The basic way to end a row
To end a knitting row, you knit or purl the last stitch as normal, then slip your needle out of all the stitches. The working yarn stays attached to the last stitch on your needle—you do not cut it. When you turn your work around to start the next row, you straightforward insert your empty needle into the first stitch and continue knitting.
The key is that your stitches stay on the needle between rows. You are not closing off the row or securing anything yet. You are just turning your work and moving to the next row with all your stitches still live (meaning they are still loops on the needle, ready to be worked).
Key Takeaways
- Ending a row means knitting or purling your last stitch and turning your work—the stitches stay on the needle and the yarn stays attached.
- Always turn your work to face the correct direction before you start the next row, or your stitches will twist.
- If you accidentally drop a stitch while turning, you can pick it back up with a crochet hook before moving on.
- Binding off (casting off) is different from ending a row—you only bind off when you are finished with the entire piece.
Turning your work correctly
After you knit your last stitch, rotate your work 180 degrees so the needle with the stitches is now in your left hand and the empty needle is in your right hand. The working yarn should be hanging from the last stitch on the left needle. This is the position you need to be in to start the next row.
If you are working flat (back and forth in rows), you will alternate which side of the fabric faces you. On one row you might be looking at the knit side; on the next row you will be looking at the purl side. This is normal and expected. The twist happens only if you forget to turn your work before inserting the needle into the first stitch.
What happens if you drop a stitch while turning
If a stitch slips off your needle as you are turning or repositioning your hands, do not panic. Pick up your crochet hook (any size close to your needle size will work) and catch the dropped stitch before you start the next row. Insert the hook through the loop from front to back, then use the hook to pull the working yarn through the loop, creating a new stitch on the hook.
Once the stitch is find on the crochet hook, transfer it back to your knitting needle. If the stitch has dropped more than one row down, you may need to pull the working yarn through multiple loops to bring it back up to the current row level. This takes a little practice but is much easier than ripping back and reknitting.
The difference between ending a row and binding off
Ending a row means finishing the stitches you are working on that day and leaving them live on the needle so you can continue the next time you pick up your work. Binding off (also called casting off) means permanently closing off all your stitches so they cannot unravel. You only bind off when you are completely finished with a piece—at the neck edge of a sweater, the edge of a scarf, or the final row of a blanket.
Many beginners confuse the two because they sound similar. If you bind off at the end of every row, you will create a stiff, unusable fabric and waste a lot of yarn. Save binding off for the very end of your project.
Keeping stitches from sliding off between sessions
If you are putting your knitting away and will not pick it up for a few days or weeks, you can leave the stitches on the needle. Stitches are safest on a needle because the needle prevents them from unraveling. If you are worried about the needle slipping out, you can wrap the working yarn loosely around the needle a few times, or use a stitch holder (a tool that looks like a safety pin with a large loop).
Some knitters prefer to use a piece of scrap yarn threaded through all the stitches instead of a needle. Thread a blunt needle with yarn, pass it through every stitch from left to right, then tie the ends together loosely. This keeps the stitches from sliding off and is straightforward to undo when you are ready to knit again.
Common mistakes when ending rows
The most common mistake is pulling the working yarn too tight after you finish the last stitch. If the yarn is very tight, the first stitch of the next row will be hard to work into and may look uneven. Keep your tension consistent—the last stitch should feel the same as the stitches before it.
Another mistake is forgetting to turn your work. If you start the next row without rotating your piece, your stitches will twist and your fabric will look wrong. It only takes a second to turn, and it saves you from having to rip back and fix it later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I cut the yarn when I end a row?
No. You only cut the yarn when you are completely finished with the piece and ready to bind off. Between rows, the yarn stays attached to the last stitch on your needle. If you cut it, you will have to rejoin it or start over.
What if I accidentally bind off when I meant to just end the row?
If you have only bound off one or two stitches, you can carefully unravel them and put the stitches back on your needle. If you have bound off the entire row, you will need to rip back to the row before and start over. This is why many knitters mark their pattern to remind themselves when to bind off.
Can I end a row in the middle of a stitch pattern?
Yes. You can end a row anywhere—in the middle of a cable, in the middle of a color change, anywhere. The stitches stay live on the needle, and when you pick up your work again, you continue the pattern from where you left off.
Why does my first stitch of the next row look loose?
This usually means the yarn was pulled too tight on the last stitch of the previous row, or the first stitch of the new row was worked too loosely. Try keeping your tension even across all stitches, and make sure you are pulling the working yarn snug (not tight) after each stitch.