How To Slip A Stitch - Tin Can Knits

Slipping a stitch is simply moving a stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it. This technique is used in socks (see the ‘let’s knit socks’ tutorial for more sock related techniques) among other things and is often used on scarves (slip the first stitch of every row) for a clean and firm edge.

There are 2 ways to slip a stitch, knitwise and purlwise, with yarn in front or with yarn in back. Slipping a stitch knitwise twists the stitch while slipping it purlwise does not.

The tutorial below will give you the basics but check out our NEW slip stitch tutorial (with videos!) here.

::: how to slip a stitch knitwise with yarn in back :::

1. Insert your right hand needle into the first stitch on the left hand needle as if to knit.

2. Slip the stitch off the left hand needle, onto the right hand needle.

::: how to slip a stitch purlwise with yarn in front :::

1. Insert the right hand needle into the first stitch on the left hand needle as if to purl (from back to front)

2. Slip the stitch off the left hand needle, onto the right hand needle.

There are several knitting techniques that require you to slip stitches.  Several decreases include the use of slipped stitches (for example single decreases such as ssk, sl1-k1-psso, and double decreases like sl1-k2tog-psso and sl2-k1-p2sso).  The photos shown illustrate slipping the first stitch of the row when working a sock heel flap (check out the our ‘how to knit a sock’ tutorial for all the details, plus a free sock pattern).  There are also stitch patterns that utilize slipped stitches to create a wide variety of textural effects!

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