It happens to every knitter. You glance down and see a little ladder running down your knitted fabric, or a loop sitting loose where a knit stitch should be. Take a deep breath. Learning how to fix a dropped stitch in knitting is easier than it looks, and once you have done it a time or two, it becomes one of the most freeing skills in knitting. You no longer have to fear mistakes, because you know how to mend them.
In this guide, I will show you how to secure a dropped stitch, how to ladder it back up with a crochet hook, how to handle the purl side and garter stitch, and how to check that the repaired stitch is sitting correctly.
What Is a Dropped Stitch?
A dropped stitch in knitting is a live loop that has slipped off your needle. Left alone, it can unravel down through the knit rows below, leaving a column of horizontal strands behind it. Knitters call this a ladder, and each horizontal strand is a rung. Every rung represents one row that the stitch needs to be worked back up through.
Step 1: Secure the Dropped Stitch Right Away
The moment you spot a dropped stitch, slip a stitch marker, safety pin, or spare needle through the open loop. Even a little tension on the fabric can make the stitch run down another row, so do this before anything else. Once the loop is caught, the stitch is safe and you can take your time.
If the stitch fell off just now and has not run down at all, you can simply pick it back up with your needle.
Step 2: Find the Loop and Count the Rungs
Look for the live loop at the bottom of the ladder. Unless the stitch has run all the way to the cast on edge, there will always be one. Then count how many horizontal rungs sit above it. That number tells you how many rows you need to work back up.
A tip: lay your work flat under good light and gently spread the fabric to reveal hidden loops. For fine or dark yarns, a magnifying glass can help.
Step 3: Ladder the Stitch Back Up With a Crochet Hook
A crochet hook is the easiest tool for fixing a dropped stitch that has run several rows. Here is how to do it on stockinette with the knit side facing you.
- Insert the crochet hook into the live loop from front to back, so the loop sits on the hook in front of the ladder.
- Find the lowest rung, the horizontal strand directly above the loop. Always start with the bottom rung and work upward, because working out of order can misalign the repair.
- Catch that rung with the hook and draw it through the loop toward you. This forms a new stitch.
- Let the old loop drop off the hook. You now have one fewer rung.
- Repeat, rung by rung, until no rungs remain. Check each new loop before moving on, and be careful not to catch strands from neighboring stitches.
- Slip the restored stitch back onto your left needle, then gently tug the fabric to even out the tension.
How to Fix a Dropped Stitch on the Purl Side
If the purl side is facing you, you have two choices:
- Turn your work so the knit side faces you, and follow the steps above. This is often the simplest option for stockinette.
- Re-hook in reverse. Reach through the loop from back to front, catch the rung, and draw it back through the loop. This creates a purl stitch from the side facing you. The rungs can block your view, so it may take a little more care.
How to Fix a Dropped Stitch in Garter Stitch
Garter stitch is a little different because knit and purl rows alternate in each column. Instead of hooking every rung the same way, you alternate. To tell which kind of stitch you need next, look at the stitch connected to the rung: a stitch that looks like a V is a knit stitch, and one that looks like a bump is a purl stitch.
If you are unsure, try the knit method first. If the new stitch looks different from its neighbors, undo it and try the purl method instead.
Step 4: Check That the Stitch Is Not Twisted
Before you continue knitting, look at how the repaired stitch sits on the needle. The leading leg should sit at the front of the needle, not twisted around it. If you notice on the next row that the stitch looks twisted, simply knit it through the back loop to straighten it out.
When Not to Ladder Down
Laddering works beautifully in plain knit and purl fabrics, but some stitch patterns are trickier:
- Cables: Laddering through a cable crossing can send the stitch the wrong way. It is often easier to tink back (unknit) one stitch at a time.
- Lace: You may need to rework a few rows so your yarn overs and decreases line up again.
- Fuzzy yarns like mohair: Ask an experienced knitter or your local yarn shop for help if you get stuck.
How to Prevent Dropped Stitches
- Count your stitches regularly, especially at the end of each row.
- Check your tension as you work.
- Use stitch markers to divide long rows into sections so a missing stitch is easier to spot.
- Store projects folded where they will not snag or stretch.
Want to practice before it matters? Knit a small swatch, drop a stitch on purpose, let it run a few rows, and fix it. It is the best way to build confidence. If you run into an unfamiliar term along the way, our Knitting Dictionary can help, and our Help page is always there for pattern questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to fix a dropped stitch?
Secure the loop with a stitch marker or safety pin, then use a crochet hook to pull each horizontal rung of the ladder through the loop, starting from the bottom, until you reach your needle.
Can I fix a dropped stitch several rows down without ripping out?
Yes. In stockinette and garter stitch, you can ladder the stitch back up with a crochet hook without unraveling your work. Cables and lace may need a few rows reworked.
How do I fix a dropped purl stitch?
Either turn your work so the knit side faces you and fix it as a knit stitch, or insert the hook from back to front and draw each rung through the loop to create a purl stitch.
Why does my fixed stitch look twisted?
The leading leg of the stitch should sit at the front of the needle. If the repaired stitch looks twisted, knit it through the back loop on the next row to straighten it.