A slip knot is the loop you tie at the end of your yarn to start casting on

A slip knot is the first knot you tie when you begin any knitting project. It sits on your needle and holds your yarn in place while you cast on the rest of your stitches. Without it, your yarn would straightforward slide off the needle and unravel.

The slip knot itself is not counted as one of your cast-on stitches—it is the anchor point that everything else hangs from. Once you have finished casting on all your stitches, you will slip this original knot off the needle and work with only the stitches you cast on.

The knot takes about 10 seconds to tie once you know the motion. It uses only the yarn and your fingers, and you can untie it and start over as many times as you need while you are learning.

Key Takeaways

  • A slip knot is tied at the end of your yarn and placed on your needle before you cast on any stitches.
  • The knot is made by looping the yarn around your fingers, pulling the working yarn through the loop, and tightening it onto the needle.
  • The slip knot itself does not count as a stitch—it is removed once you have finished casting on.
  • If your knot is too tight or too loose, you can untie it and tie it again without wasting yarn.

Step-by-step: tying the slip knot

Start with the yarn in your hand. Leave a tail of yarn about 4 to 6 inches long—this is the end that came off the ball or skein. Hold the working yarn (the long end connected to the ball) in your other hand.

Make a loop by crossing the working yarn over the tail yarn. The working yarn should pass over the top of the tail, creating a circle. Hold this loop loosely between your thumb and index finger.

Insert your needle under the working yarn (the part closest to you), then pull it up through the loop. You now have a new loop on your needle with the working yarn threaded through it. Gently pull both the tail and the working yarn to tighten the knot around the needle. The knot should sit snugly on the needle but not so tight that you cannot slide it along the shaft.

Getting the tension right

The slip knot should be tight enough that it does not slide off your needle on its own, but loose enough that you can move it along the needle shaft with your fingers. If you pull too hard, the knot will be difficult to work with and may cut into the needle.

Many beginners tie the knot too tight because they are worried it will fall off. In practice, the weight of your cast-on stitches will hold it in place. You can always loosen it slightly after tying by gently wiggling the needle and pulling the yarn tail.

If you find the knot is still too tight after you have cast on a few stitches, you can slip it off the needle, untie it completely, and tie it again. There is no penalty for starting over.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common error is making the loop in the wrong direction. If you cross the tail yarn over the working yarn instead of the working yarn over the tail, you will end up with a knot that faces the wrong way. The loop should sit on top of the needle with the working yarn coming out from underneath it.

Another frequent mistake is pulling the working yarn instead of both strands when you tighten. If you pull only the working yarn, the knot will not tighten evenly and may slip. Always pull both the tail and the working yarn at the same time, using equal pressure on each.

If your knot keeps coming undone, you may not have pulled it tight enough. Tie it again and pull more firmly on both strands. The knot should not move when you tug on it gently.

What to do after the slip knot is tied

Once your slip knot is on the needle and tightened, you are ready to cast on. The slip knot becomes the foundation for whichever cast-on method you are using—long-tail cast-on, cable cast-on, or any other technique. The working yarn (the long end) is what you will use to create your cast-on stitches.

Keep the tail yarn hanging loose. You will need it later to weave in the ends after you have finished knitting, so do not cut it short. A tail of 4 to 6 inches is usually enough for weaving in.

Practicing the slip knot

If you are new to knitting, spend a few minutes tying and untying the slip knot before you move on to casting on. Use a smooth yarn in a light color so you can see the loop clearly. Once the motion becomes automatic, you will not have to think about it.

There is no such thing as tying too many practice slip knots. Each one you tie builds muscle memory, and the knot will become faster and more consistent. Many knitters tie a slip knot the same way every time without looking, just as you might tie your shoelaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the slip knot count as one of my cast-on stitches?

No. The slip knot is the anchor that holds your yarn on the needle. Once you have finished casting on all your stitches, you will remove the slip knot and work only with the stitches you cast on. If a pattern says to cast on 20 stitches, you will tie a slip knot, then cast on 20 additional stitches.

What if I tie the slip knot and it when ready falls off the needle?

The knot is too loose. Untie it and tie it again, pulling more firmly on both the tail and working yarn. The knot should not move when you give the needle a gentle shake. Once you cast on a few stitches, the weight of those stitches will also help hold the slip knot in place.

Can I use a slip knot with any type of yarn?

Yes. The slip knot works the same way with all yarn weights and fiber types. Thicker yarns may be easier to see while you are learning, but thin yarn works just as well once you understand the motion.

Do I need to tie the slip knot a certain way for different cast-on methods?

No. The slip knot is always tied the same way, regardless of which cast-on method you plan to use. The cast-on method changes how you create stitches after the slip knot is on the needle, but the knot itself never changes.