Slip Stitch Crochet: How to Crochet and Use the Slip Stitch

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The slip stitch crochet is the shortest of all the crochet stitches. In fact, it is one of the basic crochet stitches that all crocheters should know.

You will see the slip stitch abbreviated as sl st in crochet patterns.

Slip stitch being made text area which says "Slip Stitch Crochet: How to Crochet and Use the Slip Stitch , thecorchetfox.com" followed by joining crocheted pieces together using slip stitch

Table of Contents

What Is the Slip Stitch Crochet?

As a matter of fact, the slip stitch crochet is more of a crochet technique than a crochet stitch. As it is almost invisible, it is a great technique that has many uses.

For instance, slip stitches are often used for moving yarn across a group of stitches without adding any height.

However, they can also be used for many other purposes such as making a seam, joining a new ball of yarn, embellishing fabric, etc.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the slip stitch to:

move yarn across stitches,
join a chain into a circle,
join the end of a round with the beginning of the same round,
join motifs together, and
join pieces together.

However, it does not matter how you use the slip stitch, you always work it the same way.

The term slip stitch is one of the a few terms that are used both in UK and US crochet terms and which has the same meaning.

Not familiar with the difference between UK crochet terms and US Crochet terms?

We have an informative article that explains both the similarities and the differences between these two terms. You can find the article here: Crochet Terms: The Differences Between US vs UK Crochet Terms Explained.

All our tutorials are using US crochet terms.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Make the Slip Stitch Crochet

To make a slip stitch you need to have an active loop on your crochet hook. For demonstration purposes, I am going to show you how to make a row of slip stitches on a foundation chain.

So, before you start with the slip stitches, you need to make a slip knot and a foundation chain. If you are not familiar with how to make these, you can find our step-by-step tutorials here:

How to Make a Slip Stich in Crochet Step 1: 11 crochet chain stitches on a hook.

1.	Start by making a slip knot.
2.	Chain 11 (this is just for demo purposes).

How to Make a Slip Stich in Crochet Step 2: Hook inserted on the second chain with a yarnover

1.	Insert the hook in the second chain from the hook. The hook should be under the back bar of the chain.
2.	From back to front, wrap the yarn over the hook.
3.	Pull the yarnover through both the chain stitch and the stitch on your crochet hook.
4.	You have now made one slip stitch.

How to Make a Slip Stich in Crochet Step 3: Working a slip stitch for each chain on a crochet hook

1.	Continue working a slip stitch in each remaining chain.
2.	You should now have 10 slipped stitches on your foundation chain.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Use the Slip Stitch Crochet

In this section of this tutorial, we will take a closer look at how you can use the slip stitch crochet.

Using Slip Stitches to Move Yarn Across Stitches

There can be many reasons why you would want to move your yarn across stitches in your fabric without adding any height. One example is if you are making an armhole in a sweater.

In this example, I will be using the US double crochet stitch and adding some slipped stitches to the beginning of a row.

If you are not familiar with how to work the US double crochet, we have a step-by-step tutorial which you can find here: Double Crochet: Learn How to Double Crochet.

Move Yarn Across Stitches Using Slip Stitch Crochet Step 1: A row of double crochet with one turning chain on the hook.

1.	Make one row of double crochet and turn your work so you are ready to start row 2.
2.	Do not chain the usual three chains for the turning chain. Instead, just chain one.
3.	The turning chain does not count as a stitch.

Move Yarn Across Stitches Using Slip Stitch Crochet Step 2: Crochet hook inserted under both loops of the first stitch on Row 2

1.	Insert your crochet hook under both loops of the first stitch on Row 2.
2.	Yarn over and pull the yarn through both the loops of the foundation chain as well as the loop on the hook.
3.	You have now made on slip stitch.

Move Yarn Across Stitches Using Slip Stitch Crochet Step 3: Yarn smoved across with slipped stitches and hardly any height has been added.

1.	Work a slip stitch into the next 3 stitches from the previous row.
2.	To finish the row in double crochet, first chain three. This will get the yarn to the correct height.
3.	Work a double crochet stitch into each of the remaining stitches.
4.	As you can see, the yarn has been moved across with slipped stitches and hardly any height has been added

Using A Slip Stitch to Form a Ring

Knowing how to join a chain into a ring is another important crochet technique you should know. This is because many projects start with a ring in center. This includes hats, motifs, granny squares, hexagon patterns, etc.

Form a Crochet Ring Using Slip Stitch Step 1: 6 crochet chains on a hook.

1.	Start by making a slip knot.
2.	Chain 6 (this is just for demonstration purposes).
3.	Insert your hook into the first chain you made (the one next to the slip knot)
4.	Make sure to insert the hook through the center of the stitch (the V). The hook should be under the back bar of the chain.

Form a Crochet Ring Using Slip Stitch Step 2: The working yarn being brought over the hook.

1.	From back to front, bring the working yarn over the hook.
2.	Pull the yarnover through both the chain as well as the loop on your hook.
3.	You have now joined the six chains into a ring (or circle).

Using A Slip Stitch to Join a Round

A slip stitch can be a great help when crocheting in the round. Once you have completed a round, you may end up with a large space the beginning and end of the round.

The easiest way to close the gap between the first and last stitch in the round is to use a slip stitch. Actually, this is a common technique to use when making motifs.

In this tutorial, I will be using the crochet ring you created trying out the Using A Slip Stitch to Form a Ring tutorial.

In addition, you will also need to know how to do the US double crochet. If you are not familiar with this basic crochet stitch, you can find our step-by-step tutorial here: Double Crochet: Learn How to Double Crochet.

Join a Round in Crochet Using Slip Stitch Step 1: 11 US double crochet worked into the center of a ring.

1.	Crochet 6 chains and join into a circle using a slip stitch (see tutorial above).
2.	Chain 3 to get the yarn up to the correct working height.
3.	Work 11 US double crochet into the center of the ring.

Join a Round in Crochet Using Slip Stitch Step 2: 11 US double crochet worked into the center of a ring with an arrow indicating where to insert the crochet hook.

1.	Insert your crochet hook into the third chain of the beginning chain.
2.	From back to front, bring the working yarn over the crochet hook.
3.	Pull the yarnover through both the chain and the loop on the hook.
4.	You have now joined the round of double crochet using a slip stitch.

Using a Slip Stitch to Join Motifs Together

This method is a quick and easy way of joining two motifs together as you go. As a matter of fact, this technique brings the pieces very close together.

Furthermore, the slip stitch will sit on top of the stitch it is worked into. In other words, it will dominate that stitch.

Join Motifs Together Using Slip Stitch Step 1: Two crocheted motifs laid from corner to corner.

1.	Work to where you would like to join the current motif with the previous one.

Join Motifs Together Using Slip Stitch Step 2: Two crocheted motifs laid from with the crochet hook inserted into the stitch while doing a yarnover.

1.	Ensure that the previous motif has the right side up. In other words, when joining, the old motif’s right side should face the new motif’s wrong side.
2.	Insert your crochet hook into the stitch or space in the previous motif at the point where you want them to meet.
3.	Make a yarnover and draw the working yarn through everything on crochet hook.

Join Motifs Together Using Slip Stitch Step 3: Two crocheted motifs joined at the edge using slip stitch.

1.	You have now completed the slip stitch.
2.	Continue working the next stitch on your current motif.

Using Slip Stitches to Joint Pieces Together

This slip stitch technique is great when you want to join two crochet pieces together, for instance if you are making an afghan.

Actually, this particular method is usually performed on the wrong side of the fabric. This is because a slip stitch join is asymmetrical and you probably do not want it to be noticeable on the right side.

You should be aware that this type of slip stitch seams can be tight and unforgiving. Therefore, as you work, stop, and examine what you have done in order to ensure that you are maintaining an even tension.

If you find that the seam is too tight, you may want to use a larger crochet hook.

Two crochet pieces being joined together using slip stitch.

1.	With the right sides facing each other, hold the two pieces together.
2.	Insert the crochet hook through both the edge stitches.
3.	Make a yarnover and pull the working yarn through everything on your crochet hook.
4.	Insert the crochet hook into the next pair of stitches.
5.	Make another yarnover and draw it through everything on the hook.
6.	Continue like this until you have finished joining the two pieces.