A slipknot is the loop you tie on your needle to start any knitting project

A slipknot is a loop that tightens around your knitting needle and serves as your first stitch. It's the foundation every knitted piece sits on, whether you're making a scarf, sweater, or dishcloth. The knot holds your working yarn in place while you cast on your other stitches, and it's designed to tighten or loosen depending on how you pull the yarn.

The slipknot itself takes about 30 seconds to tie once you know the motion. It uses only your yarn and your fingers—no needle yet. After you tie it, you'll slide it onto your needle and adjust the tension before you begin casting on.

Key Takeaways

  • A slipknot is a loop that slides onto your needle and forms your first stitch before you cast on.
  • You tie the knot with yarn and your fingers, then transfer it to the needle and tighten it to a snug fit.
  • The loop should be loose enough to slide on the needle but tight enough that it doesn't fall off during casting on.
  • If your slipknot is too tight or too loose, you can untie it and start over—there's no penalty for practice.

Step-by-step: tying the slipknot

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

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

Now pull the working yarn through the loop from underneath. Insert the working yarn from below the loop, then pull it up and through. You'll see a new loop form. Pull the working yarn tight enough that the original loop cinches around it, but don't pull so hard that you can't slide the knot onto your needle.

Slide the knot onto your needle. The loop should sit on the needle shaft, not at the tip. The tail and working yarn should both hang down from the needle.

Adjusting the tension on your needle

Once the slipknot is on your needle, you need to tighten it so it won't slip off during casting on, but not so tight that you can't work your stitches. Hold the needle in your dominant hand and gently pull both the tail and the working yarn with your other hand. Pull evenly on both strands so the loop tightens around the needle shaft.

The knot should be snug enough that you can't slide it along the needle with your thumb, but loose enough that you can still rotate the needle freely. If it's too tight, your cast-on stitches will be hard to work into. If it's too loose, the slipknot will slip off the needle when you're casting on.

You can adjust the tension as many times as you need before you start casting on. Many knitters tighten the slipknot a little more after they've cast on a few stitches and can see how it's sitting.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common error is pulling the working yarn too tight when you first tie the knot. This creates a knot that's nearly impossible to slide onto the needle. If this happens, straightforward untie it and start over. There's no waste—you're using the same yarn.

Another frequent mistake is tying the knot in reverse, so the loop faces the wrong direction on the needle. This doesn't break anything, but it can make your first row of stitches sit awkwardly. If you notice this, untie the knot, flip the loop, and retie it so the working yarn comes out of the loop toward your ball of yarn.

Some knitters accidentally tie a regular knot instead of a slipknot. A regular knot won't slide onto the needle and won't tighten or loosen the way you need it to. The difference is that a slipknot has one loop that cinches around the yarn, while a regular knot has the yarn wrapped around itself. If you've tied a regular knot, untie it and follow the steps above.

Why the slipknot matters for your cast-on

The slipknot counts as your first stitch in most cast-on methods. When you cast on using a technique like long-tail cast-on or cable cast-on, you're creating new loops on the needle, and the slipknot is already there as stitch number one. This is why the tension matters—if the slipknot is too tight, your first row will be hard to knit into, and your edge will look uneven.

Some cast-on methods, like provisional cast-on, treat the slipknot differently and may ask you to remove it later. But for standard projects, the slipknot stays on the needle and becomes part of your fabric. Getting it right from the start makes the rest of your casting on smoother.

Practicing until it feels natural

The slipknot is a motion that becomes automatic after you've done it a few times. Your hands learn the sequence, and you stop thinking about it. If you're new to knitting, tie a few slipknots in a row just to get the feel of it. Use any yarn you have on hand—it doesn't have to be your project yarn.

Pay attention to how the loop feels when it's the right tightness. Notice the position of your fingers and where the yarn sits. After five or six repetitions, most people find the motion clicks into place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the slipknot count as a stitch in my cast-on?

Yes, in most cast-on methods the slipknot is your first stitch. When you cast on 20 stitches, the slipknot is one of those 20. Some specialty cast-ons treat it differently, but your pattern will tell you if that's the case.

What if I can't get the slipknot onto my needle?

The knot is too tight. Untie it completely and tie it again, pulling less hard on the working yarn when you cinch the loop. The knot should feel loose enough to slide onto the needle with gentle pressure, not require force.

Can I tie the slipknot directly onto the needle?

You can, but it's harder to control the tension. Most knitters tie it in their hand first, then slide it onto the needle. This gives you better control over how tight the loop is before it's on the needle.

What if my slipknot comes undone while I'm casting on?

This usually means the knot wasn't tight enough on the needle. Slide it back on, tighten it a bit more by pulling both yarn strands, and continue. If it keeps slipping, you may need to tie a new slipknot and start your cast-on over.

Is there a difference between a slipknot for knitting and a slipknot for other crafts?

The basic knot is the same, but knitting slipknots are usually tied a bit looser so they can slide onto a needle and adjust easily. Other crafts may need tighter knots. For knitting, prioritize a knot that moves freely on the needle.