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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How to Fix Common Knitting Mistakes + Video Tutorial

February 15, 2023 Leave a Comment

Learn how to fix common knitting mistakes with a beginner-friendly video tutorial. Topics covered: laddering down, tinking, frogging, and picking up stitches.

In knitting, there are several common mistakes that you encounter. Newer knitters in particular (myself included!) often run into dropped stitches, working the wrong stitch, and split yarn. There are several ways to fix these problems, and all can be mastered with a bit of practice. Today, we’re going to define knitting vocabulary/slang related to fixing mistakes, as well as how to fix them. Tinking (un-knitting or knitting backwards), frogging, and picking up stitches; and where relevant, both continental and throwing knitting styles are demonstrated.

Scroll on for the video explaining & demonstrating each technique because there’s a good chance you didn’t grow up knowing what the heck “frogging your knitting” could possibly mean, let alone how to do it. (I didn’t know what tinking was until I’d been knitting for almost 20 years, so please do not feel bad if you’re new to these concepts!) I’m also including a section above the video with written definitions of the vocabularly/slang covered for quick reference.

Learn how to fix common knitting mistakes with a beginner-friendly video tutorial. Topics covered: laddering down, tinking, frogging, and picking up stitches.

Knitting Vocabulary Related to Fixing Mistakes

tinking – a.k.a. un-knitting or knitting backwards, this is when you pick out stitches, one by one, as though you’re knitting each stitch in reverse. The action looks almost like you recorded yourself knitting and then played it back in reverse. A funny name with a very straightforward concept behind it.

laddering down – You can see an example of laddering down in the picture below. Laddering down occurs when you’ve dropped a stitch and intentionally or accidentally pulled it down your work, undoing a vertical column of stitches. A visual comparison for this concept is a run in a pair of stockings.
Note: Ladders that have nothing to do with dropped stitches can also form in your knitting if your stitches are too far apart.

Learn how to fix common knitting mistakes with a beginner-friendly video tutorial. Topics covered: laddering down, tinking, frogging, and picking up stitches.

frogging – When you rip out your knitting, many stitches or even rows at a time, to remove a mistake and redo your knitting correctly.

dropped stitches – Loops (a.k.a. individual stitches) that have somehow come off of your knitting needle and not been worked. They are at risk for unraveling and laddering down.

Learn how to fix common knitting mistakes with a beginner-friendly video tutorial. Topics covered: laddering down, tinking, frogging, and picking up stitches.

How to Fix Common Knitting Mistakes

Probably my most-requested video, this tutorial was designed to be accessible for beginners as well as more seasoned knitters looking for a refresher.

Concepts Covered (in video order)

tinking/un-knitting: continental style
tinking/un-knitting: throwing style
laddering down
fixing incorrect stitches in stockinette stitch
frogging
correctly picking up stitches*
fixing a dropped stitch in stockinette stitch
fixing incorrect stitches in garter stitch

*For the purposes of this video, when we refer to picking up stitches, we’re talking about returning live stitches to our knitting needles, rather than picking up stitches from a bound off or selvage edge.

Learn how to fix common knitting mistakes with a beginner-friendly video tutorial. Topics covered: laddering down, tinking, frogging, and picking up stitches.

I hope you found this post & video helpful – let me know in the comments if there are more fixes or tutorials you’d like to see from Hands Occupied. :)

Learn how to fix common knitting mistakes with a beginner-friendly video tutorial. Topics covered: laddering down, tinking, frogging, and picking up stitches.

Filed Under: Knitting Tagged With: continental knitting, dropped stitch, fix knitting, frog, frogging, how to knit, Knitting, knitting mistakes, picking up stitches, stockinette stitch, throwing, tink, tinking, video tutorial, youtube

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
Spent time with family this weekend down South. Go Spent time with family this weekend down South. Got some stitching in & felt spring for a minute, which was lovely. ☀️ 
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I’ll be catching up on comments, etc. tomorrow. 
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#handsoccupied #travelknitting #planeknitting
Which way do you knit? Picking, throwing, Portugue Which way do you knit? Picking, throwing, Portuguese, Shetland… how about lever style? 
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Today on the blog, we’re defining & comparing the two most common knitting styles: continental and throwing. They’re each known by a few names, and odds are one of them really is your grandmother’s knitting style (if she’s a western knitter that is). There’s a new video to help demonstrate the differences too. Another good one to save & share! 😉 
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#handsoccupied #continentalknitting #englishknitting #americanknitting #howtoknit
This past weekend, my husband and I visited family This past weekend, my husband and I visited family out of state. Here’s what I packed to keep my hands occupied for the drive. 😉 
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I try my hardest to be realistic about how much knitting I’m going to get done vs. the effort of schlepping my WIP(s) and yarn around. I definitely almost brought double this amount of yarn, which would have been hilariously unnecessary for a weekend trip. Why am I like this? 😆 Do you also struggle with overpacking when it comes to crafts? 
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#handsoccupied #travelknitting #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
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