You are knitting peacefully, and suddenly you notice a loose loop that has slipped off the needle and started running down the fabric. Don't panic! A dropped stitch doesn't mean you have to rip out your work. Using a regular crochet hook, you can easily ladder it back up in seconds – this works best in stockinette stitch.
Secure the loose loop with a safety pin straight away. Then insert the crochet hook into the stitch from the front, catch the lowest horizontal strand and pull it through. Repeat once per dropped row until you reach the top, and put the stitch back on the needle with its right leg in front.
A Norwegian version of this page is available on Strikketips.no
Step-by-Step: The Crochet Hook Method
When a stitch unravels, it leaves horizontal bars of yarn (a "ladder") between the stitches on either side. We will use the crochet hook to catch these strands and pull them through the loop one by one — working from the bottom up.
-
Secure the Loop
Insert a crochet hook, safety pin, or another needle into the dropped stitch loop at the bottom of the ladder so it doesn't unravel any further.
-
Insert the Hook
With the right side (RS) of the work facing you, insert the crochet hook into the dropped stitch from the front to the back.
-
Catch the First Strand
Locate the lowest horizontal strand of the ladder (the one directly above your dropped stitch). Catch it with the tip of the crochet hook.
-
Pull Through
Pull that horizontal strand through the loop on your hook from back to front. You now have a new loop on your hook, having climbed up one row.
-
Repeat to the Top
Continue catching the next strand up and pulling it through the loop. Repeat this all the way up the ladder. Carefully transfer the final loop back onto your left knitting needle, making sure the right leg of the stitch sits on the front of the needle.
If you are working in garter stitch or ribbing, some stitches need to be laddered up as purl stitches.
To pull up a purl stitch, insert the crochet hook into the loop from back to front, catch the horizontal bar which sits in front of the stitch, and pull it through to the back. For ribbing, alternate front-to-back (knit) and back-to-front (purl) entry.
Alternative: No Crochet Hook? Use a Needle Tip
Don't have a crochet hook handy? You can use the tip of a knitting needle, though it requires a little more care and patience. Insert the needle tip into the loop and scoop the lowest horizontal strand through the stitch. This method works best when the stitch has only dropped one or two rows.
If the stitch has run down many rows, we strongly recommend using a crochet hook — it makes the process significantly easier and faster. If it has run all the way out and left a visible hole, see our guide to fixing holes in knitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a dropped stitch run down the fabric?
When a stitch slips off the needle, it loses the tension holding it in place. The horizontal strands below it then release upward one row at a time - that's why it looks like the stitch is 'running' down the fabric.
Can I fix a stitch that has run down several rows?
Yes, as long as you have a crochet hook. The method works exactly the same no matter how many rows it has run - you just repeat steps 3 and 4 once per dropped row.
What if I don't notice the dropped stitch until much later?
No problem, as long as the stitches haven't curled up completely. Always secure the stitch with a safety pin as soon as you spot it, even if you don't have time to fix it right away.
Can this method be used on ribbing or a stitch pattern?
Yes, but you'll need to alternate between catching the stitch from the front (knit) and the back (purl) so the pattern comes out correctly. See the tip further up in the guide.
What if the stitch has run all the way out and left a hole?
If the fabric already has a visible hole because the stitch ran too far, our guide to fixing a hole in knitting can help.