Knitting 101 - February Slip-Stitch

Simple slip over stockinette from
The Walker Treasury 

Yes, slipping a stitch on purpose is a "design element".  No, not when you do it by accident.  It's the next step in knitting after you master that K/P thing.  And it's beautiful on its own or with other stitches!

Slipping a stitch is very easy, and it's a gateway to scads of interesting and pretty knitting.  Cables, lace, some button holes, trellis stitches and many more have you slip a stitch at some point.  Let's get started.

Here's how: Cast on 31 stitches.  The odd number is important here, so make sure.  Now knit across one row.  Purl across the next row.

On the next row - Knit 1 stitch.  Slip one stitch from the holding needle to the working needle by sticking the tip of the needle into the stitch as if to knit, but then don't knit the stitch.  Slip it onto the working needle.  This is called Slip 1 Knitwise.  It's abbreviated Sl1k.  K3.

There is another version of the slip stitch, and it's just as easy.  Stick the working needle into the stitch as if to purl, and slip it onto the working needle.  This is called Slip 1 Purlwise.   It's abbreviated Sl1p.  K3.

Complete the row by sl1k, k3, sl1p, to the last stitch.  K last stitch.

Purl the next row.

1. K1, (sl1k, k3, sl1p, k3) across, k1.
2. Purl across.

Repeat these 2 rows for at least 4 inches.  You can see there is a subtle but distinct difference between the two types of slipped stitches.  Pretty, eh?  You can finish the swatch to any size you like.  When a slip stitch pattern does not indicate weather to slip knitwise or purlwise, always slip knitwise.

We'll work some other basic slip stitch patterns this month.  You'll be delighted what interesting patterns you'll make!

Colorwork 4 - Slip Stitch

Ok, let's do this.  We're swatching again.  Cast on 20 stitches, all in color A (of your choice, but of appropriate weight for needle size.) Now, for the next row, purl.

**Now it starts to get fun.  Working in stockinette throughout the project, you're going to pick up a second color (b), and knit 3 B, slip 1 A.  When you slip the stitch, you transfer it from one needle to the other without knitting it, or turning it.  K3B, Sl1A across.  Turn your work. (You'll notice that yarn B is at one end of the needle, and yarn A is at the other.  Don't worry.  We'll go get it.)

Ok, time to purl.  Slip the As and purl the Bs, all the way across.  Make sure you don't twist the slipped stitches!

Now knit across in A, then purl your way back. **

The four rows above represent the whole pattern, which comes out very cute.  For those of you asking, "where's the picture?", where's the fun in that? 80 stitches from now, you'll know how it looks, and you'll love it.  And wasn't that ridiculously easy?  I know.  I used to be scared of them, too.  Now I feel very silly.

You may have noticed there are no directions telling you where to hold your yarn.  Usually your working yarn stays where it belongs - when knitting stitches, you just slip the slipped stitches without moving the working yarn to the front.  (Which is probably what you did, anyway.) That means that when purling the working yarn, you won't move the working yarn to the back while slipping stitches, either.  In some different slip stitch patterns you'll see directions reminding you to hold your working yarn to the back or to the front.  This is important to notice, as you won't get the desired effect if you don't put the yarn where the pattern tells you.

Happy knitting!