How to make a slip knot, step by step
- Form a ring with the yarn. Cross the working yarn over the tail, leaving about 10 cm of tail.
- Pull the yarn through the ring. With your fingers, or directly with the hook.
- Place it on the hook. The loop should slide along the shaft without effort.
- Adjust with the tail. Just tight enough that it doesn’t slip off the hook.
- Start the chain. From this loop you can now work chain stitches.
Common mistakes
- Pulling it too tight. If the loop won’t slide on the hook, your first chain comes out misshapen.
- A short tail. Always leave 10 cm — that strand is what you weave in at the end.
- Making a fixed knot. If pulling one end doesn’t adjust the loop, it isn’t a slip knot. Do it again.
Frequently asked questions
Does the slip knot count as a stitch?
No. Unlike knitting, in crochet the starting knot counts neither as a chain nor as a stitch.
Is it the same knot as for a magic ring?
Not quite: the magic ring is formed by wrapping the yarn around your fingers, with no knot first.
Which hook should I start with?
Whatever the yarn label recommends. With chunky yarns, a 5 to 8 mm hook is more comfortable while you are learning.
What we used in the video
Crochet Crush yarn by The Woolcatcher. Browse the full natural yarn collection.
