POCOPOCO JOURNAL
Does the first slip knot count? Starting knitting and crochet
When a knitting cast-on starts with a slip-knot loop on the needle, include that stitch. When counting starting crochet chains, leave out the knot and the active hook loop.
About 3 minutes to read
Including the first loop can make a starting count look one stitch different. Have you carried a knitting habit straight into crochet? Today, distinguish a knitting cast-on from starting crochet chains when the method begins with a slip knot. This is the adjustable starting knot, not a knot for joining yarn. The question is what belongs in the total; this is a reading exercise, not a knot-making tutorial.
Identify which total you are checking
Open the instructions you are using. Are you checking the total cast-on stitches for knitting, or the starting chain count for crochet? Instead of relying on the phrase first stitch, match the tool and the task. A cast-on prepares the starting stitches for knitting. Here, the knitting discussion covers methods that form the first stitch with a slip-knot loop on the needle. It does not mean every knitting cast-on needs a knot. If your instructions specify a different start, count according to that method.
Knitting: include the initial slip-knot stitch
The Craft Yarn Council’s knitting-pattern guide counts the starting slip-knot loop as a stitch in its needle cast-on example. Lion Brand’s knitted cast-on explanation likewise identifies the slip knot placed on the needle as the first stitch. With this method, that first loop is already included when you reach the required total. Do not leave it out as mere preparation, or add another stitch after reaching the specified count. You are counting the stitches held on the needle, not adding the knot’s body or yarn tail as separate stitches.
Crochet: exclude the knot and active hook loop
When you start a chain with a slip knot, count the completed chains. The Craft Yarn Council’s crochet-pattern guide excludes both the initial knot and the loop currently on the hook. Having a loop on the hook does not mean you have completed a chain. Even if you remember including the first loop in knitting, do not add the crochet knot as a chain. Check the starting chain count separately from the stitch total in the following row. Whether a turning chain belongs in a row’s total is also a separate question.
Original explanatory diagram created by PocoPoco with AI assistance. These invented cards and notebook suggest recording count definitions and references. Blank fields are not confirmed answers or actual stitch totals. It does not show actual tools, stitch charts, counted results, measurements, working procedures or an app screen. If totals differ, describe what you included
Before adding stitches or undoing work, put three things side by side: the starting method, the stated total, and what you actually counted. For knitting, check whether you included the starting loop. For crochet chains, check that you did not add the knot or active hook loop. A difference of one does not establish its cause. Keep the name and location of the explanation you consulted, so you can revisit your reasoning. If you cannot identify what to count, mark that point as unconfirmed and check the matching designer, tool maker or yarn maker guidance before continuing.