A slip knot is the first loop you place on your needle
A slip knot is the starting loop that holds your first stitch on the needle. It is not a permanent knot — you will tighten and adjust it as you cast on, and it disappears into your first row of stitches. Every knitting project begins with one, whether you are casting on with long-tail, cable, or any other method.
The slip knot itself takes about 30 seconds to tie. The loop needs to be loose enough to slide freely on the needle while you work, but tight enough not to fall off. You will adjust the tension as you cast on your stitches.
Key Takeaways
- A slip knot is made by looping yarn around your fingers, pulling one loop through the other, and sliding it onto your needle.
- The knot should sit loosely on the needle so you can tighten it after you cast on your first stitch.
- The slip knot itself is temporary and will be absorbed into your cast-on edge as you work.
- Tension matters: too tight and you cannot work your first stitch, too loose and the knot slides off the needle.
The four-step method to tie a slip knot
Hold the yarn in your right hand with the working yarn (the yarn attached to the ball) running over your index finger. Make a loop by crossing the working yarn over the yarn end that is not attached to the ball. The loop should sit in the palm of your left hand.
Reach through the loop with your right hand and pull the working yarn through it, creating a second loop. You now have one loop on your right hand and the yarn tail hanging below. Pull gently on the working yarn to tighten the knot, but leave it loose enough that it slides easily on your needle.
Place the loop on your needle by sliding the needle through it from left to right. The knot should rest on the needle without gripping it. If it feels tight, loosen it slightly by pulling the yarn tail downward.
Once the slip knot is on the needle, you are ready to cast on. The knot will tighten naturally as you work your first cast-on stitch, so do not worry if it feels loose at this stage.
Why tension matters on a slip knot
A slip knot that is too tight will make your first stitch difficult to work. Your needle will not move freely through the loop, and you may struggle to insert it for your first cast-on stitch. Loosen the knot by gently pulling the yarn tail away from the needle.
A slip knot that is too loose will slide off the needle as you cast on, forcing you to start over. If this happens, slide the needle back through the loop and tighten it slightly. The goal is a knot that moves on the needle with light pressure but does not fall off on its own.
The tension you set on the slip knot is not the tension of your cast-on edge. You will adjust that separately as you work each cast-on stitch. The slip knot is straightforward the anchor point.
Common mistakes when tying a slip knot
The most common error is pulling the working yarn instead of the tail when you tighten the knot. This creates a knot that is too tight and hard to work with. Always pull the yarn tail (the short end) to tighten, and leave the working yarn loose.
Another mistake is making the loop too small. If the loop is tiny, it will be hard to slide the needle through it, and the knot may break if you pull too hard. Make a loop that is roughly the size of a quarter or larger before you pull the working yarn through it.
Some knitters tie a knot in the yarn tail itself, thinking it will hold the slip knot in place. This is unnecessary and makes the knot harder to adjust. The slip knot alone is enough — the tail will be woven in later.
How to adjust or redo a slip knot
If your slip knot is too tight after you place it on the needle, gently pull the yarn tail downward while holding the needle still. The loop will loosen. If it is too loose, pull the working yarn slightly to tighten it. Make small adjustments — you do not need much tension.
If the knot is twisted or does not look right, slide the needle out and untie it by pulling the yarn tail. The yarn will come free in seconds. Retie the slip knot and place it back on the needle. There is no penalty for starting over.
Once you have cast on your first stitch, the slip knot will tighten naturally and become part of your cast-on edge. You do not need to adjust it further.
Slip knots for different cast-on methods
The slip knot is the same regardless of which cast-on method you use. Long-tail, cable, provisional, and thumb cast-on all begin with a slip knot on the needle. The only difference is how you hold the yarn and needles as you work the cast-on stitches after the knot is in place.
Some cast-on methods, like provisional cast-on, may ask you to tie the slip knot on a temporary needle or crochet hook instead of your working needle. The knot itself is made the same way — the only change is where you place it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the slip knot count as my first stitch?
No. The slip knot is the anchor that holds your first stitch on the needle. When you cast on, you create new stitches next to the slip knot. After you finish casting on, the slip knot becomes part of your cast-on edge but is not counted as a stitch itself.
What if I cannot get the slip knot to stay on the needle?
The loop is probably too loose. Tighten it by pulling the working yarn gently while holding the needle. You want the loop to grip the needle lightly without sliding. If it keeps falling off, untie it and retie it with a slightly tighter tension.
Can I tie a slip knot without using my fingers?
Yes. You can tie a slip knot by wrapping yarn around a pencil or your needle itself, then pulling the working yarn through the loop. The result is the same. Use whatever method feels comfortable — the important thing is that the final knot sits loosely on your needle.
Do I remove the slip knot before I bind off?
No. The slip knot stays on the needle throughout your entire project. It becomes part of your cast-on edge and remains there when you bind off. You will weave in the yarn tail later, but the knot itself stays in place.