Fixing a Dropped Stitch

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.

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.

1. 1

   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.

2. 2

   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.

3. 3

   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.

4. 4

   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.

5. 5

   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.

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.