Video:How to Pick Up a Dropped Stitch

Transcript:How to Pick Up a Dropped Stitch

Hi, I'm Claire Hoenke for About.com and today I'm going to show how to pick up a dropped stitch.

A Dropped Stitch Happens to Everyone

Dropped stitches are every knitter's worst nightmare! Just one slip up can ruin an entire project. Luckily, with a careful eye and a crochet hook, you can avoid potential disaster. Once you become adept at knitting, it becomes second nature, but occasionally even the most careful knitter drops a stitch. When this happens it can create ladders in your work.

How to Pick Up a Dropped Stitch

To fix those holes, the first step is to work your way back to the problem. If you have already knit rows beyond the dropped stitch, you will have to un-knit those rows. Once you get to the problem stitch, use your crochet hook to pick up the last available knit stitch in the column. Pull the stitch up to the next row, and using your crochet hook, pull the next rung in the ladder through the knit stitch. Repeat these steps until you reach your current row. Slide the last knit stitch back onto your needle and pick up your work where you left off.

Some Considerations for Picking Up the Dropped Stitch

Make sure when you're picking up your stitches that they're facing the right direction. If the stitch is on a purled row, you'll insert the hook from the back; if the stitch is on a knit row, you'll insert it from the front. Dropped stitches happen to the best of us. With these simple steps, you don't have to live in fear of ruining your knitting experience.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.