Fixing Dropped Stitches in Stockinette

I had company in town so I didn't get much work done.  I'm continuing to work on the Yarn Tasting event.  A box arrived today from Shibui filled with gorgeous turquoise yarn.  I am going to try and stay ahead of this and start winding the yarn for the tasting so I don't have to stay up all night at the beginning of July.  Classic Elite has signed on and will provide two of my favorite yarns for the tasting.  This event will be just too much fun.

STUDENT NEWS
Former students...please let me know if you want the updated materials for your records.  I am happy to send you links.  Current students, please let me know if you want hard copies as well.  I won't send them unless asked.


TIP OF THE WEEK
For the next few weeks, I am going to discuss fixing mistakes.  The most important tip I can give any knitter is to LOOK AT YOUR WORK.  This may sound obvious but it really isn't.  I have noticed that the majority of knitters are so focused on the stitches on the needle that they never even bother to look down at their work.  If you can train yourself to do this every few rows, fixing a mistake is MUCH easier.  I also recommend standing back a few feet and then looking at your work.  You will notice things you just don't see looking at it closely, particularly when working cables.

This week I will discuss how to fix a dropped stitch in stockinette.  The photograph shows a dropped stitch on the RS of stockinette.  Depending on the yarn you are using, a dropped stitch can be hard to see but it can effect the overall tension of the piece.



Here is what it looks like on the WS.  If reverse stockinette is the RS of the work, this is really something you need to fix.  It is very noticeable.

To fix the stitch, you work to the column of stitches and undo that column so that it looks like ladders and then use a crochet hook to pick up the stitch and the stitches you undid.  The video shows this process:
Fixing a Dropped Stitch

Sometimes it is better to rip out the work than fix it.  When you pick up the dropped stitch, it will draw the yarn from the stitches on either side, making them smaller and creating a tension issue.  You can manipulate the surrounding stitches to fix this (as I show in the video) but sometimes it just doesn't look right.  The other thing to watch out for is not to twist the stitch.


KNITTING SALON
This week Salon will be on Sunday from 2-5pm.  I hope you can come.  I missed everyone last week.



CURRENT PROJECTS
I am now working on the sleeves of the tunic.  I finished the front and blocked it but since it looks EXACTLY like the back, I didn't bother to photograph it.  What photographs do not show is the absolutely fabulous drape of this fabric.  I am definitely making me one as well.  I should have the whole thing finished up by next week.  Since the digital version of Cast On will have links to videos, I am doing lots of videos for all of my projects now.  It is amazing how far the art of knitting has come in just a few years.