Knitting mistakes are common, whether you are a beginner or an advanced maker. Circular knitting needles are everyday tools for many knitters. The ergonomic design allows is versatility by allowing to knit back and forth as well as in the round. While fatigue and stress on your wrists are cut by working with circulars, the scope of making mistakes is pretty much possible. To help you enjoy a smooth knitting experience, in this blog let’s take a look at the common knitting mistakes with circular needles and how to fix them.
So, whether you work with fixed or interchangeable circular needles for projects knit back and forth or in the round, mistakes are common. It may be a simple mistake such as twisted stitches, dropped stitches, gap at the join, etc. These can be easily fixed but if its mistake in choosing the right circular needle length then you need to start over. For example, if you cast on stitches for a 20-inch hat on a 24-inch needle length, your stitches will be stretched and the pattern won’t come out as intended. For the rest, you always have a fix.
Here’s a list of the common mistakes and how to fix them.
1. Twisted Stitches
A twisted stitch is basically a stitch that does not sit right on a knitting needle. If you notice that your stitches are twisted on the needle, you may have accidentally twisted your work when joining in the round.
Fix
To fix this, carefully unravel your work until you reach the twisted section, then untwist the stitches by flipping them in the correct direction. Make sure all the stitches are facing the same way before continuing. If you have too many twisted stitches in a row or round, you can work different options. You can drop the stitches to correct them and get them back right or you can tink (unknit) each stitch till you correct each stitch. Frogging is also a way to rip out stitches and work them right the next time.
2. Dropped Stitches
If you drop a stitch while knitting in the round, it can be a bit trickier to fix than when working flat. But then it is possible to pick them up in the same way as you would do for back and forth knitting. Even if you have forcibly dropped a stitch to correct a twisted stitch you can still fix the stitch the same way.
Fix
Use a repair hook, a crochet hook or a spare double-pointed needle to pick up the dropped stitch from the row below. Gently work the stitch back up to the current row, making sure not to twist it.
3. Gap at the Join
Though circular needles means working with a seamless length of needle, it's common to end up with a small gap or ladder between the needles when you are joining the round. There are many ways to join stitches in the round, it is always recommended to choose the least visible method.
Fix
Once you notice the gap at the join you need to find a fix. To avoid this, give the working yarn a slight tug when switching needles to tighten the stitches. If a gap still appears, you can use a finishing needle to weave in a small amount of yarn between the stitches to close the gap.
4. Wrong Number of Stitches
It's easy to accidentally add or subtract stitches when knitting in the round. If you realize you have the wrong number of stitches, you may need to unravel your work back to the mistake and fix it.
Fix
Work with stitch markers if you have a large number of stitches on hand. Or, as mentioned above find a way to get the right number of stitches by knitting decreases. If the mistake is minor, you can use the "knit-front-and-back" or "knit-two-together" techniques to increase or decrease stitches without unraveling.
5. Uneven Tension
Uneven tension can be more noticeable when using circular needles, especially if you're transitioning from straight needles. Pay attention to your tension as you work, making sure to keep it consistent throughout. If you notice a significant difference in tension, you might need to practice and adjust your technique.
Remember, practice and patience are key to becoming a proficient knitter. Don't be discouraged by mistakes—learning how to fix them will help you improve your skills and create beautiful projects.
With the Lantern Moon Collection work with premium ebony wood. The wood is one of the most expensive woods in the world that offers a smooth crafting experience. The premium knitting needles and crochet hooks enjoy a silk-like finish that aids yarn to flow. Handcrafted by skilled artisans, the entire range has a luxury feel to it. Even knitting accessories such as repair hook and finishing needles are made from ebony wood and have a smooth stitch flow.
No comments yet