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A bowl containing ripped-out yarn from a knitting project, curled in characteristic ripples from being previously knitted

Keep on Track When Ripping

Mistakes happen! It's easy to lose track of the number of rows you've ripped. Here's a quick tip to keep things straight.

frogging mistakes ripping yarn

Yarn Spaghetti

I have a "rule":

  • If I discover a small mistake as I'm knitting, lI'll let it go (Depending on where it is)
    (Maybe I've missed a shaping instruction, I'll just catch up and ignore the mistake)

  • Mistake #2 will also get ignored (if it's not too noticeable)

    • BUT . . .

  • the 3rd boo-boo gets ripped.

  • If all 3 mistakes are bad enough, I'll start all over.

There have been lots of bowls of "yarn spaghetti" over the years
(as recently as this week).

Mistakes happen! Be prepared

Getting comfortable with ripping rows is essential for machine knitters. Have you ever been knitting and missed an increase or decrease instruction? Maybe a knot or a yarn slub slipped thru and is showing a few rows back. Time to rip!

But don't lose track of your row count.



Watch the video: Keeping track of row counts

Visit the Classroom: Fixing Mistakes

How about you? Do you let small boo-boo's slide? Have you had bowls of yarn spaghetti?

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5 COMMENTS
Cherie S
 Apr 30, 2023
This is a great idea-- using spare needles to keep count. I've been using a note pad. I have to say that most of my mistakes have been rip out ones, as I'm not really sure how to fix the little things without making them worse. As I rip out, I remind myself that it won't take too long to knit back and beyond my mistake, and I'll feel better about it when I'm finished my project.

Marie-Jo C
 Apr 30, 2023
It depends on the boo-boo! If it's too much work, I'll save time starting all over again..

Donna B
 Apr 25, 2023
I usually have to rip out a row or two with every project - it's tough trying to keep track of so many things going on while created on the machine! Row counter, pattern instructions, yarn traveling on the mast, electronics of the machine, and so on and so on and so on. Sometimes its harder than driving a car! BUT! It's all a learning curve and well worth it.

Pamela D
 Apr 25, 2023
I’m knitting my first project a cardigan so far I’ve had a rotten cast on edge, dropped stitches and struggled to re knit them but got there in the end, muddled which edge I should have been decreasing on, but apart from all that I’ve got a back and one front completed and the second front is at the decrease. I’m enjoying every moment of it and looking forward to the completed piece being done. I’ve learnt a hell of a lot.

Joy G
 Apr 25, 2023
It depends where they are... If they're at the back or near the sides I mainly ignore them... But if they are at the front I rip the rows!!!

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