Spot and Stop a Dropped Stitch Before It Runs
A dropped stitch is a loop that has slipped off your needle and is no longer being held in place. The moment you notice it, stop knitting—do not work another row. A dropped stitch that sits unwoven for several rows becomes much harder to fix because the loose yarn unravels downward, creating a ladder of loose strands you have to pick back up.
The easiest time to fix a dropped stitch is the row where it happened. Look at your work and find the column where the stitch fell. You will see a gap or a horizontal strand of yarn running across that column. If the stitch dropped more than one or two rows ago, you will see multiple horizontal strands stacked on top of each other—one for each row the stitch was missing.
Set your needles down in a safe place where they will not roll away. You will need both hands free and good light to see the small stitches clearly.
Key Takeaways
- Stop knitting when ready when you notice a dropped stitch; working additional rows makes the fix much harder.
- Use a crochet hook one size smaller than your knitting needles to pick up the dropped stitch and its loose strands.
- For a stitch dropped one row, insert the hook through the stitch from front to back, catch the horizontal strand, and pull it through.
- For a stitch dropped multiple rows, repeat the hook-and-pull motion for each horizontal strand, working from bottom to top.
- Transfer the finished stitch back to your knitting needle with the loop facing the correct direction.
Gather a Crochet Hook and Position Your Work
You will need a crochet hook that is slightly smaller than the needles you are using. If you are knitting with size 8 needles, use a size G or H crochet hook. The hook should be small enough to fit through the stitch loop without stretching it, but large enough to catch the yarn strand easily.
Lay your knitting flat on a table or in your lap with the side facing you—the side you normally see when you knit. Find the dropped stitch column and look directly at it. The stitch itself will look like a small loop sitting below where it should be, and above it you will see one or more horizontal strands of yarn running left to right across that column.
If the stitch is at the edge of your work or very close to a needle, you may need to slip nearby stitches off the needle temporarily to give yourself room to work. Slide them onto a spare needle or a piece of yarn so they do not unravel further.
Pick Up a Single Dropped Stitch from One Row Back
If the stitch dropped only one row ago, you will see one horizontal strand above the dropped loop. Insert the crochet hook through the dropped stitch loop from front to back—the same direction you would insert a knitting needle. The hook should go under the loop, not through it.
With the hook in place, reach up and catch the horizontal strand with the hook. Pull the strand down through the dropped stitch loop toward you. The strand will pass through the loop and create a new stitch on your hook. This new stitch is now properly formed and ready to go back on the needle.
Slide the stitch off the crochet hook and onto your knitting needle, making sure the loop is facing the same direction as the other stitches on the needle. If the stitch looks twisted, slip it off and reinsert it the other way.
Ladder Up Through Multiple Dropped Rows
If the stitch has been dropped for more than one row, you will see multiple horizontal strands stacked vertically above the dropped loop. This is called a ladder. The fix is the same motion repeated—you just do it more times.
Start at the bottom with the dropped stitch loop itself. Insert the crochet hook through it from front to back. Catch the lowest horizontal strand and pull it down through the loop, just as you did for a single-row drop. Now you have a new stitch on the hook and one strand has been used up.
Without removing the stitch from the hook, insert the hook through that new stitch again from front to back. Catch the next horizontal strand above it and pull it down through. Repeat this motion for every horizontal strand you see, working from bottom to top. Each time you pull a strand through, you are climbing up the ladder and reforming the stitch for that row.
When you have pulled the topmost strand through, the stitch is complete and ready to return to the needle. Slide it off the hook and onto your working needle, checking that it sits in the same direction as the stitches around it.
Return the Stitch to Your Needle Correctly
Before you resume knitting, make sure the stitch is oriented the right way on the needle. Look at the stitches on either side of it—they should all have the same twist. If your repaired stitch looks backwards or crossed, remove it from the needle and reinsert it the other way.
The working yarn (the yarn attached to your ball) should be coming from the right side of the stitch if you knit right-handed, or from the left side if you knit left-handed. If the yarn is coming from the wrong side, the stitch is backwards.
Once the stitch is seated correctly on the needle, gently tighten the yarn around it by tugging on the working yarn. The stitch should sit snugly on the needle without being so tight that it is hard to knit into on the next row. If it is very loose, tighten it a little more.
Prevent Dropped Stitches While You Knit
Dropped stitches usually happen because a stitch slips off the end of the needle while you are working, or because the needle is too small for the yarn and the stitches slide around. Check your needle size against your yarn label—the label will recommend a range, and you should stay within it.
At the end of each row, before you turn your work around, push all your stitches toward the center of the needle, away from the points. This keeps them from sliding off the tip. If you are using bamboo or wooden needles, the texture grips yarn better than metal needles do, which can reduce slipping.
If you are a loose knitter and stitches frequently fall off, try needles one size smaller than recommended, or switch to needles with a sharper point. If you are a tight knitter, the opposite may help—needles one size larger or with a blunter tip.
What to Do If You Cannot Find the Dropped Stitch
Sometimes a dropped stitch is hard to spot because it blends into the texture of your work, especially in ribbed or patterned knitting. Look for a column that looks thinner or looser than the columns around it. Run your finger down each column of stitches and feel for a gap or a place where the yarn is slack.
If you have already knitted several rows past the drop and cannot locate it, you have two choices. You can carefully unravel your work back to the row where the stitch dropped—pull out the needle and gently tug the working yarn to undo rows one at a time until you reach the problem row. Or, if the dropped stitch is not in a visible place and does not affect the fit or look of the finished piece, you can leave it. A single dropped stitch that has been sitting for many rows will not unravel further once you have finished knitting and blocked the piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix a dropped stitch without a crochet hook?
Yes, you can use a knitting needle the same size as your working needles, though a crochet hook is easier because the hook shape catches the yarn strand more reliably. In a pinch, a toothpick or a safety pin will work, though they are harder to control. The crochet hook is worth having in your knitting bag.
What if I drop a stitch in the middle of a pattern?
Fix it the same way—the pattern does not change the technique. However, pay attention to whether the stitch is a knit or a purl when you put it back on the needle. If your pattern has knit and purl stitches in the same row, make sure the repaired stitch matches the stitches around it in that column.
Can a dropped stitch ruin my whole project?
A single dropped stitch will not ruin your project if you fix it before knitting too many more rows. Once you have finished knitting and blocked the piece (washed and shaped it), the tension in the yarn will tighten up and a small dropped stitch may become nearly invisible. However, if you leave it for many rows, it can create a visible hole or weak spot.
Why do stitches keep dropping off the same needle?
Your needles may be too large for your yarn, or the needle tips may be too blunt. Try going down one needle size or switching to needles with sharper points. Also check that your needle length matches your project—if the needle is too short, stitches bunch up and are more likely to slip off the end.
Is there a way to fix a dropped stitch from the back of the work?
Yes, but it is harder. If you work from the back, you will be pulling strands in the opposite direction, which can twist the stitch. It is easier to turn your work around so you are looking at the front, fix the stitch, and then turn it back. The extra step takes only a few seconds and gives you a better view.