How do I fix a dropped stitch in knitting?
Fixing a Dropped Knit Stitch
When a stitch drops, it creates a ladder of horizontal bars. Insert a crochet hook into the dropped stitch from front to back. Catch the lowest bar and pull it through the loop. Repeat, catching each bar in turn, until you reach the top. Place the repaired stitch back on the left needle and continue knitting.
If the dropped stitch is several rows down, secure it with a locking stitch marker or a safety pin to prevent further unraveling. Work on a flat surface with good light. The crochet hook should be slightly smaller than your knitting needles for better control.
- Insert hook front to back into the dropped stitch
- Catch the lowest horizontal bar
- Pull it through the loop
- Repeat up the ladder
- Return stitch to left needle
Fixing a Dropped Purl Stitch
For a dropped purl stitch, insert the crochet hook from back to front. Then catch the bar and pull it through, similar to a knit stitch but from the opposite side. If you're unsure, turn the work so the purl side faces you and treat it like a knit stitch from that side.
If the dropped stitch has run all the way down to the cast-on edge, you can secure it with a small piece of yarn and a tapestry needle, then weave in the end. This is a common fix for lace or complex patterns where laddering up is tricky.
Common mistakes
- Panicking and ripping out the whole project instead of fixing the one stitch.
- Twisting the stitch when placing it back on the needle, which creates an uneven stitch.
- Using a hook that's too large, which distorts the surrounding stitches.