Help! Knitting disaster

luckycat99

Please help. I have been knitting a hat for my FIL for Xmas and whilst carrying it around in my backpack the needle has snapped in half with the knitting still on it!! I have tried to rescue the stitches and thread them back onto the pieces of the needle but I'm not sure if I've got them all. I've tried to search online but couldn't find any advice.

It has taken me ages to get this far with it and can't bear the thought of unravelling and starting again.

I would be very grateful for your help.

Thank you

Battybird

First, count your stitches. If there isn't as many stitches as you started with, you may have missed picking some stitches up.Look for a loose stitch, or a ladder (like when you ladder your tights.)

Go on youtube and type in "dropped knitting stitches"

Before you start knitting again, make sure that you haven't twisted the stitches when you had put them back on the needle. (you may have put some of the loops on back to front.) When you knit your next row, I'd check every stitch that you knit, looks like a flat knit stitch, and not twisted. If one is twisted, take the loop off the needle, gently pull the little bit of wool out, turn the loop the other way round, put back on the needle, and knit again.

(gosh, reading this back to myself, I know what I'm talking about, it's not double dutch at all.) :D:D

Sorry I have to go offline in a minute, but I'm sure another poster will help with any other questions.

glynisrose

What Battybird sed!! Also if you have dropped any stitches you can try recovering them with a crochet hook......

DigForVictory

If you can put it down, stable safe & flat, do that.
Get a brew.
Check YouTube for videos of how to pick up stitches (word it with detail?!)
Don't try to rush this recovery - move gently & if pinning the whole to a cushion helps & picking up each stitch slowly works, go for it!
All the best!

mtbbuxton

If I drop stitches or have to take my knitting back, I find it easier to use a smaller gauge knitting needle to do so e.g. if you were using 4mm needles, pick up your knitting with 3.25mm. You can then continue knitting with the correct size needle.

M x

sethsgran

I agree if possible lay it flat and use a crochet hook the pull the stitches back.

luckycat99

Thank you ladies. I followed your advice - including cuppa to steady my nerves. I hadn't lost any stitches and they are all now on a metal needle of same size and have just knitted a row. I think some may be twisted and I have a bit of thread loose (looks like dropped stitch but I have them all there so...??).

I can breathe now. Crikey!

Thanks again ladies!

Tenyearstogo

If you often carry knitting around, you might find circular needles better. Especially ones like knit pro where you can keep the stitches on a cable and cap it off.

Well done on the rescue!