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sl: Slip
Move the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it. This is one of the building-block stitches. Patterns assume you can work it without thinking, and most other abbreviations are built from it.
How to work sl
Move the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it. Unless told otherwise, slip purlwise; slip knitwise when the stitch will be worked together with another.
Common mistake
Slipping knitwise by accident, which twists the stitch.
Effect on your stitch count
It does not change the stitch count by itself.
How it looks in a pattern
A typical line (an invented example for illustration):
Row 3 (RS): K2, sl, repeat to end of row.Related abbreviations
All terms are in the knitting abbreviations list, and in the app's Glossary, which works offline.
Frequently asked questions
What does sl stand for?
sl stands for slip.
Does sl change the number of stitches?
It does not change the stitch count by itself.