5 Common Knitting Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Mistakes in knitting are a part of the learning curve. When you transform yarn with your knitting needles into your favorite sweater or socks, hats or a gift for a loved one, you may come across some issues. All of us have been there at one point or another making knitting mistakes. But, the trick is to know how to fix knitting mistakes. Many times it is seen that knitters who make a mistake in knitting and don’t know how to fix it, eventually rip out all their work or end up putting their project aside. Knitters often end up starting another project or taking a break from knitting altogether. To stay focused on knitting and enjoy the meditative aspects of the craft, it is important that we learn about common knitting mistakes and how to correct them.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, a popular knitter also known by the name of the Yarn Harlot, writes in her book Knitting Rules, “It's only knitting and it's one of the few times in your life when there are no bad consequences to a mistake.”

1. Choosing the Wrong Yarn or Knitting Needle

Choosing the wrong yarn or knitting needle is a disaster. Your project won’t turn out the way you wanted it to. So, the trick to correct this common knitting mistake is not cast on stitches as soon as you have the pattern, but carefully choose the knitting needles and yarn and work on a small swatch. If you find your stitches slipping or being too grabby, choose knitting needles and yarn material according to your requirement.

2. Not understanding your Gauge

Gauge is the count of stitches in a particular length of knitted fabric. Every pattern designer mentions the gauge and even if you follow the exact instructions, you may still have different results. It is because not all knitters stitch the same way. Some make tighter stitches while others have a very loose hand. A gauge swatch is very important for all your knitting projects and missing making one is a mistake. The gauge will indicate if you have the right knitting needle size, yarn weight and the overall look of the knitted fabric. It also helps you calculate the amount of yarn needed for the project.

3. The wrong cast on

The first step of every knitting project is to cast on stitches. There are many ways to cast stitches some require them to be stretchy and loose while some may require a constricted look. A common knitting mistake is working one cast-on method on all projects. This will only bring more problems to the project, ultimately making you want to rip out the stitches and begin again. To correct this, always use the appropriate cast-on method for your swatch. Or, work the cast on with knitting needles, a size or two bigger than the one you’ll be using for the pattern.

4. Too tight stitches

Common knitting mistakes, especially for beginners too tight stitches are a problem in every way. You will find it difficult to insert the knitting needle to make stitches or view them properly. This happens when you pull the yarn too tightly scared of dropping stitches or if the yarn is too slippery.

To correct this mistake, it is best you avoid it. Work with a bigger knitting needle size or a material such as stainless steel or metals. You can also play around with yarn tensioning.

5. Not keep a count of rows

Knitting is a game of counting but many times knitters do lose the count. It may be because they got busy chatting or somebody asked for them or they got lost in a complicated pattern such as colourwork or lace.

To correct this mistake you will have to unravel as the pattern will go awry. The trick to avoid this mistake is to use stitch markers at regular intervals. A row counter is also great to work with. There are options for row counters that fit on your knitting needles, clicky, row counter rings and more. Many knitters love the row counter rings, as they make beautiful jewelry and show your status as a proud knitter.

To conclude, besides these five common ones, there are many mistakes that you as a beginner might make but don’t take them harshly. Each mistake is a lesson and with time, you will get better. The key to avoiding common knitting mistakes is working with high-quality knitting needles and practice.