Step-by-step instructions for sl1. What it means, how to do it, and important things to be aware of
So, you just started out knitting, maybe you even finished your first little potholder or scarf, and now your next pattern asks you to knit “sl1”. Well, as you will see in a second, the technique is remarkably simple. Still, this tutorial will put an emphasis on variations, applications, and things to be aware of.
The knitting term sl1 stands for “slip one”. It means passing a stitch from the left needle over to the right needle without knitting it. This can be done without twisting the stitch or adding a twist. Also, the working yarn can be either in the front or in the back.
It is often used in selvage stitches, in special knitting stitch patterns (like double stockinette stitch or brioche stitch), to reinforce the heels of a sock, but also in certain colorwork techniques (like mosaic knitting or the bobble stitch).
Let’s take a closer look and show you how to knit it.
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Instructions for knitting sl1
There are many variations of the sl1 instructions. Typically, when a pattern just says "slip one" it actually means slip one purlwise or point to point. The result will be a non-twisted slipped stitch.
Instructions
- Bring the working yarn to the back.
- Insert your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from right to left (so as if to purl).
- Slip the stitch to the right needle by lifting it over (or pulling out the left needle).
- Continue knitting as normal/according to your pattern.
Notes
Depending on your pattern you may want to pull tight after you've knitted the next stitch. You will create a little float on the backside. By pulling tight you will ensure that this float is as short as possible (like for the heel of a sock or double knitting).
Please take note that for some patterns and techniques, you may have to do the exact opposite and stretch out the stitches on your right needle so the little float doesn't constrict your fabric (as in mosaic knitting).
How to sl1 knitwise
Now, some patterns will also ask you to slip one stitch knitwise. Typically, when nothing else is mentioned, then the designer wants you to slip one purlwise. Only if it specifically says knitwise, will you have to do it like this.
Step 1: Bring the yarn to the back.
Step 2: Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle as if to knit. So from left to right.
Step 3: Pull out the left needle and slip the stitch to the right needle (or lift it over).
This will twist the stitch. See how it’s mounted the wrong way? Knitting decreases like SSK make use of this effect but also a couple of selvage techniques.
How to Sl1 wyif
Now, to my personal great annoyance, a lot of patterns don’t tell you where you should hold the yarn. As a rule of thumb, it’s a safe bet to carry the yarn the way you did for the previous stitches. So, if it’s a knit row, then you hold it in back and if it’s a purl row, you hold it in front.
But that is not true for all patterns. In some forms of double knitting for example, and for a lot of selvage stitches you have to carry the yarn in front regardless of where you are. Either way, here’s how to do a sl1 wiyf (with yarn in front) purlwise.
Step 1: Bring the yarn to the front (some tutorials will also call this ‘yarn forward’).
Step 2: Enter the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from left to right.
Step 3: Lift the stitch over to the right needle and continue according to your pattern.
Very rarely will you read the instructions sl1 wyib. Most designers assume this as your default. Sadly, it can be a bit confusing and if you are unsure, don’t hesitate to ask someone in the knitting community or google the knitting stitch pattern and see if you find instructions where it’s a bit more clear or there is a video available.
Slip one twisted / through back loop
Very rarely, patterns or techniques will tell you to slip one stitch twisted or through the back loop. I am personally only aware of a couple of interesting purl decreases that do it that way. But I guess it will be reasonably easy to handle for any experienced knitter.
So, with yarn held in back (or front), you simply insert your right needle into the back loop of the first stitch on the left needle.
This will twist the loop around the other way. If you slip knitwise, it will add a counter-clockwise twist, and if you slip through the back loop, it will add a clockwise twist. If you knit an SSK, you actually use this very effect to balance out the final stitch.
Anyway, that’s how to sl1 in knitting. Comment below in case you have any further questions.
Hi Norman, if the instructions are to wyif sl1kw k1 psso, do I bring the yarn to the back for the k1 after slipping the stitch? Thanks.
yes, normally you would
Hi Norman,
I am knitting a beanie. I have 40 stitches.
The round one of the beanie is to *P1, sl1 wyif *
But when I get to the end of the row- I have one stitch left.
Any ideas??
well, then you missed one stitch. 40 is divisible by 2. So you cannot have a stitch left.
Hi Norman,
My instructions call for S1 WYIB, yo, k1, pass sl st. over yo and k1. Does the yo come from between the needles and wrap around to the back for the k1?
Thanks!
A yarn over is always wrapped in the exact same way. It sounds a bit like you were an English knitter and I believe this has a lot of people confused.
So after the sl1, you’d havev to bring the yarn to the front, wrap around counterclockwise, and the pass.
Hi Norman,
I’m working a slip stitch pattern where on one shoulder the slip stitches are worked on the right side (*K1, S1 wyib*), and on the other the slip stitches are worked on the wrong side (*P1, S1 wyif*).
The RS slip stitches are very defined and look almost like ribbing, while the WS slip stitches are very flat.
Do you have an idea of how to fix that? It seems like a tension issue. Thank you!
I have a video on youtube that explains the differences between edges. Maybe watch that
Step 2: Enter the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from left to right.
has a typo
Step 2: Enter the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from right to left.
.. is what the image shows.
Hi Norman – I am knitting a beanie in the round but the pattern is for two needles. The pattern is Row 1: K1, *sl1 purlwise, K1 to end. Row 2: K1, yft, sl1 purlwise, ybk, K1. (The next 2 row repeat this but with 2 stitches at the beginning). How do I convert row 2 for knitting in the round? And do you know the name of this pattern?
exchange knit with purl, and back with front.
I’m following a pattern and the instructions are to “slip the 4 stitches from the right hand needle knitwise to the left hand needle then knit all 4” but the working yarn ends up on the last stitch of the 4. Any insight on this?
are you 100% sure these instructions are correct. Because slipping knitwise from RIGHT to left is a very weird way to put things since you never enter stitches on the right hand needle when you knit.
It sounds like a left-leaning tripple decrease, tho.
But for that you would slip 4 stitches knitwise from left to right and then knit these 4 stitches through the back loop. BUt it could also be a kind of stacked decrease. hard to tell for me. something is missing here.
I am knitting my first pair of socks using your plan vanilla sock pattern. I just go to the heel. I understand the SL1,k1 but on the next row that is SL1, p1, when I slip the stitch, am I still slipping it like a purl and is the yarn still behind or am I reversing everything and slipping like a knit with the yarn in front?
Normally, I write how to slip things. it should be slip one purlwise with yarn in front for the return row. But maybe I omitted it because it’s a repetition.
Hi Norman. Love your videos. My question is: in combined knitting how do I yb,sl1p/w. Thank you. Keep on doing what you do.
I would have to look that up as well. Sounds like “yarn to the back, slip one purlwise”