What is a slip stitch in crochet?

A slip stitch is the shortest stitch in crochet. A slip stitch is commonly used to move yarn across a group of stitches without adding height to your work. Slip stitch can join stitches when working in the round. It is more fittingly called a technique than a stitch because of its various purposes in many crochet designs. You can usually find slip stitch as “sl st” in crochet patterns.

What does it mean to slip stitch in crochet?

The slip stitch is one of the most typically used techniques in crochet. As compared to other crochet stitches, slip stitches are rarely used on their own to create a large piece of fabric. If used row after row, it makes a very thick and tight piece of fabric.

The slip stitch is a versatile stitch that is mostly used for joining, shaping, and adding designs on crochet projects. You can also use the slip stitch for seaming the edges of crocheted fabrics.

How do you crochet a slip stitch?

The slip stitch is a basic yet highly functional crochet stitch with a lot of uses. There are many ways you can work slip stitches in your crochet.

Joining a Chain into a Circle

One of the most familiar uses of the slip stitch for crochet enthusiasts is joining a chain into a circle. Crocheters must know how to slip stitch. It is the first step in making hats, doilies, granny squares, and all crochet projects you work on in the round.

1. Start by making a foundation chain with six stitches.
2. Insert the hook into the first chain you made next to the slip knot.
3. Yarn over, then pull the hook through the chain and the loop on the hook in a single motion. You have now formed a circle by joining a chain.

Joining the End of a Round to the Beginning of a Round

For example, you crocheted a round crochet project in double crochet stitches. To finish your project, you have to make the end meet the beginning of the round. A slip stitch is useful to close the gap between the first stitch and the last stitch in the round.

1. Start by creating a foundation chain with six stitches. Join chain 6 using the slip stitch to form a circle.
2. Chain 3, then make a double crochet into the circle. To make a double crochet, yarn over the hook, then insert the crochet hook in the middle of the ring.
3. Yarn over again, then pull through the loop. Notice that now you have three loops on the hook. Yarn over, then pull through the first two loops on the hook. Yarn over again, then pull through the last remaining two loops.
4. Repeat step 3 until you make 11 double crochets into the ring.
5. Insert your hook into the third stitch of the starting chain 3. Yarn over, then pull through the 3rd chain and the loop on the hook in a single motion. Now, you have joined the end to the beginning of your round.

Move Yarn Across Stitches

You can use slip stitches to move your working yarn to another part of a row. That is the reason why a slip stitch is more of a utility stitch or a crochet technique. Below is a sample of moving your yarn from the foundation row to another part of the second row.

1. To move yarn across stitches, begin with a foundation chain with ten stitches.
2. Create the foundation row using a double crochet stitch. Insert hook on the fourth chain from the hook and create double crochet. Create double crochet on each chain across the row.Work slip stitches on the first four stitches for the second row. Then, work on double crochets again for the following stitches across the second row.
3. To start row 2, chain one. Do this step instead of making three chains for your turning chain as you would with double crochets.
4. Insert hook under both loops of the first stitch, then yarn over. Pull the yarn through the first stitch and the loop on the hook. You completed one slip stitch.
5. Make slip stitches on the next three stitches.
6. To shift to double crochet stitches, chain 3 to get the yarn at the right height. These stitches will count as one double crochet stitch.
7. Work double crochets in each of the remaining stitches across the row. You moved the yarn to a new place in a row with slip stitches without adding too much height.

Slip Stitch as Edging

The slip stitch is also a great technique to use for edging crochet projects. Finishing your crochet piece with slip stitches can help smoothen its sides. Slip stitches resemble a flat braided line when worked in a row.

You can use the same color of yarn for your edging. But you may also choose a different color to add a bit of contrast or design to your crocheted piece.

Adds Design to your Crocheted Fabric

Slip stitches on the surface can add embellishments to your crochet fabric. The slip stitch is a convenient way to add a design to fabrics you can poke your crochet hook into. Making slip stitches on your fabric’s surface will create a design the same as an embroidery design on your crochet. You can use a slip stitch to outline shapes on your finished crochet work using a different yarn color. You can try writing names or initials on your crochet using slip stitches.

Joining Crocheted Fabrics Together

The slip stitch is an excellent technique to join crocheted fabrics together. You can join granny squares into a blanket using the slip stitch. It is also a great way to stitch up shoulder seams or sleeves on a sweater.

When using a slip stitch to join two crocheted pieces together, you have to insert your hook through both pieces or edges.

A slip stitch edging can also help you join your crocheted fabrics using a whip stitch. With slip stitch edging, it will be easy to see where to put each whip stitch when joining the pieces.

Slip Stitch Crochet

Although it is not common to use a slip stitch to crochet stitches, it can also work in flat rows or rounds. It produces a dense fabric called Bosnian Crochet.

What is the difference between a slip stitch and single crochet?

A slip stitch is the shortest stitch in crochet. The slip stitch is not something you would want to use to create a large crocheted fabric. Use it instead for its many other practical purposes. Simple and complex crochet patterns use a slip stitch to connect stitches or create the edging for your crochet project.

To create a slip stitch:

1. Make a foundation chain first.
2. Hold the end of your foundation chain and insert your hook through the second chain from the hook.
3. Wrap yarn around your hook and pull it through the chain, and loop on the hook. This method completes one slip stitch.

Single crochet, on the other hand, is the most common of all the crochet stitches. The stitches are small and tight, so you create a dense fabric. The stitch you make using single crochet is taller as compared to a slip stitch.

In creating rows of single crochet stitches:

1. You need to make a foundation chain.
2. Hold the end of the foundation chain where you will crochet your foundation row.
3. Insert the hook into the second chain from the hook. You should find two loops on the hook.
4. Wrap the yarn around the hook and pull the yarn through two loops. This procedure completes a single crochet stitch.
5. Continue to make single crochet until the end of the row.

How do you crochet a half double slip stitch?

Slip stitch, when combined with half double crochet stitch, creates a beautiful texture on crochet fabric. It creates a lovely fabric with ribbing that looks like a knit. You can use all yarns and hook sizes for this stitch combination. You can create a fabric perfect for headbands, wrist bands, brims of hats, and finishing edges with a half double slip stitch.

1. To make the half double slip stitch, start with a foundation chain with the number of stitches you want.
2. For row 1: Yarn over, insert your hook on the third chain from the hook, yarn over, then pull through all the loops on the hook.
3. Repeat steps into each stitch across the row. Chain 2, then turn.
4. For row 2: Yarn over, insert the hook under both loops of the first stitch. Yarn over, then pull through all the loops on the hook.
5. Repeat the steps for row 2 for as many rows as you want.

You can insert the hook in the back loop only or the front loop only to create a nice ribbing on the crocheted fabric.