Glossary / Slip knot
slip knotSlip knot
The adjustable starting loop that puts the first working loop on your hook or needle.
Also written: sl k
How to work it
Make a loop of yarn with the tail crossing over the working yarn. Reach through the loop, catch the working yarn, and pull it through as a new loop, then slide that loop onto your hook. Pulling the working end tightens the knot around the hook, and pulling the tail adjusts the loop size. Keep it snug but sliding freely, because a slip knot cinched hard is the usual reason a first chain will not move.
Common confusions
Does the slip knot count as a chain stitch?
No. The slip knot is the loop your first chain is made from, not a chain itself. When a pattern says chain 20, make twenty chains after the slip knot. Counting it is a common reason a foundation row ends up one stitch long.
Which end tightens the loop?
It depends which way you made the knot, so pull each end and watch. One end shrinks the loop on the hook, the other slides the knot along the yarn. Knowing which is which lets you adjust the starting loop without taking it off the hook.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Slip knot | slip knot |
| Español | Nudo corredizo | no standard code |
| Deutsch | Schlupfknoten | no standard code |
| Français | Nœud coulant | no standard code |
| Italiano | Nodo scorsoio | no standard code |
| 日本語 | スリップノット（最初の輪） | no standard code |
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
Get Worsted