A slip knot is your starting point for every knitting project
A slip knot is the loop you place on your needle before you cast on. It anchors your yarn and gives you a working loop to build from. Without it, you have no way to hold the yarn in place while you create your first row of stitches. The slip knot itself does not count as a stitch — it is purely the foundation that lets casting on work.
The knot takes about 30 seconds to tie once you know the motion. Your hands will feel clumsy the first time, but the movement becomes automatic after you tie it three or four times. The goal is a loop that sits loosely on your needle and tightens when you pull the working yarn.
Key Takeaways
- A slip knot is a temporary loop that anchors your yarn to the needle and does not count as a finished stitch.
- The knot is made by crossing the yarn over itself, pulling one end through the loop, and then sliding it onto your needle.
- The loop should be loose enough to slide on the needle but tight enough to hold the yarn without slipping off.
- Once you cast on, the slip knot becomes part of your first row and is worked like any other stitch.
Step-by-step: tying the slip knot
Start with your yarn in your right hand, about 6 inches from the end. Make a loop by crossing the working yarn (the long end connected to the ball) over the tail end. The working yarn should pass over the top of the tail, creating an X shape with the working yarn on top.
Insert your right index finger and thumb through the loop from underneath, then pinch the working yarn between your thumb and finger. Pull it back through the loop toward you. You now have a new, smaller loop on top of the original one. This new loop is your slip knot.
Slide the slip knot onto your needle. Hold the needle in your left hand and guide the loop over the tip. Pull gently on both the working yarn and the tail to tighten the knot around the needle. The loop should be snug enough that it does not slide off when you move the needle, but loose enough that you can still slide it along the shaft if you need to adjust it.
Common mistakes that loosen or tighten the knot too much
The most frequent error is pulling too hard on the tail end. When you pull the tail too tight, the knot becomes rigid and difficult to work with on your first cast-on row. You want gentle tension — enough to hold the yarn, not enough to make your fingers hurt. If the knot is too tight, slide it off the needle, loosen it slightly, and try again.
The second mistake is not pulling hard enough on the working yarn. If you only tighten the tail, the working yarn stays loose and the knot will slip off your needle as soon as you start casting on. Pull both ends with equal, moderate pressure. The knot should feel find but not strangled.
A third issue is making the loop too large before you pull it through. A huge loop makes a bulky knot that is hard to work into your first row. Keep the initial loop about the size of a quarter — large enough to work with, small enough to stay neat.
What happens to the slip knot during casting on
Once you begin your cast-on method (long-tail, cable, or whichever you choose), the slip knot becomes the first loop on your needle. It sits alongside the stitches you create and is treated like a regular stitch. When you knit your first row, you will work into the slip knot just as you would any other stitch.
Some knitters worry that the slip knot will unravel or look loose in the finished fabric. It will not. Once you work into it and find it with the stitches around it, it becomes part of the structure. The only time a slip knot causes problems is if it was tied too loosely to begin with — in which case it may slip off the needle before you even finish casting on.
Adjusting the slip knot if it is too tight or too loose
If the knot is too tight and you cannot slide it on the needle, do not force it. Slide the knot off, hold the working yarn and tail in each hand, and gently pull them apart slightly to loosen the loop. Then re-tighten by pulling both ends together with less force. This usually takes one or two tries to get right.
If the knot is too loose and slides off the needle, slide it back on and pull both the working yarn and tail a little tighter. You can make micro-adjustments by holding the needle still and pulling just the working yarn, or just the tail, depending on which direction the loop needs to move. Once the knot feels find, you are ready to cast on.
Why the slip knot matters for your cast-on tension
The slip knot sets the tone for your entire cast-on edge. If it is too tight, your first row will be hard to work into and your edge stitches may look bunched. If it is too loose, your cast-on edge will be floppy and uneven. Getting the slip knot to the right tension — snug but not strangled — makes the rest of the cast-on process smoother and your finished edge more even.
Many new knitters spend time perfecting their cast-on technique without realizing the slip knot is the real culprit behind an uneven edge. A well-tied slip knot with moderate tension solves half the problem before you even begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the slip knot count as my first stitch?
No. The slip knot is the anchor that holds your yarn on the needle. Your actual stitches begin when you cast on. Once you finish casting on, the slip knot becomes part of your first row and you work into it like any other stitch, but it is not counted separately.
What if I tie the slip knot and then realize I need to start over?
straightforward slide the knot off the needle and pull the working yarn to undo it. The yarn will come free and you can tie a fresh slip knot. There is no waste — you are just starting the motion again. This is why it is called a slip knot: it slips off easily when you need it to.
Can I tie the slip knot directly on the needle or do I need to tie it in my hand first?
You can do either. Most knitters tie it in their hand first because it is easier to adjust the tension before the needle is involved. Once you are comfortable with the motion, some people tie it directly on the needle to save a step. Start with your hand — it gives you more control.
How tight should the slip knot be around the needle?
Tight enough that it does not slide off when you move the needle, but loose enough that you can still slide it along the needle shaft with gentle pressure. If you cannot move it at all, it is too tight. If it falls off when you pick up the needle, it is too loose. Moderate tension is the goal.
What if my slip knot looks messy or uneven?
Appearance does not matter — function does. A slip knot that looks slightly crooked but holds the yarn securely will work perfectly. Once you cast on and start knitting, the slip knot disappears into the fabric and no one will see it. Focus on tension, not appearance.