Virtually every crochet project starts with a slipknot. Here are the directions to make one to get started on your project right away!
The fiber arts are truly astonishing. How amazing it is that a hook and string can be made into so many different things, and in so many different ways.
What is a Slipknot, and Why is it Used?
Everything has to start somewhere, and crochet begins with the slipknot. Ah…the lowly slipknot. A crochet project cannot be started without one. A slipknot is so easy to make, but for those who have never made them, it can actually be daunting. Let’s take a look at how one is made. Once the slipknot is made, it is attached to a crochet hook, and can then be done to get the project started.
The Steps to Making a Slipknot
Figure 1 shows a slipknot. Many people already know how to make one, but they have not heard it called by its name. A slipknot can be made any way that gets the desired end result. Simply place it on a crochet hook and get started. If it doesn’t sound familiar, these photographs and directions will help.
Figure 2 shows the first move to starting a slipknot. Place the yarn in hand as shown. Make sure the working yarn (the yarn coming from the skein) is coming from the correct side, and make sure the tail is where it should be. (The tail is the short end of the yarn.) Once this is setup, the actual stitch movements can be executed.
Next, cross the yarn as shown in Figure 3. Again, right now the yarn is simply being maneuvered in such a way as to get it ready for the “pull” that will make the actual knot.
To complete the knot, make sure the tail yarn is being pulled through the loop that is wrapped around the hand, as is being done in Figure 4. This part is very, very important. If the tail is not being pulled through the loop, and the working yarn (skein yarn) is mistakenly pulled through instead, the knot will not work. It will just fall apart. If that happens, just start again! That’s one of the beautiful things about yarn—it can be reused—a lot.
Keep pulling until you have the knot. Figure 5 shows you how. At this point, fiddle with the knot until it looks like Figure 1. Pull the yarn around, get comfortable with feeling it, and make it your own. The foundation chain can now be made if desired.
Don't Get Discouraged
All this comes without difficulty to some people, but most need practice, practice, practice! Don’t worry if success doesn’t arrive immediately. Merely try again. Crochet is both process and product. Enjoy the process. Some of the best crocheters start their careers without any of this coming easily to them at first—not even the humble slipknot.
