How to crochet an entire fabric with the slip stitch (video & written instructions)

If you think crochet is complicated, then think again - you can make a gorgeous crocheted fabric using only a foundation chain and the slip stitch, the easiest crochet stitch of all. Slip stitch crochet makes a lovely, drapey fabric which is super warm and perfect for men's scarves.

The stitch itself may be simple, but it has a long history and has acquired many names - Bosnian crochet, shepherd's knitting, pjoning in Norweigan and patning in Swedish. Many of these techniques are slightly different and result in different fabrics.

One of the key things to remember when crocheting slip stitch fabric is to keep your initial foundation chain nice and loose. This will help you to stitch into the chains and prevent you splitting the yarn or struggling to get your hook into the right place.

The next thing to remember is that it is important to be consistent when working this stitch. So work into either the back loop of each foundation chain or the front loop. When you look at your foundation chain from the side, you will see that the stitches form a V shape. The back loop is the leg of the V that is furthest from you. Most people choose the back loop to work in, but it is fine to go with the front loop as long as you always use it.

So, to start your slip stitch fabric, first chain a foundation chain as long as you require for your project. For a man's scarf, you'll need quite a long chain, but if you're making a pot holder or a square place mat (both look lovely in this stitch), then you'll need a shorter length of chain. When you've got that done, then start straight away by stitching into the second chain from your hook. Push the hook into the back (or front if you're choosing front loops only), yarn over, pull through, then slip stitch. Continue like this. Chain one at the end of the row and turn.
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This is your basic slip stitch fabric, which is nice and stretchy, and looks very much like knitting. Although it's an easy stitch, remember to be consistent about which loop you work into and watch out to make sure you are not missing stitches.

Pro tip: If the tension of your crochet tends to be tight, then you may like to move up a hook size or even two, for this stitch. This should help you produce looser stitches which will be much easier to work into.

Pro tip #2: Like many simple stitches, slip stitch fabric looks great when made up in a variegated yarn. That way, you can concentrate on getting the right loops and not missing stitches, while the yarn does all the color change work for you!