slip knot almost always goes around something, as the beauty of the know is how easily it tightens and loosens around an object. Pull both the tail and standing yarn simultaneously to tighten your slip knot.
Method 2 - Feeding a Loop into a Loop
Step 1 - Pick up the yarn approximately 12 cm (4 - 5”) from the end. This will create a U-shaped "bight" in the yarn.
Step 2 - Create a loop by taking the long end of the yarn (standing line) and winding it over the top of the shorter end (tail). Hold the point where the yarns cross tightly between your left thumb and forefinger.
Step 3 - Using your right hand, pick up the standing line of yarn to form another bight. Remember, the standing line is the part leading back to your yarn ball. Form another half-loop here, like you did in step one of this method.
Step 4 - Feed this second bite through the back of the loop. This will create a loop in a loop.
Step 5 - Pull on the tail of the knot to tighten the first loop around the second. This will make the knot much cleaner and easier to manage.
Step 6 - Feed your knitting needles or crochet hook into the remaining loop and pull the long end of the yarn to close the loop over the needle. This is all you need for your slipknot.
Method 3 - Looping and Pushing Through
Step 1 - Pull out about ten inches of yarn from your yarn ball. The exact amount doesn't matter -- you just need enough to work with comfortably.
Step 2 - Make a 1" loop in the yarn by tucking the end of the yarn under the rest of the yarn. Simply double the yarn back on itself, then slide the end underneath the rest of the yarn to make a circle.
Step 3 - Flip the loop back down so it lays on top of the rest of the yarn. Make sure you flip it towards the side with the rest of the yarn, not the side with the end of the yarn.
Step 4 - Pick up the yarn inside the loop and pull it through. Simply pinch the straight line of yarn underneath your loop and pull it through 1-2". It should naturally form another loop.
Step 5 - Pull the end of the yarn to get the knot tight, keeping the loop at the top open. You only want to tighten it enough to close the first loop you made, leaving the other loop open on top. It looks a bit like a noose.
Step 6 - Slip the knot onto a knitting needle or crochet hook and pull both ends to tighten the knot. Put the knitting needle in through the remaining loop and pull both yarn tails to make it snug.
Common Mistakes to Avoid when making a Slip Knot
Even with an easy technique like making a slip knot, beginners sometimes struggle. Here are some common mistakes and how to fix them:
- Avoid making the loop too big while making a slip knot, otherwise it will slip.
- An excessively tight loop will make it difficult for your hook to glide. To make working more comfortable, keep it loose.
- The type of yarn also affects the ease of making a slip knot. If you are using a slippery yarn, then it would be difficult to secure a knot. To avoid this mistake, use a yarn with more texture and grip.
- Leave at least 4-6 inches of yarn tail to weave in later using a finishing needle.
Understanding how to make a firm slip knot ensures smooth steps in knitting and crochet projects. Whether you're working on a project with a Radiance hook or experimenting with a Bequest Tunisian crochet hook set or knitting with Lantern Moon’s interchangeable needle sets.
Get ready, choose your favorite technique, and start creating interesting projects! You'll be confident enough to handle intricate crochet projects once you master slip knots.