Why and When to Undo Stitches
You undo knitting stitches when you notice a mistake—a dropped stitch, a twisted loop, a color placed wrong—and you want to fix it without starting over. The process is called frogging (because you "rip it, rip it"), and it means pulling your working yarn to unravel rows back to the error. You then pick up the live stitches and knit forward again.
The key difference between undoing and frogging is scale. Undoing means reversing one or two stitches at a time, usually right after you make the mistake. Frogging means pulling back several rows at once. Both use the same basic technique, but undoing is gentler on your yarn and your nerves.
Most knitters undo stitches within the first few minutes of making a mistake, while the yarn is still fresh and the stitches are straightforward to see. If you wait hours or days, the yarn may have kinked or the stitches may have tightened, making the process slower.
Key Takeaways
- To undo one stitch at a time, insert your needle into the stitch below, pull the working yarn, and let the loop slip off your needle.
- Always undo from right to left (or left to right, depending on your hand position), working one row at a time, so you can see where the mistake is.
- Use a crochet hook or a smaller needle to catch dropped stitches before they ladder down multiple rows.
- Frogging—pulling yarn to unravel several rows at once—is faster than undoing stitch by stitch but requires you to pick up all live stitches afterward.
- Smooth out kinked yarn by running it between your fingers or letting it hang with a weight attached before you knit with it again.
Undoing One Stitch at a Time
This is the slowest but safest method, and it gives you the most control. You work backward, one stitch at a time, until you reach the row with the error.
Hold your needles as if you are about to knit. Insert your left needle into the stitch directly below the stitch on your right needle—the one you just made. Pull your working yarn gently, and the loop on your right needle will slip off. You now have two stitches on your left needle and one fewer on your right. Repeat this for each stitch you want to undo.
Work slowly and watch the yarn. If it tangles or catches, stop and untangle it before you pull again. Yanking hard can split the yarn or create weak spots. Once you reach the row with the mistake, you can either fix it and knit forward, or continue undoing if the error is deeper.
Frogging Multiple Rows at Once
Frogging is faster when you need to go back many rows. Pull your working yarn steadily and watch the stitches unravel. Stop when you are one row above the mistake. At this point, you will have a long loop of yarn trailing from your work and a row of live stitches waiting to be picked up.
Do not pull the yarn all the way out. Leave enough slack so you can see each stitch clearly. If you pull too far, the stitches will tighten and become harder to pick up. A good rule: pull until you can fit your thumb under each loop without forcing it.
Once you stop, the live stitches on that final row will be loose and vulnerable to dropping. Pick them up when ready using a needle one or two sizes smaller than your working needles. This prevents them from laddering (unraveling down multiple rows) while you prepare to knit forward.
Picking Up Dropped Stitches
A dropped stitch is one that has slipped off your needle and is now unraveling downward. The longer it drops, the more rows it unravels through, and the harder it is to fix. Catch it as soon as you notice it.
Use a crochet hook one size smaller than your knitting needles. Insert the hook through the dropped stitch from front to back. Catch the horizontal strand of yarn above it (the one that should have gone through the stitch) and pull it back through the loop. Repeat this for each row the stitch has dropped through. Once you reach the top, transfer the stitch back to your knitting needle.
If the dropped stitch has fallen more than three or four rows, or if you cannot see the strands clearly, it is often faster to frog back to that point and pick up all the stitches at once rather than chase individual strands.
Fixing Kinked Yarn After Frogging
When you frog, the yarn develops kinks and waves because it has been looped and pulled. Knitting with kinked yarn creates uneven stitches and a bumpy fabric. Smooth it out before you continue.
The simplest method: run the kinked section between your thumb and forefinger, explore gentle pressure as you move along the yarn. Work in the direction of the yarn, not against it. Do this several times until the kinks relax.
For stubborn kinks, hang the yarn with a small weight attached—a clothespin, a book, or even a mug—and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Gravity will help the yarn relax. You can also lightly steam the kinked section with an iron held a few inches away, but do not touch the yarn directly with the iron, as heat can damage some fibers.
Common Mistakes When Undoing Stitches
The most common mistake is pulling the yarn too hard or too fast. This can split the yarn, especially if it is delicate or loosely spun. It also makes it harder to see where the stitches are, so you might undo more than you intended. Pull slowly and deliberately, and pause every few stitches to check your progress.
Another mistake is undoing in the wrong direction. If you are working flat (back and forth), undo from the side where your working yarn is attached. If you are working in the round, undo in the direction you were knitting. If you undo against the direction of your stitches, they will tighten and resist, and you may accidentally split the yarn.
A third mistake is not picking up dropped stitches right away. Even one dropped stitch can ladder down five or six rows in seconds, turning a one-stitch fix into a ten-stitch fix. Keep your eyes on your work, especially when you are tired or distracted.
When to Frog Versus When to Undo Stitch by Stitch
Use the stitch-by-stitch method when the mistake is only one or two rows back, or when you are working with delicate yarn that might split. It takes longer but gives you the most control and the least risk of damage.
Use frogging when you need to go back more than three or four rows, or when you are working with sturdy yarn that can handle the stress. It is faster and you can see the mistake clearly once you stop. The trade-off is that you have to pick up all the live stitches at once, which takes practice.
If you are unsure, undo one row stitch by stitch and look at the mistake. If it is small and straightforward to fix, keep going stitch by stitch. If it is large or deep, stop and frog the rest of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I drop a stitch and do not notice until much later?
The stitch will have laddered down several rows, creating a column of loose loops. Use a crochet hook to pick it up row by row, catching each horizontal strand as you go up. This takes patience but is usually faster than frogging back to that point. If the ladder is very long or the yarn is tangled, frogging may be your only option.
Can I undo stitches if I am knitting in the round?
Yes, but you have to undo in the direction you were knitting. If you were knitting clockwise, undo clockwise. If you undo against the direction, the stitches will tighten and resist. The process is the same as flat knitting—insert your needle into the stitch below, pull the yarn, and let the loop slip off.
Does frogging damage the yarn?
Frogging does not damage yarn if you pull gently and do not yank. The yarn will be kinked, but kinks smooth out with time or light steaming. Delicate or loosely spun yarn is more prone to splitting, so pull extra slowly with those fibers. If you hear a snapping sound, stop when ready—you may have broken the yarn.
How do I know if I have undone enough stitches?
Undo until you can see the mistake clearly and understand what went wrong. If you are not sure, undo one more row. It is better to undo too much and have to re-knit a few extra rows than to miss the error and knit over it again.
What if I frog too far and undo past the mistake?
Stop pulling and pick up the live stitches on the row where you stopped. You can always frog a little more if you need to, but you cannot put yarn back once it is unraveled. If you are close to the mistake, just re-knit those extra rows—it is faster than frogging again.