What the slip stitch does and when to use it

The slip stitch is a stitch you pass from one needle to the other without working it—you straightforward move it across without inserting your needle through it or pulling yarn through. It looks like a vertical line on your fabric and sits slightly taller than a regular knit stitch. You use it to join rounds invisibly, to create a neat edge on your work, to carry yarn up the side of your piece without adding bulk, or to make decorative lines.

The slip stitch is one of the first techniques you'll reach for once you're comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches. It requires no new hand motion—just a decision not to work the stitch at all. Many patterns call for it by name, and learning it opens up cleaner finishes and more control over your fabric.

Key Takeaways

  • A slip stitch is created by moving a stitch from your left needle to your right needle without knitting it, keeping the yarn on the same side of your work.
  • Slip stitches are most commonly used to join rounds invisibly, create neat selvage edges, or carry yarn up the side of a piece without adding rows.
  • The direction you slip a stitch (knitwise or purlwise) changes how it sits on the needle and affects how it looks in your finished fabric.
  • Slipping a stitch too tightly will make it hard to work on the next row, while slipping too loosely creates loose edges or uneven joins.

The two ways to slip a stitch: knitwise and purlwise

When you slip a stitch, you have two choices based on how you insert your needle. Slipping knitwise means inserting your right needle through the stitch from left to right, the same direction you would for a knit stitch. This twists the stitch slightly on the needle. Slipping purlwise means inserting your right needle from right to left, the same direction as a purl stitch. This keeps the stitch untwisted.

Most patterns will tell you which direction to use. If they don't specify, slip purlwise—it's the default for most situations because it preserves the stitch in its original orientation. Slip knitwise when a pattern specifically asks for it, usually when you're about to work into that stitch in a particular way on the next row, or when you're creating a twisted stitch effect intentionally.

How to slip a stitch on a knit row

Hold your working yarn on the same side of your work as it was before you reached this stitch. If you're on a knit row and your yarn is in the back, keep it in the back. Insert your right needle through the stitch purlwise (from right to left), then slide the stitch off your left needle onto your right needle. That's it—no yarn pulled through, no loop created. The stitch now sits on your right needle and you move to the next stitch.

Keep the tension even. If you pull too tight, the stitch will be hard to work into on the next row and may distort the stitches around it. If you slip too loosely, your edges will look sloppy or your join will have gaps. Aim for the same tension you use for your regular knit stitches.

How to slip a stitch on a purl row

On a purl row, your working yarn starts in front of your work. Keep it there. Insert your right needle through the stitch purlwise (from right to left), then slide it off your left needle onto your right needle. Again, no yarn is pulled through—you're straightforward moving the stitch across without working it.

The motion is identical to slipping on a knit row; only the starting position of your yarn changes. This consistency makes the slip stitch one of the easiest techniques to master once you understand the basic rule: insert the needle, slide the stitch, move on.

Using the slip stitch to join rounds invisibly

When you finish a round in circular knitting, you need to join the last stitch to the first stitch to close the circle. The slip stitch creates an invisible join. Work all stitches in your round normally until you reach the last stitch. Then slip that final stitch knitwise, insert your needle under the first stitch of the round (the one you worked at the very beginning), and pull your yarn through both stitches. This draws the last stitch into the first stitch and closes the gap.

The join will be nearly invisible from the right side of your work. From the wrong side, you'll see a small horizontal line where the join happened, but this is normal and expected. Practice this join a few times on a small swatch to get the tension right—too tight and you'll pucker the join, too loose and the gap will show.

Creating a neat edge with slip stitches

Many patterns ask you to slip the first stitch of every row to create a clean, neat edge called a selvage. At the start of each row (whether knit or purl), slip the first stitch purlwise, then work the rest of the row normally. On the next row, slip the first stitch again. This creates a chain-like edge that looks finished and is easier to pick up stitches from later if you need to add a border or seam.

The slipped stitches stack vertically along your edge, creating a line that's both decorative and functional. This technique is especially useful on pieces you'll seam together, because the neat edge makes it easier to match rows and create an invisible seam. Many patterns for scarves, blankets, and garments use this method automatically.

Carrying yarn up the side without adding bulk

If you're working with multiple colors or need to pause a section of knitting and come back to it later, you can carry your yarn up the side of your work by slipping stitches. When you reach the edge stitch on a row where you're not using that color, slip the stitch instead of working it, and let the yarn travel up the side. On the next row where you use that color again, work normally.

This method keeps your edges clean and prevents the bulk that comes from weaving yarn in and out. It works best when you're only carrying yarn up a few rows—if you're carrying it up many rows, the strand on the side will be loose and visible. For longer distances, weaving in yarn as you go is a better choice.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is slipping too tightly, which makes the stitch hard to work into on the next row and can cause your edge to pucker. The second is forgetting to keep your yarn on the correct side of your work—if your pattern says to slip with yarn in back, and you slip with yarn in front, the stitch will sit differently and may create an unintended effect. Always read the instruction carefully and check which side your yarn should be on.

Another frequent error is slipping knitwise when you meant to slip purlwise, which twists the stitch and changes how it looks. If a pattern doesn't specify, assume purlwise. Finally, some knitters slip too loosely, creating loose edges or visible gaps in joins. Match your slip-stitch tension to your regular knit tension, and your work will look even and intentional.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between slipping knitwise and purlwise?

Slipping knitwise (left to right) twists the stitch slightly, while slipping purlwise (right to left) keeps it untwisted. Most patterns ask for purlwise unless they specify otherwise. The direction matters because it affects how the stitch sits on the needle and how it looks in your finished fabric.

Can I slip a stitch if my pattern doesn't mention it?

You can, but you shouldn't without a reason. Slipping a stitch changes how your fabric looks and behaves. Only slip when a pattern tells you to, or when you're using it intentionally for a specific effect like a neat edge or an invisible join.

Why does my slip stitch look loose or sloppy?

You're likely slipping too loosely. Match the tension of your slip stitch to the tension of your regular knit stitches. The stitch should move smoothly from one needle to the other without excess slack, but also without being so tight that it's hard to work into on the next row.

Do I need to do anything special to work into a slipped stitch on the next row?

No. A slipped stitch sits on your needle just like any other stitch. On the next row, insert your needle through it and work it normally—knit it, purl it, or slip it again, depending on what your pattern says.

Can I use the slip stitch to fix a mistake?

Not directly. The slip stitch is a deliberate technique, not a correction tool. If you've made a mistake, you'll need to drop down and fix it or rip back to the error. The slip stitch is only for intentional effects like joins, edges, and decorative lines.