What a slip stitch is and when you use it

A slip stitch is a knitting move where you pass a loop from one needle to the other without knitting it. Instead of inserting your needle through the loop and pulling yarn through (the way you knit or purl), you straightforward slide the loop onto your right needle as if it were already finished. The loop itself stays the same size and tension.

Slip stitches appear in patterns for several reasons. They create a neat, finished edge on the sides of your work. They help you decrease stitches without the visible slant that a regular knit decrease leaves behind. They also let you carry yarn up the side of your work without adding bulk, and they're essential for picking up stitches later or joining pieces invisibly.

Most patterns will tell you when to slip a stitch. You'll see abbreviations like "sl 1" (slip one stitch) or "sl st" in the written instructions, or a symbol in a chart that looks like a horizontal line or a small dash.

Key Takeaways

  • A slip stitch moves a loop from your left needle to your right needle without working it, keeping the loop the same size.
  • You can slip with the yarn in front (for purl-side stitches) or with the yarn in back (for knit-side stitches), depending on what the pattern calls for.
  • Slipping the first stitch of every row gives you a chain-like edge that looks professional and is easier to pick up later.
  • Slip stitches are used to decrease, to create texture, to carry yarn invisibly, and to make neat selvage edges.

How to slip a stitch with yarn in back

This is the most common slip stitch. Insert your right needle through the loop on your left needle from left to right, as if you were about to knit it. Instead of wrapping yarn and pulling through, straightforward slide the loop off the left needle and onto the right needle. The loop moves over unchanged.

The yarn stays in back of your work while you do this. This method is called "slip knitwise" because your needle goes in the same direction it would for a knit stitch. Use this when your pattern says "slip 1" without other instructions, or when you're slipping a knit stitch.

How to slip a stitch with yarn in front

Insert your right needle through the loop on your left needle from right to left—the opposite direction from a knit stitch. Slide the loop onto the right needle without working it. The yarn stays in front of your work.

This method is called "slip purlwise" because your needle enters the way it would for a purl stitch. Use this when your pattern specifically says "slip 1 purlwise" or "sl 1 wyif" (with yarn in front). Slipping purlwise is gentler on the stitch and is often used when you plan to work that stitch again later, such as in a decrease.

Slipping the first stitch of each row for a neat edge

Many knitters slip the first stitch of every row instead of knitting it. This creates a selvage edge—a chain-like border on both sides of your work that looks finished and is much easier to pick up stitches from later. To do this, slip the first stitch knitwise (yarn in back) on every row, whether that row is a knit row or a purl row.

This single habit makes a visible difference in how professional your finished piece looks. The edge becomes uniform and sturdy instead of loose and uneven. If you're planning to pick up stitches for a neckband, button band, or another piece, a slipped-stitch selvage is worth the small extra step.

Using slip stitches to decrease without a visible slant

A slip, slip, knit decrease (written as "ssk") is a way to reduce stitches that leans to the left instead of to the right. Slip one stitch knitwise, slip another stitch knitwise, then insert your left needle through both loops from left to right and knit them together. This creates a decrease that mirrors a right-leaning decrease (k2tog) and is often used on opposite sides of a garment to keep shaping symmetrical.

Another decrease using slip stitches is the slip, slip, purl (ssp), which works the same way but on a purl row. These decreases are gentler on your yarn than some other methods and create a smooth, nearly invisible reduction in stitch count.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is slipping too tightly. When you slip a stitch, don't pull the yarn hard or cinch the loop. Let it move onto the right needle with the same tension as your other stitches. A tight slip stitch will make that part of your work bunched and uneven.

Another mistake is slipping in the wrong direction. If your pattern says "slip knitwise," don't slip purlwise instead. The direction matters because it affects how the stitch sits on the needle and how it will look or behave when you work it again. Read the pattern instruction carefully, and if it doesn't specify, slip knitwise by default.

Finally, don't forget that a slipped stitch still counts as a stitch. If your pattern says to slip one and knit two, you've used three stitches total, not two. Keep your stitch count accurate as you work.

Where slip stitches show up in real patterns

In stockinette stitch scarves and blankets, slipping the first stitch of every row is standard practice. In lace patterns, slip stitches often appear in decreases that need to lean a certain direction to frame the holes. In colorwork, you might slip stitches to carry yarn up the side without adding weight. In ribbed edges and cuffs, slipping the first stitch keeps the edge from flaring.

Once you start looking for them, you'll see slip stitches everywhere in patterns. They're one of the quietest but most useful tools in knitting, and learning to do them smoothly makes your finished work look noticeably better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between slip knitwise and slip purlwise?

Slip knitwise means your needle goes in from left to right, the same direction as a knit stitch. Slip purlwise means your needle goes in from right to left, the same direction as a purl stitch. Purlwise is gentler and is used when you'll work that stitch again later, such as in a decrease.

Do I wrap yarn around the needle when I slip?

No. A slip stitch never involves wrapping yarn. You straightforward move the loop from one needle to the other without any yarn action. The loop stays exactly the same size.

Why does my slipped-stitch edge look loose?

You're likely pulling the yarn too tight after you slip. Keep the same tension you use for regular stitches. Also make sure you're slipping the first stitch of every row, not just some rows. An inconsistent selvage will look uneven.

Can I slip a stitch on the purl side of my work?

Yes. You slip stitches the same way on purl rows as on knit rows. If you're slipping the first stitch of every row for a selvage edge, slip it knitwise on both knit and purl rows.

What does "wyib" or "wyif" mean in a pattern?

"Wyib" means "with yarn in back" and "wyif" means "with yarn in front." These abbreviations tell you where to hold your yarn while you slip. They're often paired with "sl 1" to give you the complete instruction.