A slip knot is the first loop you place on your needle

A slip knot is the loop that anchors your yarn to the needle before you cast on. It is not a cast-on stitch itself—it is the foundation that holds everything else in place. You make it by forming a loop with your yarn, pulling the working yarn (the end attached to the ball) through that loop, and tightening it onto your needle.

The slip knot takes about 30 seconds to make once you understand the motion. It uses only your fingers and the needle you plan to knit with. The knot should be snug enough that it does not slide off the needle, but loose enough that you can still move it slightly when you begin casting on.

Key Takeaways

  • A slip knot is made by looping the yarn around your fingers, pulling the working yarn through the loop, and sliding it onto the needle.
  • The working yarn is the end connected to the ball; the tail is the short end you cut from the skein.
  • The knot should sit close to the needle but not so tight that you cannot adjust it during your first cast-on row.
  • If the knot slides off or feels too loose, you can remake it in seconds without wasting yarn.

What you need before you start

Gather your yarn and a needle in the size your pattern calls for. The needle size does not matter for making the slip knot itself—any needle will work—but you will use this needle to hold the knot, so use the one you plan to cast on with.

Hold the yarn in your non-dominant hand with the ball end (the working yarn) hanging down and the loose end (the tail) pointing toward you. You will need about 4 to 6 inches of tail to work with comfortably. If your yarn is tangled or kinked, smooth it out first so the loop forms cleanly.

Step-by-step: making the slip knot

Step 1: Make a loop. Hold the yarn between your thumb and index finger so the working yarn (the long end going to the ball) crosses over the tail. The crossing point should be about 4 inches from the end of the tail. Pinch this crossing point with your thumb and index finger. You now have a loop with the tail on one side and the working yarn on the other.

Step 2: Pull the working yarn through the loop. With your other hand, grab the working yarn (the long end) and pull it through the loop you just made. Pull gently—you are not trying to tighten anything yet, just thread the yarn through. You will now have a new, smaller loop on top of the original loop.

Step 3: Place the loop on your needle. Slide your needle through the smaller loop you just created. The loop should sit on the needle shaft, not at the tip. At this point, you have a loose knot with the tail and working yarn both hanging down.

Step 4: Tighten the knot. Hold the needle steady with one hand. With the other hand, gently pull both the tail and the working yarn downward at the same time. Pull slowly and watch the knot tighten around the needle. Stop when the knot feels snug but not strangled—you should be able to slide it slightly along the needle with your finger.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common mistake is pulling too hard and creating a knot that is locked in place. If you cannot move the slip knot at all on the needle, it is too tight. Loosen it by gently wiggling the needle while pulling the tail and working yarn in opposite directions. If it still will not budge, cut the yarn close to the knot, pull the needle out, and remake the slip knot—you will only lose an inch or two of yarn.

Another mistake is making the loop too large before threading the working yarn through. A large loop makes the final knot bulky and hard to work with during casting on. Keep the initial loop about the size of a quarter. If your loop is too big, start over.

Some knitters accidentally pull only the tail or only the working yarn when tightening, which creates an uneven knot. Always pull both strands together. The knot should look symmetrical, with the tail and working yarn exiting the knot at roughly the same angle.

Adjusting the slip knot before you cast on

Once the slip knot is on the needle, you can still adjust it before you begin your cast-on method. If it feels too tight, hold the needle in one hand and gently pull the tail with the other hand—this loosens the knot slightly. If it feels too loose, pull the working yarn gently to tighten it.

The slip knot should be positioned about half an inch from the needle tip so it does not interfere with your cast-on stitches. If it is sitting right at the tip, slide it back along the needle shaft. You can move it freely until you start casting on.

What happens next: moving from slip knot to cast-on

Once your slip knot is find on the needle, you are ready to begin your chosen cast-on method—whether that is long-tail, cable, or another technique. The slip knot counts as your first loop, so when a pattern says "cast on 20 stitches," you will create 19 more stitches after the slip knot is already in place.

During casting on, the slip knot will stay on the needle and become part of your foundation row. You do not remove it or redo it. If you notice the knot is too tight once you have cast on a few stitches, you can still loosen it slightly by gently pulling the tail, but major adjustments become harder once other stitches are locked in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a slip knot with any cast-on method?

Yes. Every cast-on method begins with a slip knot on the needle. The slip knot is universal and works with long-tail, cable, provisional, and all other standard cast-on techniques. The only exception is some advanced methods that explicitly tell you to start without a slip knot, but these are rare and your pattern will say so.

What if my slip knot keeps sliding off the needle?

The knot is too loose. Remake it and pull both the tail and working yarn more firmly when tightening. The knot should grip the needle enough that you cannot slide it off with one finger, though you should still be able to move it with gentle pressure. If the needle is very thin or very thick, the knot may not grip as well—this is normal and does not affect your knitting.

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

Yes, the slip knot is your first stitch. If a pattern says "cast on 20 stitches," you will create 19 additional stitches after the slip knot is already on the needle, giving you 20 total. Some patterns say "cast on 20 stitches plus a slip knot," which means you create 20 stitches after the knot—read your pattern carefully.

How tight should the slip knot be?

Snug but moveable. The knot should not slide off if you tug the needle, but you should be able to shift it along the needle shaft with your finger. If it is so tight you cannot move it at all, loosen it before casting on. A knot that is too tight can make your first row of stitches uneven.

Can I remake the slip knot if I do not like how it looks?

Yes, as long as you have not cast on yet. straightforward pull the needle out, undo the knot, and make a new one. Once you have cast on stitches, remaking the slip knot is much harder because the other stitches are locked in. If you dislike the slip knot after casting on, you can usually live with it—it becomes less visible once you have knitted a few rows.