Slip Stitch and Fasten Off Crochet Tutorial

Are you wondering what a sl st crochet stitch is? Do you want to learn how to fasten off crochet projects. In this post, I’ll show you how to do both!

What is a sl st crochet stitch?

Sl st is the abbreviation for the slip stitch in crochet. The slip stitch is essential for finishing a lot of different crochet projects. You can use the slip stitch to join pieces together, joining when working in the rounds, edging, detail work, and more!

What a slip stitch is used for

When working in the round (joined rounds, not continuous), a slip stitch is used to join the last stitch of your round to the first stitch of your round. Then you would make a turning chain and continue on to your next round.

You may use a slip stitch along a crochet chain in order to create a thicker strand of stitches. For instance, the feet of Chandler the Chicken are made with a combination of chains and slip stitches.

If you are creating a ring of chain stitches, a slip stitch would be used to join the ends of the chain. For example, the hair on Lyla the Llama is made up of loops of chain stitches which are joined with slip stitches.

Slip stitches can be used to seam two crochet pieces together. This is a common joining method for various blankets and garments.

Sl st crochet might be done around the edge of a blanket, scarf, hat, etc. to add a finished edge.

And the most common way to use a slip stitch, and the way that will be demonstrated in the video below, is for finishing off a crochet project or piece, just before securing your yarn with a fasten off.

How to make a sl st crochet stitch

A slip stitch is made by inserting your hook into the next st, yarning over and pulling up a loop, then continue pulling that loop through the loop on your hook.

I will demonstrate how to make the sl st crochet stitch in the video tutorial below.

What is fasten off crochet?

When following a crochet pattern, the project or piece of the project that you’re working on may end with the term Fasten Off.

Fastening off is done to secure your yarn so that your last stitch (and subsequently all of your other stitches!) won’t unravel.

Fastening off is very similar to completing a sl st crochet stitch. In fact, the two are often used hand in hand to create a clean finish to the end of your project.

How to fasten off crochet projects

The instructions in your crochet pattern may something like this:

“Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.”

Or:

“Fasten off and weave in ends.”

In either scenario, you will first cut your yarn to leave the necessary length of yarn tail remaining.

To fasten off, you will then yarn over and draw the tail all the way through the loop on your hook. Set your hook aside and pull on the tail of your yarn to tighten the knot.

Video Tutorial

In this crochet video tutorial, I will show you how to complete a sl st crochet stitch (slip stitch), as well as how to fasten off crochet pieces and projects.

This video is also available on YouTube. Watch this video: Slip Stitch and Fasten Off Crochet Tutorial on YouTube.

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I hope you enjoyed this crochet tutorial on creating a slip stitch and fastening off your crochet project. For more, check out my other crochet tutorials.

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