Common Knitting Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Knitting is one of the most relaxing and rewarding hobbies you can have. But even the most experienced knitters occasionally make mistakes — a dropped stitch, an uneven tension, or that dreaded hole appearing mid-project! The good news? Most knitting mishaps are quick to spot and simple to fix once you know how.
Here are some of the most common knitting mistakes and our favourite ways to rescue your project.
1. Dropped Stitches
❌ The mistake: A loop slips off the needle, leaving a hole in your fabric.
✅ The fix: Use a crochet hook to pull the loop back up through each stitch until it reaches the row you’re working on.
👀Check out our short YouTube video on this
✨ Pro Tip: If you notice it too late, you can secure the stitch with a safety pin and work it back in later.
2. Uneven Tension
❌ The mistake: Stitches look tight on some rows and loose on others.
✅ The fix: Slow down, relax your hands, and try to knit in good light. Switching to different needles (wood vs. metal) helps maintain steadier tension. If it varies a lot, review how you are holding your yarn. Use your fingers to create natural tension: hold the yarn in your right hand, pass it round your small finger, under the next two fingers and over the index finger.
💡Remember: Alpaca yarn has a natural drape, so a slightly looser tension often looks beautiful once blocked.
3. Accidental Yarn Overs (Extra Stitches)
❌ The problem: Your stitch count keeps growing — oops!
✅ The fix: You could undo the whole lot, or simply knit two stitches together (k2tog) to bring your count back on track.
💡Pro Tip: Count your stitches every few rows if you’re working on a precise pattern.
4. Twisted Stitches
❌ The mistake: Stitches look slanted or twisted.
✅ The fix: Check how you’re wrapping the yarn around the needle. Always insert the needle the same way (front to back or back to front) to keep stitches consistent.
5. Adding or Losing Stitches
❌ The mistake: Your project is mysteriously growing or shrinking. This is a classic "crisis" for beginners!
✅ The fix: Count stitches at the end of every row. If you find extras, unknit (or “tink”) back carefully; if you’ve lost one, pick it up with a crochet hook before it unravels further - see Point 1 (above). If you cant find the mistake, just make an extra stitch (m1 - make 1) or decrease a stitch (k2tog - knit 2 stitches together) to get the right number.
💡We do understand: It is so hard to carry on with a mistake, but a M1 stitch or a K2tog stitch won't even be visible to you after a few rows and it will not difference to the shape.
6. Holes at the Edges
❌ The problem: Loose stitches forming gaps along the edges.
✅ The fix: Pull the yarn snug after the first stitch of each row. Try slipping the first stitch instead of knitting it — this gives a neater, tighter edge.
7. Planning for mistakes with a lifeline
❌ The problem: You are working a complicated stitch (like brioche or cables).
✅ The fix: Dropping down to the error — and then ripping out rows — can be soul-destroying. Save yourself the stress with proactive lifelines. Run a smooth thread through your stitches every few rows so you can safely rip back to that point without losing everything.
For a great guide, we recommend a Very Pink Knits video on this.
8. Misreading the Pattern
❌ The mistake: Skipping a row or mixing up abbreviations.
✅ The fix: Use a row counter, ruler, or sticky notes to track your place. Mark the row before you stop for the day. And double-check abbreviations before you start — it saves time and frustration later.
9. Forgetting to Block
❌ The problem: Your project looks uneven, or is wider and shorter/narrower and longer than you expected.
✅ The fix: Don’t panic — Blocking can transform your finished piece — and you can block years after you’ve finished. Lay your project flat, dampen it gently, pin it to shape, and let it dry naturally for a polished finish.
Final Thoughts
Every dropped stitch is a chance to learn. With a few simple tricks, you can fix most problems without starting over. And remember: the beauty of hand-knitting is in the uniqueness of every piece, imperfections and all.
Ready to put these tips into practice? Explore our range of beautifully soft alpaca yarns and create something you’ll love to wear or gift.
👉Find out why it is worth persevering: read about The return of knitting, crochet and handmade living