Slip stitches are the next smaller stitches after the single crochet stitch. Slip stitches result in very flat stitches that lie very close to the crochet piece.
Slip stitches serve well to give pieces that are crocheted in rounds an even looking finish, due to their very low appearance.
Likewise, slip stitches can be used to connect crochet pieces together, such as patchwork projects or in some cases different elements when crocheting amigurumi.
In this lesson you will learn how to crochet slip stitches, how to crochet slip stitches into a chain and how to best use slip stitches to get a nice finish on a project crocheted in spiral rounds.
This instruction has been crocheted with the “Schachenmayr Catania” yarn with a 2.5 mm crochet hook.
Slip Stitches
Needed Techniques
Needed Materials and Tools
To order the materials click on the respective link (affiliate link).
- Colors: green
- This pattern was crocheted using the “Schachenmayr Catania” yarn (100% Cotton, Meterage: 125 m, Yarn Ball Weight: 50 g, Yarn Weight: Sport – 5ply / Fine (2)) in the following colors:
- Golf Green (Golfgrün (241))
- 2.5 mm Crochet Hook
Crochet Slip Stitches Step by Step
The following instructions are teaching you how to crochet slip stitches on a piece crocheted in rows. Slip stitches are always crocheted in the same way, no matter whether you crochet in rows, in spiral rounds or joined rounds.
Use the check boxes to mark your finished rounds, rows and steps.
- Step 1: Push the crochet hook through the next stitch. Push through both loops.
- Step 2: Yarn over.
- Step 3: Pull the thread through the just pushed through stitch AND through the loop on the crochet hook. Done is your 1st slip stitch. Repeat step 1 to 3 to crochet more slip stitches.
If you try to crochet another row/round of slip stitches on this row/round of slip stitches, you will notice that it is not very easy to crochet slip stitches on previous slip stitches. That is because slip stitches are very small and narrow stitches and therefore cannot be pushed through easily.
Crochet Slip Stitches into Chain Stitches
Crocheting slip stitches into a chain is not very easy. Not because a slip stitch is difficult to crochet (quite the opposite), but because slip stitches in a chain create a very thin and flimsy crochet piece and it is sometimes difficult to see what is what. It will be more likely that you will crochet slip stitches into other stitches than into a chain.
You may have already learned, that you have to crochet shorter and longer stitches into different positions on a chain. Slip stitches are an exception in this respect. Even if slip stitches are smaller than single crochet stitches, slip stitches are NOT stitched into the 1st stitch of the chain, but just like single crochet stitches, always into the 2nd stitch from the crochet hook.
You crochet a slip stitch into a chain in the same way as before explained, with the only exception that the 1st slip stitch is crocheted into the 2nd stitch from the hook. All further slip stitches are always crochet into the next stitch.
Turn your Crochet Piece with Slip Stitches
If you crochet in rows and you have to turn your work, crochet 1 chain stitch first, then turn your work counter-clockwise so that the crochet hook lies at the rightmost end of your crochet piece and you crochet from right to left again.
Now crochet the slip stitch into the last stitch of the previous row, so you skip the first stitch (the just crocheted chain stitch) same as if you crochet the first slip stitch into a chain.
Slip Stitches as a Finish for Spiral Rounds
Slip stitches are particularly suitable as a finish for projects crocheted in spiral rounds. Since spiral rounds are never finished but are crocheted on and on, the last stitch you crochet creates a visible difference in height to the previous row.
This is differently distinctive by the stitch used in each case, a treble crochet stitch, for example, creates a much greater difference in height than a single crochet stitch.
To compensate this difference in height, always crochet one or more smaller stitches than the last stitch crocheted, until you finally crochet one or more slip stitches. Because slip stitches are very low stitches you will get a very even and clean finish.
Here shown at the example of a coaster, crocheted with half double crochet stitches. You can clearly see a big difference between the last stitch and the previous round. For this reason first crochet a single crochet stitch and then a slip stitch to get a clean and even finish.
