Archive

Tink, Step 1:

Spot a mistake in the same row you are working. In this example, there is a twisted stitch two stitches back.

Tink, Step 2:

Begin undoing stitches, one at a time, by inserting your left-hand needle tip into the stitch directly below the last stitch on your right-hand needle. To prevent twisted stitches, insert the left-hand needle from front to back, ensuring the left leg of the stitch is behind the left needle.

Tink, Step 3:

Slide the stitch onto your left needle while removing the loop from your right needle.

Tink, Step 4:

One stitch has now been undone. Repeat steps one through three until you reach the mistake.

Tink, Step 5:

Undo the mistaken stitch. Because the mistake is a twisted stitch in this example, insert your left-hand needle tip into the twisted stitch (the stitch below the last loop on the right-hand needle) from back to front, ensuring the right leg is in front of the left-hand needle tip.

Tink, Step 6:

Once you have slipped the mistaken stitch back onto your left-hand needle, ensure the legs are not twisted; the left leg should be behind the left-hand needle and the right leg should be in front of the left-hand needle. The mistake should now be corrected. You can retry the stitches and continue your pattern.

Return to the Fix Knitting Mistakes Directory Page

After you have learned to fix knitting mistakes, you may want to know how to unravel a few rows to correct a problem. Or undo an entire knitting project to reuse the yarn. Either way, knitters call this “frogging,” and I will show you how in the next tutorial.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 1:

Continue working your pattern until you reach the column in which you have dropped a stitch.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 2:

When working from the knitside, place the loop that was your dropped stitch in front of the “ladder” of undone stitches. Insert your crochet hook into the dropped stitch from the front to the back. Be sure your stitch is not twisted by confirming that the legs are not crossed.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 3:

With the crochet hook, grab the strand directly above the twisted stitch.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 4:

Pull the hook and the strand of yarn through the loop on the crochet hook; this will chain the strand through the dropped stitch.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 5:

Continue pulling the strands of yarn directly through the loop on the crochet hook until no more strands remain in the “ladder” of loose stitches. Always check that each corrected stitch is not twisted before you move on to the next.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 6:

Once you have reached the top of your work, ensure no loose strands remain above or behind the column you have just corrected.

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 7:

Move the loop from your crochet hook to the left-hand knitting needle. To prevent twisted stitches, be sure the right leg is in front of the needle and the left leg is behind the needle. 

Fix a Dropped Stitch, Step 8:

Check that you have corrected the problem, then continue working on your pattern.

Learn to correct slipped stitches next.

Return to the Fix Knitting Mistakes Directory Page

After you have learned to fix dropped knit stitches, you may want to know how to unravel a few rows to correct a problem. Or you can undo an entire knitting project to reuse the yarn. Either way, knitters call this “frogging,” and I will show you how in the next tutorial.

Usually, twisted stitches happen when you have put the legs on your needle incorrectly. To prevent twisted stitches, you should make sure the right leg of the “V” is in front of the needle, while the left side of the “V” is on the back side of your knitting needle. Then, be sure to knit into the front leg (the right leg) to avoid twisting your stitches.

Looking at the purl stitch side of a project, you have seen that each purl makes a little upside down “U” on your needle. As with a knit stitch, to avoid twists, you should make sure the right leg of the “U” is on the front side of your needle; the left leg should be behind your needle. Then, be sure to purl into the front leg (the right leg) to avoid twisting your stitches.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 1:

Continue working your pattern until you reach the column in which you have twisted a stitch.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 2:

When you reach the stitch at the top of the column in which the mistake is located, carefully slide it off the left-hand needle tip.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 3:

Pull gently on the stitch you just dropped off the needle, unraveling the column of stitches only until you reach your mistake.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 4:

Untwist the knit stitch, checking that the legs are no longer crossed. When working from the knitside, place the loop that was your twisted stitch in front of the “ladder” of undone stitches.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 5:

Insert your crochet hook into the newly untwisted stitch from the front to the back. Be sure your stitch is not twisted by confirming that the legs are not crossed.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 6:

With the crochet hook, grab the strand directly above the twisted stitch.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 7:

Pull the hook and the strand of yarn through the loop on the crochet hook; this will chain the strand through the newly untwisted stitch.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 8:

Continue pulling the strands of yarn directly through the loop on the crochet hook until no more strands remain in the “ladder” of loose stitches. Always check that each corrected stitch is not twisted before you move on to the next.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 9:

Once you have reached the top of your work, ensure no loose strands remain above or behind the column you have just corrected.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 10:

Move the loop from your crochet hook to the left-hand knitting needle.

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 11:

To prevent further twisted stitches, be sure the right leg is in front of the needle and the left leg is behind the needle.  

Fix a Twisted Stitch, Step 12:

Check that you have corrected the problem, then continue working on your pattern.

Learn to correct dropped stitches next.

Return to the Fix Knitting Mistakes Directory Page

After you have learned to fix your knitting mistakes, you may want to know how to unravel a few rows to correct a problem. Or undo an entire knitting project to reuse the yarn. Either way, knitters call this “frogging,” and I will show you how in the next tutorial.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 1:

Following the pattern you have been using for previous rows, make the first two stitches of your last row. In this example, knit one, then purl one.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 2:

Insert the left needle tip into the front loop of the first stitch on your right needle from front to back.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 3:

Lift the first stitch on the right needle up and over the second stitch on the right needle.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 4:

Pull the second stitch on the right needle through the first stitch on the right needle. 

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 5:

Slide the left needle out of the stitch on the right needle.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 6:

At this point, the first knit stitch should be anchored onto the second, and only one loop should remain on your right-hand needle.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 7:

Following your pattern, work the next stitch off your left needle and onto the right needle.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 8:

In the same manner as before, lift the first stitch on your right-hand needle over the second stitch, drawing the second stitch through the first, leaving only one stitch on your right-hand needle.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 9:

Repeat steps seven and eight until you have reached the last two stitches and freed the left-hand needle from your work.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 10:

Lift the first stitch on the right needle over the second, leaving only one stitch on your right-hand needle.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 11:

Set your work down, leaving the knitting needle in the last stitch. With very sharp scissors, clip the working yarn about eight or ten inches away from your last  stitch. This will free your work from the ball of yarn.

Bind Off in Pattern, Step 12:

Pull the yarn tail through to anchor it in; do this by enlarging the last stitch with your knitting needle until the tail slides completely through. The loop will become a straight loose end.

You can knits lots of patterns now that you’ve learned to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. Learn about these beginner knitting patterns in the next lesson.

After knitting a few rows in the knit, purl pattern, the column of knit stitches will be more prominent. You’ll see the “V” shapes stack on one another as you work.

In a column of purl stitches, the bumps will stack. The line of upside-down “U” stitches will sink backward in the work, so stretching your knitting just a bit can help you see your purls more clearly.

Learn to bind off in a pattern of knits and purls next.

Split & Anchor, Step 1:

Inspect your yarn tail by untwisting it a bit, near your work. Identify the individual yarn plies and count them. Here, you will see a four-ply yarn; the yarn pictured is made of four smaller strings.

Split & Anchor, Step 2:

Use the tip of your darning needle to help you split the plies into two equal sections. With the four-ply yarn shown, the plies should be split so there are two on each side.

Split & Anchor, Step 3:

Gently separate the two halves of the yarn with your darning needle by sliding it out toward the end of the tail. Take care not to break the strands by pulling too quickly or roughly.

Split & Anchor, Step 4:

Once the tail is split in two, set one half aside and thread the other half through the eye of your darning needle.

Split & Anchor, Step 5:

With the darning needle, sew this half of the tail around the knit stitch that it is coming out from under. Do this by bringing your needle tip under and through the other side of the knit stitch.

Split & Anchor, Step 6:

Ensure that the darning needle runs parallel to the other half of the yarn tail before you sew it through.

Split & Anchor, Step 7:

Pull the tail through, only tightly enough to match the pattern of your knitting. Do not pull too tightly.

Split & Anchor, Step 8:

Remove the tail from the darning needle.

Tie Off, Step 1:

Arrange the two halves of the tail so that the ends are pointing in opposite directions, laying one string toward your left side and the other toward your right. Then, set the strings down.

Tie Off, Step 2:

Pick up the strings so that the left-pointing string is in your right hand and the right-pointing string is in your left hand.

Tie Off, Step 3:

Cross the two ends by bringing the yarn in your right hand in front of the yarn in your left hand.

Tie Off, Step 4:

Bring the right-hand string around and behind the left-hand string, then tuck the right-hand string tail through the loop created.

Tie Off, Step 5:

This will cross the ends, forming first small knot. Tighten the knot by gently pulling on both tails of the yarn.

Tie Off, Step 6:

Pull this first knot only tightly enough to allow it to hug the surface of the knitting. Pulling this knot too tightly will cause your work to become misshapen.  

Tie Off, Step 7:

After tying the knot gently to the surface of your work, lay the ends down in the direction you were pulling them. One end should point toward the left, and the other should point toward the right.

Tie Off, Step 8:

Now, grab the ends, switching the hands that held them. So, pick up the left-pointing string in your right hand and the right-pointing string in your left hand.

Tie Off, Step 9:

Cross the strings in the same way as you did in Step 3; bring the yarn in your right hand in front of the yarn in your left hand.

Tie Off, Step 10:

Bring the right-hand string around and behind the left-hand string, then tuck the right-hand string tail through the loop created.

Tie Off, Step 11:

This will cross the ends, forming your next small knot. Tighten this knot by gently pulling on both tails of the yarn.

Tie Off, Step 12:

Pull this second knot as tightly as you can to test if it will slip. If the knot does not move when the two tails are pulled very hard, you can move on to cutting away your yarn tails in the next step. But, if your knot starts to slip when you pull the tails, stop pulling and make one more knot by repeating steps  7 through 12.

Tie Off, Step 13:

Using the sharpest scissors you have available, clip off both halves of the yarn tail, one at a time, as closely as possible to the knot, without cutting the knot itself.

Tie Off, Step 14:

Stretch the corner of your work to help the knot settle into the project. It will hide itself amongst the other stitches.

The next step in learning to knit is to make the purl stitch to start adding texture and patterns to your knitting projects.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 1:

Pick up the loose end you would like to weave in; here we will start with the loose end from the cast-on edge (located at the bottom of the work).

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 2:

Thread the loose end through the eye of a darning needle.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 3:

Examine the edge of your work and try to identify any unfinished parts of the pattern. On the cast on edge, as show here, you will be missing one leg of an imaginary > shape.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 4:

Using the natural holes in your knitting as a guide, insert the darning needle through the edge stitch, which would form the point of the > shaped stitch.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 5:

Pull the tail through, only tightly enough to match the pattern of your knitting. Do not pull too tightly.  

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 6:

Remembering that you are trying to trace around the knit stitches with the tail, bring the darning needle up and under the loop at the edge in the next row up. 

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 7:

Pull the tail through with the darning needle, and once again, pull only as tightly as needed to match the knitting work. 

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 8:

Sew the darning needle tip down and under the next stitch, moving from the edge of the work into the project. 

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 9:

Pull the tail through, again ensuring you are neither pulling too tightly nor leaving the thread too loose.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 10:

Sew the needle tip up and through the next stitch, doing your best to follow the winding pattern of the knitting.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 11:

Bring your needle down and under the third stitch bump in the second row.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 12:

Pull through, but not too tightly.

Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 13a:

Remove the tail from the darning needle. Do not cut your tail at this point if you want to secure it with a knot. Move on to the instructions for “How to Tie Off Loose Ends” that follow this section.

OR Weave in Cast-on Tail, Step 13b:

Or, if you do not wish to tie a knot in your work, weave in the tail for several rows. Angle diagonally toward the center of your project, as illustrated by the purple line. After weaving two to three inches of tail into your project, remove the tail from the darning needle. With scissors, clip the excess loose end away. You are now ready to weave in the bind-off tail.

Knot in Yarn Tails:

I always tie my yarn tail onto one of my knit stitches with a tiny, strong, and almost invisible knot. Learn how to knot in your yarn ends before you trim them away. Go to full tutorial.