Slip Knot
stopper knot
The slip knot is less a single finished knot than a starting move: a loop that closes on itself the moment tension is put on the standing part, and opens again just as easily the moment it's released. That reversibility is the entire point. Knitters and crocheters use it to cast the very first stitch onto a needle or hook precisely because it needs to be adjustable and instantly removable. Anglers tie a similar temporary loop to hold a lure at a set position while rigging.
It is built from a single fold-and-tuck: a bight of the working end pushed through a loop in the standing part, with the loop's final size set by how far the standing part is pulled through afterward. There's nothing to "dress" beyond making sure the loop tightens on the standing part and not the working end - tied the other way round, pulling the standing part simply unravels the whole thing.
Because it keeps closing under any steady pull, it has no place anywhere a fixed loop is actually required, and it should never be used in a context where something - a limb, a neck, an object being lifted - could be at risk of that loop continuing to cinch down.
In fishing, a similar temporary loop is sometimes used to hold a bait or lure in a fixed position on a line while a more permanent knot is tied elsewhere, precisely because it can be removed instantly by pulling the working end rather than needing to be cut or picked apart. The same closing behaviour that makes it useful for casting on stitches is why it appears constantly in improvised rope work whenever something needs to be gathered and cinched temporarily - a tarp corner, a bundle of kindling - as long as nobody mistakes that convenience for actual load-bearing security.
How to tie the Slip Knot
Form a loop in the rope with the working end on top.
Strength & security
The entire design intent is a loop that tightens under a pull on the standing part - it is not meant to hold a fixed size, and it will continue to close under steady tension.
Cautions: Never use a slip knot where a load could keep tightening around a limb, neck, or object indefinitely; it is a light-duty, temporary knot, not a secure one, and it can also release completely if the working end is pulled instead of the standing part.
Alternatives
- Honda Knot
Also a sliding loop, but built with a small locked eye that holds its own shape better than a plain slip knot when slack - the honda is the deliberate choice for a lariat where the eye must stay open.
FAQ
Does a slip knot hold a fixed loop size?
No - by design it keeps tightening as long as the standing part is pulled. Use a bowline or figure-eight loop if a size-stable loop is what's actually needed.
Why do knitters use a slip knot?
It's the standard way to cast the first stitch onto a needle, because it's quick to form, easy to adjust, and comes apart cleanly if the wrong end is pulled.
Can a slip knot be undone quickly?
Yes - pulling on the working end rather than the standing part releases it instantly, which is part of why it's useful for temporary ties that need to come apart fast.
Is a slip knot the same as a slip loop used in macrame?
They're built the same way - a bight pushed through a loop - though macrame and craft contexts sometimes call it a slip loop or lark's head start depending on the pattern. The underlying mechanic, a loop that tightens on the standing part and releases from the working end, is identical regardless of which craft or rope-work tradition is using it.
Can a slip knot be tied in the middle of a rope, not just at the end?
Yes - it can be formed anywhere along a rope's length using a bight rather than a free end, which is exactly how it's used to start certain macrame and craft patterns that don't begin at a rope's tip.
Is a slip knot considered a real 'knot' at all?
Rope researchers generally classify it as a hitch or a temporary loop rather than a true fixed knot, precisely because its whole function depends on staying adjustable rather than locking permanently in place.