What a slip stitch is and why you need it

A slip stitch in knitting is a stitch you move from one needle to the other without knitting it. Instead of inserting your needle through the loop and pulling yarn through, you straightforward slide the loop onto your right needle as if it were already finished. The loop itself stays the same size and shape — you are not tightening or loosening it.

Slip stitches serve three main purposes: they create a neat, finished edge on pieces you will seam later, they help you carry yarn up the side of your work without adding bulk, and they let you decrease stitches in a way that leans in a particular direction. Once you understand the motion, you will recognize where patterns call for it and why.

Key Takeaways

  • A slip stitch moves a loop from the left needle to the right needle without working it, keeping the loop the same size.
  • The two main methods are slipping knitwise (needle enters from left to right) and slipping purlwise (needle enters from right to left), and the pattern tells you which one to use.
  • Slip stitches create a chain-like edge that is easier to seam, carry yarn invisibly up the side of your work, and decrease stitches in a controlled direction.
  • Tension matters: slip stitches should be loose enough that they do not pucker the edge, but tight enough that they do not create holes.

The two ways to slip a stitch: knitwise and purlwise

There are two directions you can slip a stitch, and the pattern will tell you which one to use. Slipping knitwise means you insert your right needle from left to right through the loop, the same direction you would use to knit it. You then slide the loop onto the right needle without pulling yarn through. This method twists the stitch slightly and is used when you want the stitch to lean to the right or when you are decreasing.

Slipping purlwise means you insert your right needle from right to left through the loop, the same direction you would use to purl it. Again, you slide the loop across without pulling yarn through. This method keeps the stitch untwisted and is the standard choice for edge stitches and for carrying yarn up the side of your work. Most patterns that straightforward say "slip 1" without specifying a direction mean slip purlwise.

The difference matters because it changes how the stitch sits on your needle and how it will look when you work into it later. If you slip the wrong way, the stitch can twist and make your next row uneven. When in doubt, slip purlwise — it is the safer default.

How to slip a stitch step by step

Hold your needles as you normally would, with the working yarn in the back of your work (unless the pattern says otherwise). Bring your right needle toward the left needle and insert it through the loop you want to slip. For purlwise, the needle enters from right to left; for knitwise, it enters from left to right.

Once the right needle is through the loop, slide the loop onto the right needle. Do not pull the working yarn. The loop moves from the left needle to the right needle in one smooth motion. That is the entire stitch — there is no second step where you pull yarn through.

The working yarn stays where it was. If you were working in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) and you slip a stitch, the yarn stays in the back. If you slip a stitch on a purl row, the yarn stays in the front. The pattern will tell you if you need to move the yarn to a different position before or after the slip.

Using slip stitches for a neat seam edge

One of the most common uses for slip stitches is creating a chain-like edge that is straightforward to seam. When you slip the first stitch of every row purlwise, you build a column of loops along the side of your work. These loops line up neatly and give you something solid to sew into later.

To do this, slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with the yarn in the back (on knit rows) or in the front (on purl rows). Work the rest of the row normally. When you reach the end, turn and slip the first stitch of the next row the same way. Over many rows, this creates a selvage edge — a finished-looking border that makes seaming much cleaner.

This technique is especially useful on pieces like sweater fronts and backs that you will sew together later. The slip-stitch edge is thinner and more flexible than a regular edge, so your seams will not create a thick ridge where two pieces meet.

Carrying yarn up the side with slip stitches

When you work with multiple colors or need to pick up yarn again after a break, slip stitches let you hide the yarn inside your work. Instead of cutting the yarn and weaving in an end later, you can carry it up the side of your piece by slipping stitches over it.

To do this, hold the yarn you want to carry along the left edge of your work, then slip the first stitch purlwise. The loop of the slip stitch will sit over the carried yarn, anchoring it in place. Continue slipping the first stitch of each row, and the carried yarn will be hidden inside the chain edge you are building. This works best if you slip only every other row or every third row — if you slip every row, the carried yarn can bunch up.

This method is much faster than weaving in ends by hand and creates a neater result because the yarn is held in place as you work rather than being woven through after the fact.

Slip stitches for decreasing: slip, slip, knit

A slip, slip, knit decrease (written as SSK) is a way to decrease one stitch while making it lean to the left. You slip one stitch knitwise, slip another stitch knitwise, then insert your left needle through both loops from left to right and knit them together. The two slipped stitches twist slightly, and when you knit them together, they create a decrease that angles to the left.

This is useful when you are shaping a garment and want your decreases to lean in a particular direction. On the right side of a piece, you might use SSK on the left edge (where it leans left) and a regular knit-two-together decrease on the right edge (where it leans right). This creates a balanced, symmetrical look.

The slip stitches in this decrease are always knitwise because you need them to twist. If you slipped purlwise, the decrease would not lean the way the pattern expects.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is slipping too tightly. If you pull the yarn hard when you slip a stitch, the loop becomes smaller and tighter than the stitches around it. This creates a puckered edge that looks uneven and can make seaming difficult. Slip stitches should be loose — almost as loose as if you were not working them at all.

Another mistake is slipping in the wrong direction. If a pattern says to slip purlwise and you slip knitwise instead, the stitch will twist and sit at an angle on your needle. When you work into it on the next row, it will be uneven. Always check the pattern and slip the way it tells you to.

A third mistake is forgetting to move the yarn to the correct position. If you slip a stitch with the yarn in the wrong place, you can accidentally create a yarn-over (an extra loop) or leave a hole. Before you slip, check whether the yarn should be in front or in back, and move it if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between slipping knitwise and slipping purlwise?

Slipping knitwise (needle enters left to right) twists the stitch slightly and is used for decreases or when you want the stitch to lean right. Slipping purlwise (needle enters right to left) keeps the stitch untwisted and is the standard for edge stitches and carrying yarn. Most patterns that say "slip 1" without specifying mean slip purlwise.

Should I slip stitches tightly or loosely?

Slip stitches should be loose. If you pull the yarn tight, the loop becomes smaller than the stitches around it and creates a puckered edge. Slip as if you are barely working the stitch at all — the loop should stay roughly the same size as your other stitches.

Can I slip a stitch on every row to make an edge?

Yes. Slipping the first stitch of every row purlwise creates a chain-like selvage edge that is neat and straightforward to seam. This is a standard technique for pieces you will sew together. Work the rest of the row normally after slipping the first stitch.

What does SSK mean?

SSK stands for slip, slip, knit. You slip one stitch knitwise, slip another knitwise, then insert your left needle through both loops and knit them together. This creates a left-leaning decrease and is used for shaping garments symmetrically.

What happens if I slip a stitch the wrong way?

The stitch will twist and sit at an angle on your needle. When you work into it on the next row, it will be uneven and may look like a mistake. Always check the pattern and slip in the direction it specifies — usually purlwise unless the pattern says otherwise.