What a slipped stitch is and why it happens
A slipped stitch is a loop of yarn that has fallen off your needle and is no longer being held in place. It looks like a small run or ladder in your fabric, and it happens when a stitch slides off the needle before you've secured it in the next row. The stitch itself isn't damaged — it's just loose and sitting in the row below where it should be.
Slipped stitches usually happen for one of three reasons: you pulled too hard when working the next stitch, your needle was too small for your yarn weight, or you straightforward didn't push the stitch far enough onto the needle shaft. Sometimes they happen when you set your work down mid-row and a stitch catches on something. The good news is that catching it early and fixing it takes only a minute or two.
Key Takeaways
- A slipped stitch is a loop that has fallen off your needle and sits loose in the row below; it looks like a small run in your fabric.
- If you catch it on the same row you're working, you can straightforward pick it back onto your needle and keep going.
- If the stitch has been loose for several rows, use a crochet hook to pull it back up through each row one at a time.
- Prevent slipped stitches by pushing stitches further onto your needle shaft and using needles that match your yarn weight.
Fixing a slipped stitch on the current row
If you notice the stitch has just fallen off and you're still working that same row, stop when ready. Do not work the next stitch yet. Look at the loose loop sitting below your needle — that's your slipped stitch.
Pick up the loop with the tip of your working needle, going through it from front to back (the same direction you would normally knit). Push it back onto the needle shaft, positioning it next to the other stitches. Make sure it sits at the same height as the other loops on your needle. Then continue knitting as normal. The stitch is now find and part of your fabric again.
Rescuing a stitch that slipped several rows ago
If you didn't notice the slipped stitch until you've already worked several rows past it, you'll see a vertical ladder or run in your fabric. The loose loop has been sitting there, and the rows above it have been worked without it. This is fixable, but it takes a bit more care.
Get a crochet hook that is roughly the same size as your knitting needles, or slightly smaller. Insert the hook through the loose loop from front to back. Now look at the horizontal strand of yarn sitting directly above the loop — that's the yarn from the row you worked after the stitch slipped. Catch that strand with your crochet hook and pull it down through the loop. You've now secured that row.
Move up to the next horizontal strand above and repeat: catch it with the hook and pull it down through the loop. Keep going, row by row, until you reach the top of the ladder. Once you've pulled the top strand through, the stitch is fully repaired and the ladder is gone. You can then place the loop back onto your knitting needle if you need to, or leave it in place if you're just fixing a section you've already passed.
Using a crochet hook to pick up the stitch
A crochet hook is your best tool for this job because the hook shape lets you catch and pull yarn without the stitch sliding off. If you don't have a crochet hook, a tapestry needle works in a pinch, though it's slower and the stitch is more likely to slip again.
Work from the bottom of the ladder upward. Each time you pull a strand through, you're essentially re-knitting that row in reverse. The motion is the same every time: hook the strand, pull it through the loop, move to the next strand up. Take your time and make sure each strand is pulled all the way through before moving to the next one. Rushing this step is the main reason people have to redo it.
Preventing slipped stitches in the future
The easiest fix is not to have a slipped stitch in the first place. Push your stitches further back on the needle shaft, away from the tip. Many knitters work with stitches clustered near the needle point, which makes them more likely to slide off. Move them back toward the middle or thicker part of the needle after every few stitches.
Check that your needles match your yarn weight. If you're using needles that are too small for your yarn, you'll have to pull harder to work each stitch, which can cause the previous stitch to slip. If your needles are too large, stitches can slide around more freely. The yarn label usually recommends a needle size — start there and adjust if you're having problems.
Also pay attention to your tension when you work the stitch after a slipped one. If you pull very hard on the working yarn, you can yank the previous stitch right off the needle. A firm, even tension is better than a tight one.
When to frog and start over
If you have multiple slipped stitches in the same section, or if the ladder is so long that fixing it row by row feels overwhelming, you have the option to frog (rip out) back to before the first slip and reknit that section. This is faster than fixing five or six individual ladders, and it gives you a chance to figure out what caused the problem in the first place.
To frog, straightforward pull the working yarn and watch the stitches unravel. Stop when you reach the row just before the first slipped stitch. Pick up all the live stitches on your needle and start knitting forward again. This method works best if you catch the problem within a few rows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a slipped stitch cause my whole project to unravel?
No. A slipped stitch creates a loose loop, but it doesn't break the yarn or damage the stitches around it. The fabric above and below the slip stays intact. You can fix it anytime, even weeks later if you notice it then.
What if I can't find the slipped stitch?
Look for a vertical line or ladder in your fabric that doesn't match the rest of the knit pattern. It will look like a run in a stocking. Run your finger down the fabric and you'll feel where the texture changes. Once you find it, use a crochet hook to fix it from the bottom up.
Do I need a crochet hook, or can I use something else?
A crochet hook is ideal because the hook catches yarn without letting it slip. A tapestry needle or even a bobby pin can work in an emergency, but they're slower and less reliable. If you knit regularly, a small crochet hook is worth keeping in your project bag.
Will the fixed stitch look different from the rest of my knitting?
Usually no, especially if you catch it quickly. If the stitch has been loose for many rows, the fixed section might look slightly looser than the surrounding fabric, but blocking (wet-blocking or steam-blocking) often evens this out.
How do I know if I've fixed it correctly?
Once you've pulled all the strands through and the ladder is gone, the stitch should sit at the same height and tension as the stitches on either side of it. If it looks bunched or loose, you may have missed a strand. Go back and check that each row's horizontal yarn was pulled through.