How to Make a Slipknot

To begin knitting, first you must cast the yarn onto a needle. This is done by making a very simple slipknot. A slipknot gets it name because it slides up or down the line it's made on and can be easily untied by pulling one end. If you've forgotten how to tie a slipknot, follow the steps below for a quick refresher course.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Crochet needle

Instructions

1. Take a piece of yarn and drape it over your index finger and thumb.

2. Cross the yarn over making a loop. It will resemble a charity ribbon, like an AIDS or breast cancer ribbon. You'll want about 6 inches of yarn on the other end of the loop for the end of your crochet chain.

3. Reach through the loop, pull the piece of yarn that's on the bottom of the crossed strings through the loop you just made and pull tightly. Now you should have a new loop with a knot that will slide along one side of the yarn.

4. Put the crochet needle through the new loop and tighten by sliding the knot up.

Tips & Warnings

• It's easier to cross the short end over the long end of yarn and pull the long end through making a loop. If you decided to cross the short end under, remember to not pull the end of the string all the way through the loop.

• When crocheting, you don't want to pull the slipknot too tightly around the needle.