How to fix common knitting mistakes (and prevent them in future)

Knitting is a wonderful way to unwind and express creativity, but even the most experienced knitters encounter mistakes. A dropped stitch, an unexpected hole, or uneven tension can throw off your entire project. The good news? Every mistake can be fixed, and with a little practice, you’ll learn how to avoid them altogether. Also be prepared to break some rules and maybe ‘fix’ it in an unconventional way!

In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the most common knitting mistakes and how to correct them, so you can knit with confidence.

11 Common knitting mistakes and how to fix them

1. Dropped stitch

A dropped stitch happens when a loop slips off your needle, creating a hole in your work. If left unfixed, it can unravel down through the fabric, making the mistake more difficult to correct.

How to fix a dropped stitch

• If the stitch is still near the top, carefully slip your stitches from one needle to the other until you are ‘above’ the dropped stitch then pick it up and slip it back onto your needle and continue knitting.

• If it has unravelled several rows down, use a thin crochet hook to pull the stitch back up through each row, placing it back on the needle when you reach the top.

• If the dropped stitch has already caused a visible gap, you can weave in a spare piece of yarn when finishing to disguise the hole. When using a chunky yarn you can disguise a gap more easily on thinner plain yarn. You may have to undo your work to the dropped stitch to remedy the problem. 

🧶 Prevention Tip: Check your stitches regularly, especially when working with slippery yarn. Using stitch markers can help you keep track of pattern sections where mistakes are more likely to happen.

2. Too many stitches

If your project is mysteriously growing in width, you may have accidentally added stitches. This often happens due to an unintentional yarn over or mistakenly knitting into the same stitch twice.

How to fix too many stitches in your knitting

• Count your stitches at the end of each row to catch extra stitches early especially when working a pattern row or an increase/decrease row.

• If you’ve only added one or two extra stitches, you can decrease them discreetly in the next row.

• If you've added multiple extra stitches, you may need to unravel and rework the section.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Be mindful of yarn placement when switching between knit and purl stitches. A misplaced yarn over can create an extra stitch without you realising.

3. Double stitch at the end of a row

Working an extra stitch at the end of a row can cause uneven edges and throw off stitch counts. This often happens when beginners mistakenly knit into the loose turning yarn at the edge.

How to fix a double stitch

• If you notice right away, undo the extra stitch before continuing.

• If you’ve already worked several rows, unravel to the mistake and correct it.

• Or on a chunky yarn knit two stitches together at the end of a row

🧶 Prevention Tip: Keep an eye on your edge stitches and use stitch markers to track the start and end of each row.

4. Uneven tension

Inconsistent tension results in sections of your project being too loose or too tight. This is especially noticeable when switching between knit and purl stitches, as many knitters naturally purl more loosely than they knit.

How to fix uneven knitting tension

• Blocking your finished piece can help smooth out minor inconsistencies.

• If your stitches are too tight, relax your grip and try using a larger needle. If they’re too loose, tighten your grip slightly or use a smaller needle.

• Knitting slower and more mindfully can help even out tension.

• Also note that if you put down a project for a while and return to it your tension can be different due to changes in stress or anxiety.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Practise knitting swatches before starting a big project to develop a consistent rhythm. Using wooden or bamboo needles can also help maintain even tension.

5. Missed increase or decrease

Missing an increase or decrease in your pattern can throw off shaping, especially in garments or accessories where precision matters.

How to fix an increase or decrease mistake in knitting

• If you catch the mistake early, undo a few stitches and add the increase or decrease in the correct spot.

• If it’s several rows back, you may need to unravel and rework the section.

• For minor errors, you can sometimes compensate by adjusting the next row.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Count your stitches after increase or decrease rows to ensure they match the pattern instructions. It’s quite common to miss the one at the end of a row if you get distracted!

6. Twisted stitches

Twisted stitches occur when you accidentally knit or purl through the back loop instead of the front, causing the stitch to sit incorrectly on the needle. This can create tight, distorted fabric.

How to fix twisted stitches

• If you spot a twisted stitch, slip it off the needle and reposition it before knitting it correctly.

• If the issue occurs repeatedly, you may need to unravel and rework the section.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Pay close attention to how you insert your needle into each stitch. If twisted stitches are a recurring problem, slow down and focus on stitch orientation.

7. Accidental yarn over

Yarn overs are used intentionally in lace knitting to create decorative holes, but they can also happen accidentally when moving the yarn incorrectly between stitches.

How to fix an accidental YO

• If you catch it immediately, simply drop the extra loop before moving to the next stitch.

• If you’ve already knitted several rows, unravel to the mistake and rework the section.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Always check your yarn placement when switching between knit and purl stitches, making sure the yarn travels between the needle tips when switching from a knit to a purl stitch. Keeping your yarn in the wrong position can cause an unwanted yarn over.

8. Yarn splitting

Yarn splitting happens when your needle pierces the middle of the yarn strand instead of going under it, creating weak, untidy stitches. This is common with loosely spun or plied yarns and quite commonly with cotton yarn.

How to fix split yarn in knitting

• If you notice the split stitch immediately, undo it and rework it correctly.

• If it’s already embedded in your project, you may need to unravel and redo the affected section.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Use smooth-tipped needles and be mindful of how you insert your needle into each stitch.

9. Running out of yarn

Few things are more frustrating than running out of yarn before finishing a project, especially if the yarn is discontinued or hard to match.

How to Fix It

• If you have more yarn in the same dye lot, simply join a new ball and continue.

• If you can’t find a perfect match, consider adding a contrast colour or creating a stripe or use on the sleeve cuffs to make the change look intentional.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Always buy a little more yarn than your pattern suggests. If substituting yarn, ALWAYS check the yardage carefully. It is not enough to buy the same weight of an alternative yarn. Wool is heavier than acrylic so the yardage will be less per ball.

10. Knitting in the wrong direction

Picking up your work and knitting in the wrong direction can cause pattern misalignment or create an unwanted extra row.

How to Fix Knitting in the Wrong Direction

• If you’ve only knitted a few stitches, simply unravel back to the correct starting point.

• If you’ve completed an entire row in the wrong direction, carefully undo it and start again.

🧶 Prevention Tip: When setting your project down, use a stitch marker or safety pin to indicate the correct starting side. A general rule in knitting is always finish the row before putting away your work. 

11. Cast off edge or cast on edge too tight

A cast-off edge that is too tight can cause your project to curl or be difficult to stretch, making it uncomfortable to wear.

How to fix a tight edge

• If you haven’t cut the yarn, undo the cast-off and rework it using a larger needle.

• If you’ve already finished, blocking may help loosen the edge slightly.

🧶 Prevention Tip: Try using a stretchy bind-off or go up a needle size when casting off.

Mistakes happen – keep knitting!

Mistakes are part of the learning process. Every time you fix an error, you’re improving your skills and gaining confidence. At Knit One Kits, we provide everything you need to support your knitting journey, from high-quality yarns and needles to beginner-friendly kits.

👉 Ready to start your next project? Explore our range of knitting kits and accessories to keep every stitch looking its best!

Quick recap: common knitting mistakes & fixes