This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through any link I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
When I was younger I sometimes was teased for liking to crochet. It wasn’t “in” like it is now and I was often told that when I would work up things with my hook that I was acting “like an old lady”. I remember being mortified when I was purchasing a new crochet hook at the hobby store when the two girls behind their cash registers blatantly made fun of me.
But I stuck with it because I enjoyed it and because I liked making things, but that whole episode in particular really stuck with me. I spent a lot of time trying to find stitches and combinations of stitches that looked less obviously crocheted. One of my favorites wound up being the repetition of the slip stitch.
It may seem crazy, but simply by repeating the slip stitch over and over you can produce a thick and dense crochet fabric. I have found it is especially great for making scarves for men. It’s not necessarily a masculine stitch, if such a thing exists, but the appearance of it is just different than lots of others.
At any rate, we’re going to do a quick tutorial here so that you can be knocking this sucker out super quick. If you know how to chain and you know how to do the slip stitch this is easy as pie.
For this project you will need:
- Yarn
- Size H or I Crochet Hook (I prefer to purchase a set as it tends to be more cost effective)
Typically I crochet very tightly but this requires a loose hand. If you’re a super tight hooker you should practice to loosen up a bit before tackling a larger project. If you find your stitches are still too tight and it is difficult to work the piece, try going up one to a larger hook size.
In this tutorial I started with an H hook but I was too tight so I started over with an I hook and found that I was able to work the stitch very well.
First chain the length you require. I have found that this particular crochet stays pretty true to size on the initial chain.
Insert the hook into the second chain from your hook.
Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook. Resist the temptation to tighten your yarn.
Continue working through the chain by pushing through a chain, then yarn over, take off both loops.
When you get to the end of a row, chain one and turn your work to continue.
Oh, and be sure to count your stitches as you work. Mine is a prime example of how I got way too involved in the intrigues of Moll Flanders to effectively count and you can totally tell!
I love the diagonal dashes and straight lines in the pattern of the fabric but you can also have a fabric with the dashes only…
To do so, simply run your hook through both loops rather than just the back one.
And there you have it… simple but stunning slip stitch crochet that even a beginner can do easily!
Thanks Allison, this I great! I love the alternating diagonal and straight rows…going to see about Moll too lol
Thank you so much for this stitch!!! It is EXACTLY along the lines of what I was looking for, pretty and sooooo easy!!
Interesting. I am a self taught, left handed crocheter and cannot read a pattern to save my life. I read recently slip stitch in a pattern and was like crap, I don’t know what that is …. decided to look it up and wouldn’t ya know, all my first projects were made from slip stitch. Several scarves, several baby blankets and even a couple of hats. I had always wondered why my crochet didn’t look crochet. Even my grandma didn’t believe I was crochetting!
Thanks for making my day and possibly helping me in my future pattern reading abilities.
Happy hooking!!
You think you had it bad? I’m a guy and when I was about 10, I use to spend my summers with my grandparents, and my grandma taught me how to knit, crochet, cross-stitch, and sew. Sewing and crochet were always my favorite, and at 42, I still do them. I use to be embarrassed buying supplies, but not any more. Though I think people might just assume I’m buying for someone else. lol
My wife can’t do any of that, so when it comes to making something with yarn or thread, it’s put on my honey-do list. I’ve had to modify dozens of outfits for her.
BTW, I found this pattern looking for a stitch I can use to make a cover for a door knob to the sauna I’m building onto our house. Hopefully a crocheted door knob cover won’t get too slippery to use. (If it does, I’ll have to wrap the knob in silicon tape first)
How pretty as it resembles knitting stitches to me. Thanks for the tutorial with pictures, an step by step instructions. Proud of you for not quitting when being made fun of at a early age and being persistent to persevere. Great job.
Finally!! A great tutorial on a stitch that some-what resembles knit. I have a lot of people ask me to do some sort of knit stitch and it is really tricky to find just the right stitch in the crochet world.
Thank you! I wonder if this would make a good hot pad, if it’s dense enough. Now I want to play around with this and see what it would look like if you alternate rows of slip stitches and single crochet!
There are no holes or spaces which would be good, but the crochet fabric is kind of thin. Play with it and let me know what you think!
Fab :) Looks like knitting!
Wonderful Tutorial! I am more of a knitter, but I find myself picking up a crochet hook more and more these days and love seeing a well written explanation of how to hook. Thank you for sharing this with the world!
I’m glad that you decided to keep crocheting even though you were made fun of. I’ll bet that if those girls could see you now they’d be jealous!
I love the look of this stitch too, and I appreciate your step-by-step tutorial with pictures :)
This is great as I love learning new crochet stitches. thanks.
You are so welcome :)
I’m very intrigued by what all i see. Being i just picked the crochet needle up again after 35 yrs. I only remember what all my grandmother taught me when i was a little girl. I’m so excited to be crocheting again.