How to Tie a Slip Knot Loop

A slip knot allows the user to move the knot, which controls the size of the loop. This is beneficial both with rope when climbing, and with yarn when knitting. A roped slip knot allows a climber to temporarily secure items when adjusting or switching other knots. A yarned slip knot allows the knitter to start the first stitch securely.

Instructions

  1. Slip Knot with Rope

    • 1

      Lay your rope out on the table so that it makes a long upside down "U" shape. Fold the top five inches of the upside-down "U" backwards. Imagine for a moment that the upside-down "U" is the hood of a jacket. You want that hood to fall backwards. In this case, the upside-down "U" becomes an upright one and lays under the rest of the rope, causing the left-over parts of the rope to curve in and come out the bottom of the "U." This creates a loop on either side of the ropes that hang down because they cut the "U" into two sections.

    • 2

      Thread one of the loops through the other loop, feeding it through the top and down through. Thread the side you want to slip through the other loop. For example, if you want the right side to slip then thread it through the left side.

    • 3

      Position the knot to make the loop the desired size. Tighten it by pulling up on the loop and down on the longer rope. Pull on the shorter side to tighten the knot evenly.

    Slip Knot with Yarn

    • 4

      Pull out your yarn far enough to make at tail. The length depends upon how much of a tail you would like, but should be at least a foot. You can cut the tail down later if you need to.

    • 5

      Create a loop so that the two sides of the yarn cross. The shorter side, or the tail side, should be on the bottom.

    • 6

      Feed the top side, or the longer side, up through the original loop. You should make a new loop with the longer side while you do this. This new loop is your slip knot loop.

    • 7

      Tighten the knot by pulling up on the loop and down on the longer side of the yarn. Position the knot to control the size of your loop as you do this. Pull down on the tail side of the yarn to tighten your knot evenly. Trim the tail side of the yarn if necessary.