A slip knot creates a loop of yarn which can be easily loosened and tightened by tugging on the working yarn.

It is an extremely common technique in both knitting and crochet for starting a project. In crochet, a slip knot forms the first stitch in a crochet chain. In knitting, a slip knot is used to form the first stitch in most (but not all!) traditional cast ons.

To form a slip knot, hold the yarn with the tail end to your left. Loop the yarn over top of itself.

Reach through the loop and grab the working yarn . Pull a loop of this yarn through the first loop.

Now pull on the tail and the working yarn at the same time in order to tighten the knot. You have made a slip knot! To tighten, tug on the working yarn. Tug on the loop to loosen.