Slip Stitches are Fun!

That's not the sort of thing you would have heard me say until recently! After reading Doris Chan's book Convertible Crochet I became a convert. (read my review HERE) I used her Slip Stitch Rib instructions on my version of Lilla Bjorn's Esja Sweater.

I've owned a copy of Robyn Chachula's Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia for a while now. It opens with four slip stitch patterns. At that time I tried a swatch of the first one but it looked awful. Now that I have more experience I decided to revisit these designs and have another go.

Slip stitches are the work horse of the crochet world but mainly we just use them to join things. I've definitely never thought of them as a stitch in their own right. So after successfully producing these four samples I decided to do a bit of research. Here's what I discovered!

I was just thinking that Slip Stitches were an overlooked stitch that could be much more useful than I'd previously imagined. Then I started to discover that it really is a 'thing'. Not only is it a thing but it has a name, actually many names like Bosnian Crochet and Shepherd's Knitting among others. It even has it's own hook, a pjoning hook. They are hard to get hold of so instead a pointy inline hook would definitely be of benefit but not essential.

The first thing you need to know about using slip stitches is that you need to use a LARGE hook!  Try for two or three times larger than the recommended size. These samples are made with a 6mm hook, the recommended size for this Scheepjes Soft Fun yarn is 4mm.

Then you need to pull up an over sized loop and try to keep it as large as possible. You might find it helpful to hold the base of the stitch as you pull the loop through, at least until you get the hang of it anyway!
Keep counting your stitches, it's easy to loose one, and expect your fabric to shrink in width after the first few rows. (At least until you get the hang of it anyway!!)

I really love that there is SO much to crochet, there always seems to be something new to learn. In writing this post I have discovered 'inverted slip stitches'. If you follow This Link you'll find out how to do inverted stitches.

This gives us six basic stitches in our arsenal; Slip stitch and Inverted Slip stitch, Front Loop and Inverted Front Loop Slip stitch, Back Loop and Inverted Back Loop Slip stitch. (Front Loop slip stitches are simply slip stitches made in the front loop only of previous stitch. Back loop slip stitches are made in the back loop only.)
I've tried out 18 simple variations using those stitches. Some of them are very similar but I hope it will give you a basic knowledge that can be built on.

Dark Purple: This sample is basic Slip Stitch. It creates a thick slightly stretchy fabric.

Yellow: Inverse Slip Stitch. Made in exactly the same way as a basic slip stitch but the yarn is brought to the front and the hook is inserted from the back to the front.This is the thickest of all my samples and also has some stretch.

Pink: Rib Stitch. Back Loop Slip Stitch. This is slightly thinner than basic Slip stitch but is much stretchier. It's the stitch I used on my Esja sweater.

Mauve: Inverse Front Loop Slip Stitch. The ribs in this stitch are much further apart. It makes a warm fabric but isn't very stretchy.

Mauve: Garter Stitch. (I'd love to know why it's called that.) It's simply Front Loop slip stitch.

Pink: Inverse Back Loop Slip Stitch. The photo doesn't do this justice. It has a lovely crisp texture.

Red: Alternating rows of Back Loop and Inverse Front Loop Stitch. These are the front and back of the same stitch. I found it impossible to make it even and tidy.

This is crochet 'spot the difference'! These are four different stitches. There are subtle differences between them. The fabric is double sided, lets call the first group of images the front. All these samples have a tendency to roll up until they are blocked.

Beige: Alternating rows of Front Loop and Inverse Front Loop Slip stitch. Notice how it leans to the right.

Blue: Alternating rows of Back Loop and Inverse Back Loop Slip stitch.Notice how it leans to the left! 

Left hand Green: Purl Stitch. Alternating rows of Front Loop and Back Loop Slip stitch.

Right hand Green: Alternating rows Inverted Front Loop and Inverted Back Loop stitch.

Flat stitch. This is alternating rows of Front Loop and Inverted Back Loop stitch. Why is it called Flat stitch when it clearly wants to roll up? This could be annoying but it could also be useful for rolled hems, necklines and cuffs perhaps?

All of the last six examples are produced by repeating pairs of stitches. This is where the magic really begins. Suddenly we're starting to see something that that doesn't look at all like crochet.

Grey: This is made by repeating Front and Back Loop Slip Stitches. It has a wonderful waffle like texture with a small amount of ribbing.

Pink: Repeating Inverted Front and Inverted Back Loop stitches. This has a crisp texture with a little more ribbing than the grey sample.

These two examples have even more of a waffle texture.

Beige: This one is repeating Front Loop and Inverted Front Loop stitches.

Blue: Repeating Back Loop and Inverted Back Loop stitches gives this sample more texture than it's sibling.

Blue: Moss Stitch. This is my favourite stitch. It takes a few rows before the pattern emerges. Repeating Front Loop and Inverted Back Loop Stitches.

Yellow: Repeating Back Loop and Inverted Front Loop Stitches.

 It's not just me that's excited about these techniques. There are some incredible patterns available. If you're starting to get hooked then you definitely need to go and visit Vashti Braha, and A Yarnified Life. If you're a member of Ravelry check out This Group. (If you're not a member of Ravelry - why?! Go join now!!)

Photographing these samples can't convey their tactile qualities. I definitely recommend taking some time out to practise this technique, it's well worth the effort you put in!

P.S. I decided to try a quick pattern to prove to all of us (you and me!) that it is possible to make something completely using slip stitches. I chose Ann Linderhjelm's 'Hat in Slip Stitch Crochet'. Xx