How to Slip Stitch Crochet (SL ST)

The slip stitch is one of those stitches that do a lot of work but kind of get forgotten among all other stitches.

When you think of basic crochet stitches, the mind goes to stitches like single crochet (SC), double crochet (DC), and half-double crochet (HDC). They are usually the stars of the show, along with other stitches that come from them.

What is a SL ST Crochet Stitch

Slip stitch seems to be rarely mentioned because it’s not thought of as a full-on stitch.

Slip stitch or SL ST is like a working horse that does a lot behind the scenes. It’s easy to dismiss it but it’s so important!

It is a very low-profile stitch that creates almost no height in your crochet work but offers other important functions.

What can you make with SL ST stitch

SL ST stitch is super important when it comes to any project that is crocheted in a round.

Any tube-shaped crochet projects like coffee cup cozies, beanies, and cowls all use the slip stitch to finish off one row before moving on to another. The same goes for doilies, placemats or mandalas, and other flat circle projects.

Unless your project is worked in a spiral, you will need a slip stitch (and even in spiral projects, you will need a slip stitch to finish off the circle in the very end).

The slip stitch is super important in amigurumi where it is used for connecting the rows but also for shaping the various parts of the toys. This stitch allows us to create the subtlest of changes, increases and decreases that other stitch wouldn’t be able to offer.

Things to know about SL ST stitch

The slip stitch is also a great stitch to connect pieces of the crochet project, like putting granny squares together into blankets or stripes of mile-a-minute afghan into a complete throw, or connecting sleeves of the sweater to its body.

While slip stitch is widely used in connecting rows or pieces together, it can be used in the crochet work itself.

Even though the SL ST stitch is very short height-wise, it can still carry a project, and, used with a BLO (back loop only) variation, can create a visual interest in your crocheted piece.

Here, I have used SLST BLO stitch variation in my Moonstone Beach Throw to add horizontal braids to the fabric of the blanket.

Here is how to crochet a slip stitch

After you made a chain, insert your hook (front to back) into the second stitch from the hook.

Yarn over and pull the loop through both the loop and the chain on the hook.

You have a SL ST! That was quick isn’t it?

Once you have your first crocheted SL ST, to continue with the rest of that row do this:

Insert your hook (front to back) into next loop in the chain.

Yarn over and pull through both the loop and the chain on the hook.

Second stitch done!

Now, just continue till the rest of the row in the same manner.

Here is how to crochet SL ST on the top another row

Once you are done with your first row and want to start the second row, you need to create a loop to raise you up to the height of the stitch you are using. Since SL ST is 1 loop tall, you would need just 1 chain.

When you are doing it at the beginning of the row, you would first CH 1 (to create first SL ST).

Next, you would insert the hook into the next stitch (front to back), yarn over, and pull the loop through both the loop and the chain on the hook.

Then, continue in the same manner for the rest of that row.

If you want to see the slip stitch in action, here is a great video:

If you want to learn about other basic crochet stitches like SC (single crochet), HDC (half double crochet), DC (double crochet), or TR (triple/treble crochet) you can find helpful posts about these on my blog.

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