To slip a stitch is to pass it from one needle to another without working it. It is sometimes done when decreasing as well as when working color and stitch patterns. A stitch slipped purlwise remains untwisted, but slipped knitwise, it will twist. If instructions do not specify which way to slip the stitch, slip it purlwise except when decreasing; in this case, slip knit stitches knitwise and purl stitches purlwise.
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slipping a stitch knitwise
 sl st knitwise |
To slip one stitch knitwise, insert the right needle into the next stitch on the left needle as if you were knitting the stitch. Pull this stitch off the left needle. The stitch is now on the right needle and twisted.
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| Slip one stitch knitwise |
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slipping a stitch purlwise
 sl st purlwise |
To slip one stitch purlwise, insert the right needle into the next stitch on the left needle as if you were purling the stitch. Pull this stitch off the left needle. The stitch is now on the right needle.
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| Slip one stitch purlwise |