If you’ve ever looked at a crochet pattern and wondered what that tiny “slst” abbreviation meant, you’re not alone! The slip stitch is one of the most basic crochet stitches, but it’s also one of the most versatile and useful. It doesn’t add height like other stitches, but that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.
What’s a Slip Stitch?
The slip stitch is the shortest stitch in crochet. It’s essentially a way to move your working yarn from one place to another without adding any height to your work. Think of it like a little bridge, it’s the stitch that helps you transition, close, or shape your project without being bulky or obvious.
Because of its low profile, it’s perfect for:
- Joining rounds
- Creating invisible seams
- Moving your yarn to another part of the project
- Surface crochet details
- Neat edges or trims
Follow the written instructions or the video tutorial below to learn how to slip stitch!
How to Crochet a Slip Stitch (slst)
- Insert your hook into the stitch or space where you want to make the slip stitch.
- Yarn over and pull and pull up a loop.
- Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook.
That’s it! You now have a slip stitch.
💡 Tip: Don’t pull the yarn too tightly or your fabric might pucker. Keep a gentle, even tension.
When to Use a Slip Stitch
In amigurumi and other crochet projects, I often use the slip stitch to:
- Close a round cleanly when working in joined rounds
- Move over stitches invisibly without creating bulk
- Outline shapes or add details with surface slip stitches
- Create ribbing when combined with working in back loops only
It’s a small stitch with a big impact!
Practice Makes Perfect
If you’re just starting out, grab some scrap yarn and practice a few rows of single crochet, adding a slip stitch row here and there. Or, try adding a surface slip stitch line across a swatch for decoration. You’ll be amazed at how polished it looks!
Watch the Video Tutorial
The Wild Kids – Dragon amigurumi pattern uses the slip stitch to add cool details to it. It’s a great example of, in spite being the smallest in the crochet stitch family, the slip stitch it’s still a very important stitch.
Get the Wild Kids – Dragon Pattern here and try the slip stitch in action!
Want to Learn More Stitches?
You can find more helpful tutorials like this one here, including:
- Single Crochet Stitch
- Double Crochet Stitch
- How to Close Amigurumi Pieces Flat
- Inverted Crochet Technique
If you’re building your crochet skills for amigurumi, these techniques will make your work neater, smoother, and more enjoyable.