3 Beginner Knitting Mistakes and How to Fix Them

You’ve decided to take up knitting. Good for you! You’ve mastered how to knit and you’re chugging along, happily knitting a little garter stitch scarf or cowl.

Everything’s copacetic until you realise that you’ve dropped a stitch – ack! – or you’ve added extra stitches – where did those come from? – or maybe your knitting’s awesome except that it’s so tight you practically sprain a muscle trying to get your needle into the stitches.

As frightening as these scenarios sound, you are not alone!

Past and future knitters have and will be making these same mistakes. So, when you encounter them, don’t freak out. Knitting mistakes are part of the natural course of things. So, let’s take a closer look at these common beginner bugaboos and the best ways to fix them.

Knitting Mistake 1: Dropped Stitches

At some point you will drop a stitch. It’s an unfortunate fact of life as certain as death and taxes.

You’ll recognise a dropped stitch by a long tear in your fabric and a wayward stitch at the bottom. When this happens, don’t panic!

As frightening as it looks – so sad and helpless, like a child fallen into a well – it’s nothing to fret about.

On stockinette and garter stitch it takes less than a minute to fix, and when you’re done no one will be any the wiser!

Panic Level: LOW

Knitting Mistake 2: Adding Stitches

At some point, you might look down at your knitting and think,“Whoa! Why do I have so many stitches on my needle?”

You’ve got more stitches than you cast on! You, my friend, have accidentally added extra stitches to your knitting.

This knitting mistake happens to most beginner knitters, so don’t beat yourself up about it. There’s one way to fix an added stitch, but it requires that you keep your eyes peeled so that you catch the little sneak before it gets embedded into your knitting.

Panic Level: MODERATE

 

Knitting Mistake 3: Tight Knitting

When you’re first starting out as a knitter, you’re excited, nervous and kind of happy. Knitting is fun, after all!

But sometimes the nervous side takes over and you start gripping your needles and pulling at your yarn. You’re scared  your stitches will fall off.

But the problem is that your knitting is so tight you can barely get your needles into the stitches. You’re going to pull a muscle if you don’t take it easy!

Below, three ways to loosen up tight knitting. Panic Level: DON’T PANIC