How to pick up a dropped purl stitch

Learn how to fix a dropped purl stitch in your knitting projects with this easy photo and video tutorial!

Dropped stitches are annoying enough, but what do you do if you drop a PURL stitch and you need to fix it?

In today’s example, I’m showing you how to fix a dropped purl stitch with a sample of stockinette stitch so that it’s easy to see what we’re doing. A dropped purl stitch is actually the opposite of a knit stitch. So theoretically, you can just turn the work around and fix it.

But what if you’re fixing dropped stitches in a stitch pattern like seed stitch, for example? Or what if you’re working with purl stitches on something small and knit in the round where you can’t turn it around? Then you definitely need to know how to fix a dropped purl stitch!

I mean, there’s no scenario where fixing dropped stitches in your knitting is enjoyable, but once you know how to do it, you won’t have to feel filled with dread the next time you drop a stitch.

So let’s get started!

A dropped purl stitch is the reverse of a dropped knit stitch, if you are able, you can completely turn your work around and fix the dropped stitch that way. This tutorial is for those times when you want to stay on the right side of your work and fix a dropped purl stitch.

Find the live stitch, it should be BEHIND the work

Insert a crochet hook through the live stitch from BACK to FRONT

Reach through and grab the lowest horizontal bar of yarn with the crochet hook

Pull that yarn through to the back, this is now the live stitch

Repeat steps 2 – 4 until you have used all of the loose horizontal bars of yarn and picked up all of the dropped stitches

Put the live stitch back on the left knitting needle

You have fixed your dropped purl stitch and can continue purling!

Watch the video to see this quick fix in action!

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $0

Notes

Watch the video to see how to fix a dropped purl stitch in action!

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Welcome to Little Red Window! I’m Cassie and I’m a former architect with degrees in architecture, preservation, art and art history who’s never met a craft or knitting project I didn’t like!