Juniper Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Crochet....no problem! Knitting....I fall apart. :glare: I cannot knit without dropping stitches. I am in the south so the few times I have tried was with huge needles and a bamboo yarn. I just wanted to make a large, airy, simple square. Because of the large needles, when I went to try and pick up the dropped stitch, it got all wonky and puckered. Any advice? How can I keep from dropping stitches? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Grab a crochet hook and grab the loop. If the stitch has gone down several rows, then use the crochet hook to reknit it up to the top row. Dropped stitches - avoid them by 1) paying attention while knitting 2) don't overcrowd your needles 3) when putting down the knitting make sure everything is in a good position and the knitting isn't getting jossled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Grab a crochet hook and grab the loop. If the stitch has gone down several rows, then use the crochet hook to reknit it up to the top row. Dropped stitches - avoid them by 1) paying attention while knitting 2) don't overcrowd your needles 3) when putting down the knitting make sure everything is in a good position and the knitting isn't getting jossled. :iagree: I think with practice, you'll be able to tell better when you do drop a stitch and you'll be more aware when you do (so you'll do it less). Just muscle through an easy project or 2 you aren't super attached to (like a scarf). I bet by the end, you'll be much better and once you pick up dropped stitches a few times, it gets easier too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Are you using metal needles? Bamboo yarn is slick and when combined with metal needles, the stitches can easily slip off. For me such a combination would make my hands cramp badly. Do you knit Continental or English style? I find I can control my stitches better knitting (tutorial linked). I keep the middle finger of my left hand on the top stitch of the left needle and my index finger of my right hand switches between resting on the top stitch on the right needle and pushing the left needle to get the stitch off it. Since I never "drop" my right needle there is less chance of dropping a stitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper Posted June 23, 2012 Author Share Posted June 23, 2012 (edited) Are you using metal needles? Bamboo yarn is slick and when combined with metal needles, the stitches can easily slip off. For me such a combination would make my hands cramp badly. Do you knit Continental or English style? I find I can control my stitches better knitting (tutorial linked). I keep the middle finger of my left hand on the top stitch of the left needle and my index finger of my right hand switches between resting on the top stitch on the right needle and pushing the left needle to get the stitch off it. Since I never "drop" my right needle there is less chance of dropping a stitch. Interesting! I was doing English I guess, but that looks fun! I was using large plastic needles. Edited June 23, 2012 by Juniper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Wooden needles are stickier. With practice picking up dropped stitches will become easy. Also, you can adjust the tension by pulling gently on the yarn as it goes through the knitted fabric in various places until it's even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Interesting! I was doing English I guess, but that looks fun! I was using large plastic needles. I have heard that many crocheters prefer Continental style because it's more comfortable holding the yarn in the left hand. It took me awhile to get the hang of Continental (I don't do it exactly as she does in the tutorial--I hold my fingers closer together as it's more comfortable for me). But now I love it! Good luck with your knitting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper Posted June 23, 2012 Author Share Posted June 23, 2012 I have heard that many crocheters prefer Continental style because it's more comfortable holding the yarn in the left hand. It took me awhile to get the hang of Continental (I don't do it exactly as she does in the tutorial--I hold my fingers closer together as it's more comfortable for me). But now I love it! Good luck with your knitting! I was just going to mention how similar it looked to crocheting! This is the first time I have even been a little enthused about knitting. The problem is that I really have some design ideas that need to be worked in both. There is a certain drape to knitting that cannot be done with crocheting. Thank you for sharing that link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I second the suggestions of practice, using less slick needles when using slick yarn, and learning to knit continental. I was a crocheter first, too, and my knitting skills really took off when I learned to knit continental. It's more comfortable, IMO, to knit with yarn in my left hand like I do when I crochet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I liked the continental knit and purl tutorials on knittinghelp.com, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 :iagree: I think with practice, you'll be able to tell better when you do drop a stitch and you'll be more aware when you do (so you'll do it less). Just muscle through an easy project or 2 you aren't super attached to (like a scarf). I bet by the end, you'll be much better and once you pick up dropped stitches a few times, it gets easier too. Yes, I agree. I had a terrible problem dropping and adding stitches when I first started. You might also do better with non-plastic needles. When I first started, I had some problems that were actually solved by using sharper needles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Knittinghelp.com and ravelry.com are my favorite go to places for videos. Usually if it isn't there, someone will direct me to one on youtube that will show me exactly what I want to know. You may want to experiment with different needles and yarns. I have sets of knitting needles in acrylic, metal, and wood. Depending on the yarn, I will switch needles. If you are wanting to do a simple square, look up dishcloth patterns. The cotton yarn is not so slippery (although it can be stiffer to knit with) and you can practice a large variety of stitches on something practical. Granny's Favorite is a simple, well loved pattern that many start when learning to stitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I am a knitting dropout. I can crochet anything, sew anything, but I don't know why I cannot knit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 The problem is that I really have some design ideas that need to be worked in both. There is a certain drape to knitting that cannot be done with crocheting. Thank you for sharing that link! Ooh, designing--that sounds exciting! Yes about the drape to knitting. The other time I've heard knitting is better than crochet is for socks--that a knit sock has more stretch and therefore fits better than a crochet sock. But each craft has its points and I'm glad I can do the basics of each. Are you familiar with the Crochet Dude, Drew Emborsky? I haven't looked at any of his patterns, but I've heard him in an interview where he talks about that problem of drape with crochet garments. He has a few designs for women's garments that over come the issues with drape and holey-ness that are typical with crochet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I am a knitting dropout. I can crochet anything, sew anything, but I don't know why I cannot knit. Like PP stated I would try continental knitting. It is more grabbing rather than wrapping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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