How to Make an Easy Crochet Slip Knot – Beginner Tutorial
Ready to dive into your first crochet project? The very first thing you need to do when you start to crochet is make a slip knot. Once you’ve mastered this easy knot, you’ll be ready to start working the basic stitches and making your first amigurumi!
This tutorial will tell you in detail how to make a crochet slip knot, which is the foundation for pretty much any crochet project!
You Will Learn:
- How to make a “walking” slip knot to start your crochet projects.
- Whether or not the slip knot counts as a stitch.
How to make a Crochet slip Knot – Step-By-Step Instructions
- Lay the tail end of the yarn over your fingers on the inside of your hand.
- Drape the yarn over your hand, with the working yarn (the end coming out of the skein) behind your hand.
- Hold the yarn against your hand with your spare fingers and stick out your index finger.
- Wrap your yarn over your index finger twice: once over the center crease of your finger and again over the crease closest to your fingertip. This creates two loops on the top of your finger.
- With your spare fingers on the yarn hand, grab and hang on to both ends of your yarn.
- Using your free hand, grab the piece farthest from your fingertip and “walk” it over the other piece (towards your fingertip but keep both loops on your finger).
- Then, grab the other piece that’s now farthest from your fingertip and “walk” it over the other loop and off the end of your finger. One loop remains on your finger.
- Lightly pull on the yarn tail to tighten the loop around your finger.
- Pull your finger out of the loop and you have a nice little slip knot!
- Work your first round of stitches into the loop of the knot.
- When you’re finished with round one, pull on the tail end of the yarn to tighten the knot and close up your
Does the slip knot count as a stitch in crochet?
No. A slip knot is the safetest and easiest way to way to start any crochet project. It allows you to put a loop on your crochet hook that you can use as the starting point for a starting chain. There are many ways to make a slip knot, and any slip knot will do, as long as knot is tightened by pulling on the tail.
Another commonly used slip knot for amigurumi is the “Magic Circle” or “Magic Ring.” There is no right or wrong way to make a slip knot.
The walking slip knot is simply my favorite way to start a crochet project, and I find it to be the easiest and most consistent method.
Unlike knitting, where you need to leave a really long tail to cast on, you can start a crochet project with only a small tail — something long enough to weave in at the end of the project, but short enough not to get in the way of you turning and rotating the work as you go.
Fast and Easy Crochet Slip Knot – Video Tutorial
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Troubleshooting
Q. How do I work stitches into the slip knot?
A. Once you finish your slip knot, insert your hook into the loop of the knot and pull the yarn tail to gently tighten the loop around the hook. Now you can chain 2. Then, work however many stitches you need into the second chain from hook (formerly known as your slip knot). Pull on that chain to loosen the slip knot so you can get all your stitches in there. When the round is complete, pull the tail to re-tighten the knot. Watch this video tutorial to see how it’s done.
Q. Why is my slip knot not closing?
A. You could accidentally be using a different type of knot. The slip knot may have too many loops in it and that’s why it can’t pull all the way tight. Follow the video tutorial above and double check that all of your loops are in the right place.
Q. Are there any other methods for starting a crochet project?
A. Yes! You can also use a magic circle. The two methods look nearly identical and will give you essentially the same result—a yarn tail that you can pull tight and knot off to keep your project from unraveling. But some crocheters prefer one or the other so try them both and use whichever you like!
Have questions? Leave a comment below!
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Use This Method In Your Own Designs
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Kati is the designer behind Hooked by Kati. With thousands of patterns sold around the world, Kati prides herself in creating innovative, easy-to-follow amigurumi patterns. She has designed for several publications, including Crochet!, Crochet World, Simply Crochet, and I Like Crochet. Kati finds her inspiration in science fiction, video games, and numerous visits to the zoo — all passions she shares with her husband and two boys.