Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

How to Fix a Dropped Cast On Stitch

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I feel like if you knit long enough you’ll make every possible mistake that a knitter can make. And while it might feel like no one possibly could have done that same boneheaded thing you just did, I can guarantee you someone has done it before. And probably someone else has done it and written a blog post or made a video to show you how to fix it.

I don’t exactly remember how I managed to drop a cast on stitch, but I’m sure I was just pushing the stitches too far too fast on my needles and one of them fell off. I know it’s happened more than once.

If your cast on isn’t that long it’s not a huge deal to just rip it out and start over, but if your cast on is vast (especially if you’ve already knit most of your first row, too) you probably don’t want to use that option.

Patty Lyons is coming to out rescue, as she so often does, with a post over at Modern Daily Knitting explaining exactly how to pick up a cast on stitch you’ve dropped. This method works for a long tail cast on, which I feel like is what most people do most of the time so it should be pretty helpful to know this method.

Taking the time to understand what’s happening in a cast on or when working different stitches is super important to building your confidence as a knitter and a fixer of mistakes, because when you know what the yarn is doing it’s a lot easier to re-create that when you need to fix a mistake. And of course the closer we can get to what would be happening to the yarn if we were knitting normally, the less obvious the fix is going to be.

In this case if you take your time to do it right, it won’t be visible at all. How great is that?

[Photo via Modern Daily Knitting.]

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.