How to fix common knitting mistakes
August 12 2025 – Angeles R
Let’s be honest – no matter how long you’ve been knitting, mistakes happen. Maybe your stitch count has mysteriously changed (again), maybe you’ve purled when you meant to knit, or maybe you’ve spotted a rogue hole halfway down your project. We’ve all been there. And the truth is? It’s not the end of the world – making mistakes it’s just part of the knitting journey.
In fact, every dropped stitch, every wobbly row, and every “wait… what happened here?” moment is an opportunity to learn something new. Even the most seasoned knitters (yes, even the ones who make it look effortless) have tales of projects gone a bit sideways. The difference is, they’ve built up a little toolbox of fixes – and that’s exactly what we’re going to help you with.
Over this series, we’ll walk you through some of the most common knitting hiccups, show you how to set things right, and give you the confidence to keep going without the stress. Because knitting isn’t about perfection – it’s about creating something you love, one stitch at a time.
So, grab your needles, take a deep breath, and remember: mistakes aren’t failures, they’re just detours. And we’ve got the map to get you back on track.
Knitting mistake 1: Dropping a stitch (knitwise)
Dropping a stitch is one of those things that happens to everyone, no matter how long you’ve been knitting.
The important thing is to act quickly so it doesn’t unravel further. As soon as you spot it, secure the loop with a stitch marker, safety pin, or even a scrap of yarn. That little step will stop the “ladder” from growing while you fix it.
When you’re ready, grab a small crochet hook. Start at the bottom-most “ladder rung” – that horizontal strand of yarn between your stitches – and pull it through the dropped loop. Keep working your way up, one rung at a time, until you’ve reached the current row. Pop the stitch back on your needle knitwise so it sits correctly.
It might feel fiddly the first time, but it’s a skill that gets easier with practice. Before long, you’ll be rescuing stitches without a second thought – and wondering why it ever seemed daunting in the first place.
Quick Tip
I like to keep a locking stitch marker clipped to your work as you go. That way, if I spot a dropped stitch, it can be secured instantly – no scrambling for tools while the ladder grows.
Knitting Mistake 2: Dropping a Stitch purlwise
Picking up dropped stitches in garter stitch is one of those knitting mistakes that are a bit trickier than in plain stockinette because you’re alternating knit and purl rows. (this applies for knitting flat). The main thing is to secure that loop as soon as you spot it, so it doesn’t unravel further. Like in knit stitch use a locking stitch marker to hold it in place while you get your crochet hook.
To fix it, you’ll need to pay attention to the “rungs” of yarn above the dropped stitch. For every knit row, you’ll pull the rung through from front to back. For every purl row, you’ll pull it through from back to front. This will recreate the garter texture as you climb back up. Take your time – it’s easy to slip into doing all knits or all purls by accident, which will leave a patch of stockinette in your garter.
Once you’ve worked back to the current row, pop the stitch onto your needle knitwise so it sits correctly. Give the fabric a little tug to even things out, and your garter ridge will look good as new.
Handy Tools
We've put together a collection of handy tools that will help you tackle these tricky knitting mishaps.
Knitting Mistake 3: The first stitch can lie!
For our last tip in this post, we’re looking at something that’s not exactly a “fix” – but it can save you from a lot of stitch-count headaches. Sometimes that very first stitch on your needle can be a bit sneaky. Depending on how the yarn sits, it might masquerade as a stitch when it’s not… or disappear completely.
It’s a small detail, but it’s one that can throw your numbers off and have you thinking you’ve made a mistake when everything’s actually fine. In the video, we show you how to spot this little trick and keep your stitch count on track from the start.
Want to learn some more?
If you’ve found these tips helpful, you might enjoy taking things a step further with our Follow Along Courses . Each one is packed with clear video tutorials and online support from our team, so you can build your skills with confidence.
Learn how to knit your first pair of socks, tackle a colourwork project or even knitting your very first sweater, we’ll be right there with you, stitch by stitch. You’ll have all the guidance, tips, and encouragement you need – plus the reassurance that if a mistake does happen, you’ll know exactly how to fix it and carry on.
