How to slip stitch in crochet: the complete beginner's guide
Master the slip stitch — crochet's smallest but most essential move — and you'll close rounds, join pieces, and travel yarn like a pro from your very first project.
If you've ever wondered what that tiny, flat stitch is doing at the end of your crochet rounds, you've met the slip stitch. It doesn't add height, it doesn't fill space — and that's exactly what makes it so powerful. From closing an amigurumi magic ring to joining granny squares and traveling yarn across rows without cutting, the slip stitch quietly does the work that holds everything together.
What is a slip stitch and when do you use it?
The most versatile one-step stitch in crochet
The slip stitch is the shortest of all crochet stitches — it adds virtually no height to your work. Because of that, it serves a handful of specific jobs that taller stitches can't do cleanly. Here are the most common uses you'll run into:
- Closing a round — after working in a circle (like on an amigurumi head or a granny square), you slip stitch into the top of your first stitch to close the round invisibly.
- Joining motifs — granny squares and other motifs can be joined as you go using slip stitches along their edges.
- Traveling yarn — need to start the next row two stitches over without cutting and rejoining? Slip stitch across those stitches to reposition your yarn.
- Surface decoration — slip stitching along the surface of finished fabric creates raised lines you can use for details on amigurumi or decorative edgings.
- Finishing edges — a row of slip stitches gives a neat, firm border that doesn't flare or ruffle.
If you've been following a crochet pattern and seen "sl st to join," now you know exactly what it means.
Step-by-step: how to make a slip stitch
Four simple moves, zero extra yarn-overs
Let's walk through the slip stitch from scratch. You'll need your hook, your yarn, and a few chain stitches or live stitches to practice on. If you need a refresher on the foundation chain first, check out our guide on how to chain stitch.
- Insert your hook into the indicated stitch or space. For closing a round, that's usually the top two loops of the very first stitch of the round.
- Yarn over — wrap the yarn over your hook from back to front, just as you do for any other stitch.
- Pull through — draw the yarn through the stitch AND through the loop already on your hook in one smooth motion. You now have one loop on your hook.
- Done. That's your slip stitch. It should lie flat and snug against the fabric.
The key difference from a single crochet is that you pull through both loops at once instead of stopping to yarn over a second time. Keep your tension easy — pulling too tight makes slip stitches difficult to work into later.
Common slip stitch mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Slip stitches are simple, but a few habits can trip you up:
- Working too tightly. Slip stitches tighten up fast. Use the same hook size as the rest of your project, and try to leave the stitch slightly looser than feels natural at first.
- Inserting into the wrong spot. When joining rounds, always go into the top of the first stitch of that round — not the starting chain or a random stitch nearby. Mark it with a stitch marker if you're unsure.
- Confusing sl st with a chain. A slip stitch uses an existing stitch on your fabric; a chain stitch hangs in the air. They look similar but behave completely differently.
- Skipping the join on spiral rounds. Some amigurumi patterns work in a continuous spiral and intentionally skip the joining slip stitch — follow your pattern closely rather than adding one by habit. Our guide on crocheting in the round explains spirals vs. joined rounds in detail.
If your rounds are looking lopsided or have a visible seam, fixing those early mistakes is easier than you think.
"The slip stitch is crochet's quiet helper — it doesn't show off, but every beautiful round you close and every piece you join relies on it completely." — Ava, MrsCrochetWorld
Put your slip stitch to work in a real project
These patterns all use slip stitches to close rounds — perfect for practicing the technique while making something adorable.
50 No-Sew Amigurumi Patterns Bundle
Best for beginnersFifty adorable plushies in one PDF — every single one worked in rounds and closed with a slip stitch. Because the designs are no-sew, joining rounds correctly is the main assembly step, making this bundle excellent slip stitch practice. Grab it from our mega bundles.
Dinosaur Crochet Pattern Bundle (4-in-1)
Satisfying round-by-round buildFour dino friends — T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and more — each built from rounds you'll close with a slip stitch at every level. These beginner-friendly amigurumi patterns are a great way to build muscle memory for the join before moving on to more complex shapes.
Granny Square Bag Crochet Pattern
Classic slip stitch joinsEvery granny square in this cheerful tote is closed and joined with slip stitches, so you'll get dozens of repetitions in a single project. Check our full granny square tutorial if you want to practice the motif first, then come back and bag it. Browse all crochet bag patterns for more options.
Six things to know about slip stitches
Quick facts every crocheter should have in their back pocket
The abbreviation
In US-term patterns, the slip stitch is always written as sl st. In UK-term patterns it may appear as ss. Make sure you know which crochet abbreviation standard your pattern uses.
Zero height
Unlike single or double crochet, a slip stitch adds no measurable height to your work. This is why patterns use it to join rounds invisibly without creating a step-up bump.
Joined vs. spiral rounds
Joined rounds close each round with a sl st then start the next with a chain. Spiral rounds skip the sl st entirely. Crocheting in the round explains when to use each approach.
Color changes
To change colors at the end of a joined round, work your last sl st with the new color. The join becomes the color transition point, keeping the seam clean and hidden.
Fasten off tip
After your final sl st, cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail, then pull the tail through the remaining loop to secure it. Weaving in ends properly makes sure that knot never unravels.
Ready for more?
Once you have the sl st down, you're ready to tackle a full beginner project. Our complete beginner guide to crochet walks you through every foundational stitch in order.
Ava's top tips for perfect slip stitches every time
- Go up a hook size. If your sl sts are consistently too tight and hard to work into, try going up half a millimeter. The stitch will still be neat but much easier to manage.
- Use a stitch marker on the first stitch of every round. Knowing exactly where your round starts takes the guesswork out of where to place your closing sl st.
- Pull through decisively. Hesitating mid-motion often causes the yarn to split or twist. One smooth pull-through gives you a cleaner stitch every time.
- Count before you close. Before your closing sl st, count your stitches. Closing a short round is a common mistake — and much easier to catch before you've already joined. See our guide on how to count crochet stitches and rows.
- Practice on a swatch first. Make a foundation chain of 12, join into a ring with a sl st, then work several rounds of single crochet and practice closing each one. Ten minutes of swatching builds the muscle memory you need.
- Watch your tension after a color change. The first sl st with a new color can loosen up unexpectedly. Give it a gentle tug to snug it in before continuing.
Try a free pattern and put those slip stitches to use
The best way to cement a new stitch is to use it in a real project. Grab one of our free patterns and practice closing rounds from the very first row.
Get a free pattern Shop beginner patternsFrequently asked questions
What does sl st mean in a crochet pattern?
Sl st is the standard US abbreviation for slip stitch. It means insert your hook, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. In UK patterns the same stitch may be abbreviated as ss.
Is a slip stitch the same as a chain stitch?
No. A chain stitch is worked in the air and creates a foundation or turning chain, while a slip stitch is worked into an existing stitch or space on your fabric. They look similar when new crocheters glance at them, but they serve completely different purposes.
Why is my slip stitch so tight I can't get my hook back in?
This is a very common beginner issue. Try going up one hook size just for your slip stitches, or consciously loosen your grip on the yarn as you pull through. Keeping the stitch a little looser than feels natural at first will make the next round much easier to work into.
Do I need a slip stitch to close every round in crochet?
Only in joined rounds, where each round is explicitly closed before the next one begins. In a continuous spiral — commonly used in amigurumi — you skip the closing slip stitch entirely and just keep crocheting in a continuous loop. Your pattern will tell you which method to use.
Can I use a slip stitch to join two pieces of crochet together?
Yes. Holding two pieces with right sides facing (or wrong sides, for a visible ridge), you can insert your hook through corresponding stitches on both pieces and work a row of slip stitches to seam them. It creates a firm, flat join that works well for bags, garments, and amigurumi assembly.
How do I slip stitch to join a magic ring?
After you work your starting stitches into the magic ring, insert your hook into the top two loops of the very first stitch of the round, yarn over, and pull through both loops and the loop on your hook. Then pull the magic ring tail snug and proceed to round two.
What is a surface slip stitch?
A surface slip stitch is worked on top of already-finished fabric to create a raised decorative line. You insert your hook through the fabric from the front, catch the yarn held at the back, and pull up a loop through to the front — then continue along the surface as if crocheting normally. It is great for adding detail lines to amigurumi or decorative motifs to bags.
Should I chain 1 after my joining slip stitch at the start of a new round?
It depends on the stitch you are working in that round. For single crochet rounds, many patterns chain 1 after the joining slip stitch as a turning chain, though this chain typically does not count as a stitch. Always follow the specific instructions in your pattern, as conventions vary between designers.
