Step 1

First, you’ll want to locate the tail of your yarn and set it onto a flat surface in the shape of an upside-down U.


Step 2

Cross the tail of the yarn over itself, forming a loop.


Step 3

Guide the yarn underneath the loop, forming two distinct sections.


Step 4

Reaching through the loop, grab the tail of your yarn.


Step 5

Pull it through, forming a new loop. Make sure you don’t pull the tail through on accident! If the tail gets pulled through, you’ll be left with just a regular knot.


Step 6

At this point, you essentially have a really loose slipknot. Pull it tighter by grabbing the loop in one hand, and the tail and working yarn in the other. “Working yarn” refers to the yarn that is attached to the rest of the skein or ball.


Step 7

Once it’s tightened, you have a slipknot! Now to get it ready for knitting.


Step 8

Place your needle through the center of the loop.


Step 9

Tighten the slipknot to the needle by pulling on the tail and the working yarn.


Step 10

You’re ready to start knitting! Before that though, it’s a good idea to practice the slipknot a few more times. If you slip the loop off of the needle, you can pull on the tail and the working yarn to undo it. Slipknots don’t fasten like typical knots, as they come undone when tightened.