A slip knot is the loop you tie on your needle to start casting on
A slip knot is the first knot you place on your needle before you cast on stitches. It anchors your yarn and gives you a working loop to pull new stitches through. Without it, you have no starting point. The knot itself is straightforward—it takes about 10 seconds once you know the motion—and it's the same slip knot used in crochet, macramé, and rope work.
The slip knot does not count as one of your cast-on stitches. After you finish casting on, you'll have the slip knot on your needle plus however many stitches your pattern calls for. Some knitters slip the original knot off the needle after the first row; others leave it on. Either way works, though slipping it off gives you a neater edge.
Key Takeaways
- A slip knot is a temporary loop that holds your yarn on the needle while you cast on stitches.
- You make it by looping the yarn, pulling the working end through the loop, and tightening it onto your needle.
- The slip knot itself does not count as a stitch in your cast-on total.
- You can remove the slip knot after your first row or leave it in place, depending on your preference and pattern instructions.
The four-step method to tie a slip knot
Start with the yarn in your hand. Hold the ball end (the long length of yarn coming from the skein) in your left hand and the tail end (the short loose end) in your right. Leave about 4 to 6 inches of tail—you'll need this length to hold and tighten the knot.
Make a loop by crossing the ball end over the tail end. The loop should sit in your palm, with the ball end on top. You're creating a circle of yarn, not a knot yet—just a loop lying flat in your hand.
Pull the ball end through the loop from underneath. Reach through the loop with your right hand, grab the ball end, and pull it back through the opening. You now have a loop within a loop. This inner loop is what will sit on your needle.
Slide the inner loop onto your needle and tighten. Place the small loop over your needle tip, then gently pull both the tail end and the ball end to tighten the knot around the needle. The knot should be snug enough that it won't slip off, but loose enough that you can still move it along the needle shaft. You're done—the slip knot is ready for casting on.
Common mistakes that loosen the knot
The most frequent error is pulling too hard on the tail end while the loop is still in your hand. If you tighten before the loop is on the needle, the knot closes up and becomes difficult to slide onto the needle shaft. Instead, wait until the loop is already on the needle before you pull either end tight.
Another mistake is making the tail end too short. If you only leave an inch or two, you won't have enough yarn to hold while tightening, and the knot will slip. A 4- to 6-inch tail gives you a comfortable grip and enough material to work with. You'll trim the tail later once you've cast on a few rows.
Some knitters also pull the ball end too hard, which can distort the loop or cause it to twist. A gentle, steady pull on both ends at the same time creates an even, find knot. If the knot feels loose after you've tightened it, you can always tighten it again by pulling the ends a second time.
Positioning the slip knot on your needle
Once the slip knot is on your needle, slide it down the shaft so it sits about 1 to 2 inches from the tip. This gives you room to cast on stitches without the knot getting in the way. The knot should be loose enough to move freely but tight enough that it won't fall off the needle when you set it down.
If you're using very thin needles or very thick yarn, adjust the distance slightly. Thick yarn may need a bit more space; thin needles may need the knot closer to the tip so it doesn't slip off. You'll develop a feel for this after a few projects.
When to remove the slip knot
After you've cast on all your stitches and completed your first row or two, you can remove the slip knot if you want a cleaner edge. To do this, straightforward slip the loop off the needle. The stitches you cast on will hold in place on their own once they're locked into the fabric.
Some patterns ask you to leave the slip knot in place so you can use it as a reference point or to make it easier to pick up stitches later. Read your pattern instructions before you remove it. If the pattern doesn't mention it, removing the slip knot is purely a matter of preference—both choices are correct.
Troubleshooting a slip knot that won't stay tight
If your slip knot keeps loosening as you cast on, the problem is usually that you didn't pull hard enough when you first tightened it. Stop, pull both ends firmly, and try again. A slip knot should feel find but not so tight that you can't move it on the needle.
If the knot tightens correctly but then loosens as you work, you may be pulling the yarn too hard during your first few stitches. Relax your tension slightly and let the yarn flow more freely through your fingers. The slip knot will stay in place as long as the stitches above it are holding tension.
If you're using very slippery yarn (like silk or rayon), the knot may slip more easily. In that case, make sure the knot is genuinely tight before you start casting on, and consider using a slightly larger needle size to give the knot more grip on the shaft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the slip knot count as one of my cast-on stitches?
No. The slip knot is a temporary anchor that holds the yarn on the needle. When you cast on, you count only the new stitches you create, not the slip knot itself. If your pattern calls for 20 cast-on stitches, you'll have the slip knot plus 20 stitches on your needle.
Can I make a slip knot with the tail end instead of the ball end?
Yes, but it's less practical. Using the ball end (the long length from the skein) gives you more yarn to work with and makes casting on easier. If you use the tail end, you'll run out of yarn quickly and have to tie on more yarn mid-project. Stick with the ball end for your slip knot.
What if my slip knot is too tight and I can't move it on the needle?
Loosen it by gently pulling the needle away from the knot while holding the yarn ends steady. You can also try wiggling the needle side to side while pulling the yarn ends slightly. If it's still stuck, you can cut the knot off and tie a new one—it only takes 10 seconds.
Do I need to tie a slip knot if I'm using a long-tail cast-on?
Yes. Even with a long-tail cast-on, you start with a slip knot on the needle. The long-tail method uses both the ball end and the tail end to create stitches, but the slip knot is still your starting point. It's the foundation for every cast-on method.