- Home
- Knitting Instructions
- Twisted Stitch
What Is A Twisted Stitch?
What Does It Look Like? And How Do I Fix It?
There are two types of twisted stitches, the kind you make by accident - a knitting mistake, and the kind that you create on purpose.
Actually, there are some beautiful knitting stitch patterns where you're twisting stitches. Like the Twisted Stockinette stitch pattern.
However this page is all about fixing a knitting mistake, a stitch that is on your needle backwards.
And this page is mainly pictures so that you will truly know what a twisted knit stitch looks like.
Most times these stitches were twisted because they fell off your needle and in a panic you put them all back on before they started unraveling.
Phew that was close. And I know how you feel because I've done it. A lot! :)
Great job for getting them all back on!
Here's A Twisted Stitch On A Straight Knitting Needle
You'll notice that when you have a twisted knit stitch on your needle a couple of the stitches won't be sitting quite right.
You see when one stitch is on backwards (the little trouble maker) it also makes it's neighbors a little off center as well.
Normal Knit Stitch and Twisted Knit Stitch
This is a normal knit stitch. It's just a loop that narrows as it goes through the stitch below it.
See how the two legs of the stitch sit beside each other at the narrow opening but they never cross over each other.
This is a twisted knit stitch. It doesn't sit properly on the needle because it's twisted. And see how it crosses at the bottom as it goes through the stitch below.
Here's a Way to See the Stitches as You're Knitting
What knitting a normal knit stitch look like
When you knit into a normal stitch the needle will go through the front leg and open up the stitch just like in the photo. It will also feel smooth as you knit it.
What knitting a twisted knit stitch look like
When you knit into a twisted stitch it doesn't open but actually crosses at the bottom kind of forming an 'X' like in this picture.
It will also feel much tighter.
Whenever I have a stitch that suddenly feels tighter than the rest, I double check to see if it somehow got twisted.
And finally...
A Twisted Knit Stitch In A Knitted Item
If you were to ignore it like I have done before, tisk, tisk, it will look like this in your knitting.
It just doesn't look right does it?
A twisted stitch just looks awkward and breaks up the flow of the stitches.
Sometimes it may be a little bigger than the normal ones or they may be tighter and it breaks up the symmetry of the knitting.
Over time it may even develop into a hole because the stitches around it are displaced also.
How To Fix A Twisted Stitch
Simple, just knit into the back loop and that will untwist the stitch, OR
You can simply take the twisted stitch off the needle, untwist it and...
Slip it back on the right way. Easy peasy.
The easy part is fixing it. Knowing what a twisted stitch is, is half the battle. That's why I wanted to show you lots of pictures.
Now you shouldn't have any trouble finding it when it happens.
Happy Knitting!
Like This Page? Please Share it
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you make a purchase through one of my links I may receive a small commission. This will not affect the purchase price and you will not pay more when you buy through my link.
Copyright © 2011 - 2024 by Vickie Danielsen All Rights Reserved
Please don't copy the content of this site. It is Copyscape protected
