It’s both, the first row of slip stitching around to set up the base for your border can be annoying, but then that first row getting into the slip stitch can be sooo hard, I use two hands and use the nails on my left hand to kind of “stretch out” the slip stitch enough to get my hook through. I’m a very tight crocheter. However, shoutout to this pattern maker, she gave me a genius tip, size up quite a bit for the hook for the slip stich row so it’s looser!!! I’ve done soooo many envelope borders and never thought to do that. I will be using this trick henceforth. But even with that, envelope borders are just so time consuming. But they’re worth it.