What slipping a stitch means and why you do it

A slip stitch is a stitch you move from one needle to the other without knitting or purling it. Instead of working the stitch, you straightforward pass it through as if it were already made. You slip stitches to create a neater edge, to move a stitch out of the way so you can work stitches around it, or to add texture and pattern to your fabric.

The most common reason to slip a stitch is at the edge of your work. When you slip the first stitch of every row instead of knitting it, you get a chain-like edge that looks finished and is easier to pick up stitches from later. Slip stitches also appear in colorwork patterns, lace, and cable designs where they serve specific structural purposes.

Key Takeaways

  • Slip a stitch by inserting your right needle through the stitch on the left needle and moving it over without working it, usually with the yarn held to the back.
  • Slipping the first stitch of every row creates a neat, chain-like selvage edge that is stronger and easier to work with than a knitted edge.
  • The direction you insert your needle—knitwise or purlwise—changes how the stitch sits on the needle and affects how it looks when you work it later.
  • Slip stitches appear in colorwork patterns to carry yarn across the back without adding bulk, and in lace and cable patterns to shift stitches into position.

The basic slip stitch motion

To slip a stitch, insert your right needle through the stitch on the left needle in the same direction you would if you were about to knit or purl it. Then, instead of wrapping yarn and pulling through, straightforward slide the stitch off the left needle and onto the right needle. The stitch moves over unchanged.

Most of the time you will slip a stitch knitwise, which means inserting the needle from left to right through the front of the stitch, the same way you would to knit it. This is the default for edge stitches and for most colorwork. Less often, you will slip purlwise, inserting from right to left through the front of the stitch, the same way you would to purl it. Purlwise slips are used in specific patterns where the stitch needs to twist a certain way.

The yarn position matters. When you slip a stitch, hold your yarn to the back of the work unless the pattern tells you otherwise. This keeps the yarn from showing on the front and prevents loose loops. If a pattern says "slip with yarn in front," you will hold the yarn to the front instead—this is less common and usually appears in lace or colorwork where it serves a specific purpose.

Slipping the first stitch for a neat edge

The most practical use of slip stitches is creating a clean selvage—the edge of your knitted piece. Instead of knitting the first stitch of every row, slip it knitwise with the yarn held to the back. Work all the stitches across as normal, then knit the last stitch. On the next row, slip the first stitch again.

This creates a chain of loops along the edge that looks like a braid. The edge is stronger than a knitted edge, does not curl, and is much easier to pick up stitches from when you need to add a border or join pieces. If you are knitting a sweater or blanket, slipping the first stitch of every row is worth the small extra effort.

One warning: if you slip the first stitch, you must still knit the last stitch of the row. Do not slip both edges. Slipping both edges can make your piece pull in at the sides and distort the shape.

Slip stitches in colorwork and stranded patterns

In colorwork knitting, slip stitches let you carry yarn across the back without adding bulk or changing the fabric. When you are working a pattern with two colors, you might slip a stitch in one color while carrying the other color behind it. This avoids the long floats that can snag or make the fabric stiff.

For example, if your pattern shows a small motif in one color surrounded by another, you can slip the stitches of the background color while working the motif color. The slipped stitch sits on top of the carried yarn, covering it. This technique is especially useful in Fair Isle and jacquard patterns where floats would otherwise be very long.

Always slip colorwork stitches knitwise with the yarn held to the back, unless the pattern specifies otherwise. The stitch should sit on the needle in the same orientation as the stitches you knitted, so the fabric looks even.

Slip stitches in lace and cable patterns

Lace patterns use slip stitches to shift stitches across the needle without adding extra stitches. A slip stitch paired with a yarn over and a decrease creates the openwork that makes lace look delicate. The slip stitch moves a stitch one position to the left or right, and the decrease removes the extra stitch created by the yarn over.

Cable patterns sometimes use slip stitches to hold stitches out of the way while you work other stitches. Instead of using a cable needle, you can slip the stitches you want to hold to the right needle, work the next few stitches, then work the slipped stitches. This is faster than a cable needle and works well for small cables.

In both lace and cable work, follow the pattern's instructions for whether to slip knitwise or purlwise. The direction matters because it affects how the stitch twists and how it looks in the finished fabric.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is slipping too tightly. If you pull hard when you slip a stitch, you will create a tight loop on the right needle that makes the next row uneven. Slip stitches should move smoothly and sit on the needle at the same tension as your other stitches. If your edge looks bunched or puckered, you are probably slipping too tight.

Another mistake is forgetting to hold the yarn to the back. If you slip a stitch with the yarn in front, it will show on the front of your work as a loose strand. This ruins the look of the edge and the fabric. Make it a habit to move your yarn to the back before you slip the first stitch of every row.

A third mistake is slipping both the first and last stitch of every row. This pulls the edges in and distorts the shape of your piece. Slip the first stitch, work across, and knit the last stitch. The knitted last stitch anchors the edge and keeps it from curling.

When to slip and when to knit

Slip the first stitch of every row if you want a neat, finished edge. This is standard for blankets, scarves, and any piece where the edge will be visible. It is also the right choice if you plan to pick up stitches later for a border or to join pieces.

Knit the first stitch if the pattern tells you to, or if you are working in the round (where there is no edge to worry about). Some patterns, especially those with ribbing or specific stitch patterns, require you to knit the first stitch to keep the pattern correct. Always follow the pattern instructions first.

If you are unsure, slip the first stitch. It is almost never wrong, and it will improve the look of your finished piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between slipping knitwise and purlwise?

Slipping knitwise means inserting the needle from left to right, the same direction as a knit stitch. Slipping purlwise means inserting from right to left, the same direction as a purl stitch. The difference is which way the stitch twists on the needle. Most of the time you slip knitwise. Purlwise slips are used in specific patterns where the twist matters for how the stitch looks or how it decreases.

Why does my slipped edge look loose?

A loose edge usually means you are slipping with the yarn in front instead of in back. Move your yarn to the back before you slip the first stitch. If the edge is still loose, you might be slipping too loosely—the stitch should move smoothly but sit on the needle at the same tension as your other stitches. Practice a few rows to find the right tension.

Can I slip stitches in the round?

Yes, but there is usually no reason to. In the round, there is no edge to neaten, so slipping the first stitch of every round does not serve a purpose. Slip stitches in the round only when the pattern tells you to, such as in colorwork or lace patterns where they create a specific effect.

Do I count slipped stitches toward my stitch count?

Yes. A slipped stitch is still a stitch on your needle. It does not change the number of stitches you have. If your pattern says to slip one stitch and knit two, you have moved one stitch over and worked two stitches, for a total of three stitches worked.

What if my pattern says to slip with yarn in front?

Hold your yarn to the front of the work instead of the back, then slip the stitch. This is less common and usually appears in lace or colorwork patterns where the yarn position creates a specific visual effect. Always follow the pattern instructions exactly when it specifies yarn position.