UP THE LADDER

Q

I’ve dropped a stitch several rows down. Is there a way to pick up the stitch again without unravelling my work?

Vanessa Souter, via email

To put this right, you’ll need a crochet hook or two. Use a small one (try 3mm) for fine yarns, and a large one (5.5mm) for thicker yarns. Remember to always work from the knit side of your work, whether you’ve dropped a knit or a purl stitch.

1 Knit up to the last stitch before the ‘ladder’. Look down the ladder to find the loop of the stitch. Insert the crochet hook from front to back through the loop of the dropped stitch. Use a hook smaller than your needles. 2 With the hook pointing up, insert it under the first ladder rung. These horizontal rungs correspond to the places where the vertical loops of your knitting usually are.

3 Pull the ladder rung through the loose stitch. Repeat until you’ve taken the stitch all the way back up. The further down your stitch was, the tighter the rungs will be, but try to get them through.

4 Now transfer the stitch from the crochet hook to your left-hand needle, without twisting it. Finish the row and you’re done! Don’t worry if the knitting looks a bit odd, the tension will work itself out.

Rachael