Slip stitch at beginning of each row

Hello!

I’m making a slouchy beanie with a 1x1 rib pattern, and the instructions call for slipping the first stitch of each row. However, it doesn’t mention which direction to slip the stitch. I’ve never used this method, so I assumed you slip the first stitch knit wise. After reading some articles online it seems as though I should be slipping it purl wise.

The actually pattern is…

Row 1: K1, P1
Row 2: Slip Stitch, *(P1, K1)
Repeat row 2 until desired length reached.

I was just wondering if slipping the first stitch knit wise will end up being ok, or if I should start over before I get too far along?

Thanks so much for the help!

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Hello
It’s to do with the stitch mount. A stitch has the right leg in front and the left leg behind. If you slip purl wise the mount doesn’t change and when you turn the work to come back the right leg will be in front as expected.
If you slip knit wise this twists the stitch making it back to front on the return row.

As to whether you undo and start again is up to you and how exactly you want to follow the pattern. If the hat is sewn up these stitches on the edge will be hidden so if it was me I’d leave it as it is and just change how I worked from here on. If there is just one you can untwist it on the return row just before you work it.
Slipping the first stitch of a row is a method to keep the edges a bit tighter and neater, some people do this even if the pattern does not call for it, just as a knitter’s tip or preference, it’s not going to be crucial to the pattern to have a few twisted I don’t think.

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What is the name of your pattern?
You can slip the first stitch knitwise or purlwise as you prefer. This video shows you 3 ways and deals with the effect of knitting or purling the last stitch. I don’t usually slip the first stitch unless the pattern recommends it as yours does.

Are you going to seam the slip stitch edge when you finish the beanie?

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Hi! The pattern recommends doing a slip stitch to keep the ends from curling, but I’ve never done that when making a beanie.

Yes, I’m going to seam the edge. I know it makes a difference as to the amount of yarn available for seaming. Slipped stitch rows have less yarn to create a seam with, right?

Here’s the pattern link…

I really just want make an easy, lightweight slouchy beanie (on straight needles :slight_smile:) for my friends teenage daughter going through chemo. I can’t find anything online… every pattern calls for rounds and I haven’t learned that yet!

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Thank you so much!

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Well, the slip stitch edge gives you a smaller stitch that is, one that contributes less to the overall width of the hat. Since you don’t have to pick up sts from the edge and it won’t be an exposed edge, it’s really unnecessary.
That said, I would go with the pattern recommendation recognizing that the appearance of the slip stitch edge isn’t going to be important since it’ll become part of the seam.

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Thank you so much!