Slip Knot Tutorial

In this step by step crochet tutorial for beginners, I am going to show you how to make a slip knot for crochet. It takes some practice to get the hang of it but once you learn how to tie a slip knot, it’s like riding a bike. You’ll be able to quickly and easily make a slip knot with yarn and a crochet hook without even thinking about it.

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If you are new to crochet, you may be thinking, “what is a slip knot”? A slip knot is a popular type of knot that creates an adjustable loop that can be placed around a crochet hook and tightened. It is often used as the starting point for crochet because it becomes the first loop on your hook. From there, you can make your beginning chain.

Slip knots are the starting point for most crochet patterns. An exception to this would be a pattern that is worked in the round. If you are working in the round, you will likely start with a magic ring.

If you are following a crochet pattern, use the hook size and yarn weight that are recommended by the designer.

If you are not following a pattern and just want to practice, I recommend using a #4 worsted weight acrylic yarn and a size I/5.5mm crochet hook. Red Heart Super Saver is a great yarn for beginners. It provides great stitch definition.

Beginner Tip: Use a light-colored yarn. Black and other darker colors make it more difficult to see your stitches.

  • Your “working yarn” is the yarn that is attached to the skein. Your “yarn tail” is the other end.
  • This tutorial is for right handed crocheters.

Step 1

Leave a four inch yarn tail and drape your working yarn away from you over your left hand. This is the “bottom yarn”.

Step 2

Bring the working yarn towards you. You are going to wrap it around your middle and pointer fingers and over the bottom yarn, creating an “x”.  This is the “top yarn”.

Step 3

Use your ring or pinky finger to hold the top yarn in place.

Step 4

Insert your crochet hook under the bottom yarn and over the top yarn.

Step 5

Use your crochet hook to grab the top yarn and pull it under the bottom yarn.

Step 6

The working yarn that is now on your hook is your slip knot. Pull the yarn tail and working yarn to tighten the slip knot loop.

You have made a slip knot! You can now make your chain and start crocheting.

Magic Ring Tutorial