Slip Stitch Knitting Techniques (Purlwise and Knitwise)

The Slip Stitch Knitting technique pulls the fabric inward by moving a stitch from one needle to the next. See how to easily slip a stitch with all variations: knitwise and purlwise on both the knit and purl sides of your work. We also will review how to do so with yarn forward and yarn back.

Helpful Close-Up Knitting Instructions

Below, I hope my written and photographic demonstrations are helpful to you. I’ve also included video tutorials for both right and left-handed knitters.

In the photos and video, you will see that I have switched my working yarn color from blue to white. This allows you to easily differentiate a knit or purled stitch (white) versus a slipped stitch (blue). Hope it’s helpful to you!

How to Slip Stitch Purlwise

Slip Stitch Purlwise on a Knit Row with Yarn in Back (Most Common)

Slipping a Stitch Purlwise is the most common technique. In fact, When your pattern simply says to slip a stitch without specifying the different variations detailed below, the default is to Slip Purlwise with the working yarn in back.

Technique: With your working yarn in the back of your knit row, insert your right-hand needle into the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to purl. Slip it to the right-hand needle without any additional action.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1 or Sl1P WYIB

Yarn Color Help: Notice that the white stitches on the right-hand needle have been knit, while the slipped stitch remains in the original yarn color of blue.

Slip Stitch Purlwise on a Knit Row with Yarn in Front

Technique: Bring your working yarn between your needles to the front of your knit row. Insert your right-hand needle into the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to purl. Slip it to the right-hand needle, then bring the yarn between the needles to the back again in preparation to knit.

Your slipped stitch is now wrapped. You can see there is a little bar of yarn in the front of that slipped stitch on the knit row’s right side of our work.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1 or Sl1P WYIF

Slip Stitch Purlwise on a Purl Row with Yarn in Front

Technique: With your working yarn in the front of a purl row, insert your right-hand needle into the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to purl. Slip it to the right-hand needle without any additional action.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1 or Sl1P WYIF

Slip Stitch Purlwise on a Purl Row with Yarn in Back

Technique: Bring your working yarn between your needles to the back of your purl row. Insert your right-hand needle into the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to purl. Slip it to the right-hand needle, then bring the yarn between the needles to the front again in preparation to purl.

Your slipped stitch is now wrapped. You can see there is a little bar of yarn of that slipped stitch on the knit row’s right side of our work.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1 or Sl1P WYIB

How to Slip Stitch Knitwise

Slip Stitch Knitwise on a Knit Row with Yarn in Back

Slipping a stitch knitwise is used less often. It twists the stitch, often for texture purposes.

Technique: With your working yarn in the back of your knit row, insert your right-hand needle the the left and inside the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to knit. Slip it to the right-hand needle without knitting it.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1K WYIB

Slip Knitwise for an SSK Decrease: When your pattern decreases specifies Slip Slip Knit (SSK), slip your stitches knitwise.

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Slip Stitch Knitwise on a Knit Row with Yarn in Front

Technique: Bring your working yarn between your needles to the front of your knit row. Insert your right-hand needle the the left and inside of the next stitch on the left-hand needle. Slip it to the right-hand needle without knitting it.

Your slipped stitch is now wrapped. You can see there is a little bar of yarn of that slipped stitch on the knit row’s right side of our work.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1K WYIF

Slip a Stitch Knitwise on a Purl Row with Yarn in Front

Technique: With your working yarn in the front of your purl row, insert your right-hand needle the the left and inside the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to knit. Slip it to the right-hand needle without knitting it.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1K WYIF

Slip a Stitch Knitwise on a Purl Row with Yarn in Back

Technique: Bring your working yarn between your needles to the back of your purl row. Insert your right-hand needle the the left and inside the next stitch on the left-hand needle as if to knit. Slip it to the right-hand needle, then bring the yarn between the needles to the front again in preparation to purl.

Your slipped stitch is now wrapped. You can see there is a little bar of yarn of that slipped stitch on the knit row’s right side of our work.

Knitting Abbreviation: Sl1K WYIB