FAQ...Mysterious extra stitches? Look Here!

[HumorMe]

Good morning! What I'm going to say might be what some of you have already said, but I'm not understanding you. So I'll give it a try anyway, and hope you can understand what I'm TRYING to say. Please forgive me if I'm just repeating what has already been said.

This is all new to me, too -- isn't it wonderful to have this great site to come to, for help??? -- and I've noticed what I'm doing that is picking up extra stitches.

When I knitted or purled a stitch, sometimes I wasn't sliding the old stitch (the one I was knitting into) entirely off the left needle, so it was sliding over to the right needle and looking like another stitch on there. Then when I got to the end of the row and turned and started back, there was that loop, looking like just another stitch and getting knitted into. Make any sense at all?

Okay, after my mistake-ridden house dishcloth, today I'm going to try the Petals dishcloth. I LOVE the incredibly helpful videos on this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jill A.]

The pad of my right hand index finger often gets sore, because I use it to help each knit stitch off the needle. When it gets to sore, I just use some gauze and tape (from the first aid kit) to make a little "pillow" of gauze held down with tape. It is enough of a buffer to keep the needle from hurting my fingertip.

[coffeegirl]

I'm a beginner too, well haven't knitted in 20 years but it's kinda like riding a bike, it was fairly easy to just pick up. Anyway I started a scarf with 4mm needles and feathers and I was picking up stitches left right and centre. Now my project is using 8mm needles and wool and I haven't picked up a single extra stitch. Large needles are great for beginners as is staying well away from yarn that's got too much fluff on it.

[daisygirl]

Only the first stitch is slipped. The last stitch is knit, so each edge is being worked every other row.

Ingrid you are freaking brilliant i've been struggling with figuring out how i'm getting one extra stitch on my lace pattern all night! now i know

thanks!

[MsBurlingame]

I've just started knitting and crocheting. I thought I was loosing my mind!!! I could not figure out how in the world I was getting extra stiches. Honesty, I still don't know , but at this point I'm just glad I'm not the only one. I'll have to really pay attention to see what I'm doing.

[bettym]

What a wonderful website. I, too am very new to knitting ( less than 1 week). I took a lesson at my local crafts store, but learned more on this website by myself! I thought I was the only one in creation with extra stitches, and now can't wait to try out all of your helpful hints. Thanks to everyone who answers question for all of us "novices". I am sure I will be back many, many times looking up answers as the problems arise!

[AuntRowa]

I haven't knitted for twenty years and wanted to start up again. It takes practise but its getting better. Trying a pattern for an afghan and have run into a stitch that I want to make sure I'm doing the right way. Its ( K,P,K ) all in next stitch. I've looked all over and can't find an example of what it should look like and how to do the stitch. Any feedback would be welcomed

[Ingrid]

I just noticed this post. To kpk into one stitch, knit, but don't slide it off. Bring the yarn forward between the needles and purl into the same stitch, again not sliding it off. Bring the yarn to the back and knit into the stitch again, then slide it off.

Hopefully you got it figured out by now, but in the future questions in the How-to sections get more immediate attention.

Welcome to the forum.

[AuntRowa]

Thanks

[knitnsoap]

You are probably picking up the wrong stich at the beginning of the row. When you finish one row and are ready to purl (or knit) back you have to check the stich and make sure you are only picking up the single strand of yarn on the needle. Very important.. you have know what you are looking at when knitting.