Slip As If To Knit vs. Slip as if to Purl

When slipping stitches, it’s important to know if they need to be slipped as if to knit or slipped as if to purl. In this video, Jen Lucas demystifies slipping stitches. She demonstrates just how easy it is and when to use both the slip as if to knit and slip as if to purl.

SLIP PURLWISE

To slip a stitch purlwise, insert the right needle into the next stitch as if you are going to purl that stitch. Slip the stitch over to the right needle. Notice that the stitch is still sitting on the needle in the same orientation as it was before slipping it – the right leg of the stitch is to the front of the needle and left leg of the stitch is to the back of the needle.

SLIP KNITWISE

To slip a stitch knitwise, insert the right needle into the next stitch as if you are going to knit that stitch. Slip the stitch over to the right needle. Notice that slipping the stitch knitwise has changed the way the stitch is mounted on the needle. The right leg of the stitch is to the back of the needle and the left leg of the stitch is to the front of the needle.