How To Make A Slip Knot - Crochet & Knitting Made Easy

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Knowing how to make a slip knot is a basic technique for many yarn arts, including both crochet and knitting. You will need to tie slip knots in order to get your yarn on the hook or needle. There are actually three methods for how to tie a slip knot, and I will guide you through with easy steps and photos.

How to Make a Slip Knot Tutorial

In this tutorial, I will show you how to tie a slip knot with 3 different methods. The easiest way to make a slip knot is flat on the table.

Here is how to make a slip knot:

Hold the yarn in your hand, leaving a tail of about 6 inches. Make a loop by crossing the the working yarn (the yarn attached to the ball) over the tail to form a small loop.
Take the working yarn and bring it behind the loop.
Grab the yarn at the center of your loop with your fingers.
Gently pull up to tighten the knot.
Adjust the size of the loop by pulling on the yarn.

What is a Slip Knot?

A slip knot is an adjustable knot used to start knitting and crochet. It can easily be tightened or loosened to make it the perfect size for your hook or knitting needles. Once you have a starting knot, you are ready to start casting on for knitting or doing a foundation chain for crochet. In knitting, the slip stitch is considered the first stitch whereas in crochet, it is not counted. A slipknot can also be used in jewelry making and macrame as a useful sliding knot.

Video Tutorial

Learn how to slip knot crochet with this easy step-by-step video that will show you the 3 methods. See my youtube channel to watch it in full.

How to Make a Slip Knot - Step-by-Step Instructions

In this slip knot tutorial, I will show you how to tie a slip knot with 3 different methods. I think the easiest way is flat on a table which is shown below, but try all 3 and see which you like the best.

Create a loop flat on the table. The ball end of the yarn should be on top. The yarn tail is underneath. It is usually best to leave a long tail.
Move the loop over on top of the ball end of the yarn.

Grab the center to bring that loop through your original loop. Pull it securely, but again, not too tight.

Now your simple slip knot is formed. Insert your crochet hook or knitting needle into the loop and begin your chain stitch or casting on.

Alternative Ways to Make Slip Knots

With Your Finger

Here are the instructions how to tie a slip knot over one finger.

The first step is to take a length of yarn and wrap it around your left hand's pointer or index finger, away from you, creating a loop. Hold the tail end of the yarn between your finger and thumb.
Now take the working yarn (ie. the part that is coming out of the yarn ball) and wrap it around your finger again. Hold both bits of yarn in between your middle finger and thumb.

How to tie a slip knot with your fingers

Using your right hand, now pull the back loop over the front loop.

How to Make a Slip Knot - With Your Fingers

Pull the back loop over the front loop AGAIN and off the end of your finger. Now pull it tight, but not too tight! It should still be able to ‘slip’ looser and tighter.

Insert your crochet hook into the loop, tighten it a little around the hook, and you can start your first chain stitch. If you are knitting, you can put the perfect knot on your needle. The long end of the yarn will be used to weave in the finished crochet pattern.

With a Hook

Learning how to slip knot crochet is essential and perfect for crocheting beginners.

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Take the tail end of your yarn and make a loop.
Hold both sides of the loop between finger and thumb.
Insert your crochet hook into the loop and give it a twist, causing the yarn to cross over.
Hold the yarn in the method you prefer to keep the tension stable.
Swap hands so that your non-dominant hand is holding the crossed-over yarn, as well as keeping the tension steady.
Wrap your yarn over the crochet hook and pull this loop through the original loop. Your knot will form.
Pull it fairly tight so that the loop is not too big and loose. Start your crochet chain stitch from here or casting on if you are doing a knitting project.

How to Make a Slip Knot - In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed learning how to slip knot crochet. You can see that this is a useful technique to know, as a slip knot has many other functions, besides just starting off your crochet.

It is used in knitting, ribbon work, and macrame as well, and can be used for anything which requires a movable knot. Once you have made your slip knot, it is time to move on with the next step, which is chain stitch. This will form the foundation for your crochet work.

Slip Knot

Learn how to create a slip knot for knitting and crochet 5/5 - (32 votes) Print Pin Difficulty: Easy BeginnerKeyword: Crochet, Knitting Total Time: 2 minutes

Difficulty

Tools

Optional - Crochet Hook

Materials

Yarn

Instructions

Make a loop with the yarn. (Ball end of yarn on top). It will look like the letter e.
Move the loop over (to the left) on top of the ball end of the yarn. You will see th underneath yarn through the center.
Grab the center.
Pull the center up to form a loop.
Pull tight and insert hook or knitting needle