Quick fix: If you spot it on the same row, drop the yarn-over loop off the needle without working it. If you catch it later, tink or ladder down to remove it — the hole will close once the extra loop is gone.
What you are seeing
A small hole with an extra loop sitting above it on your needle. Your stitch count is one higher than expected, and the loop has no leg going down into the row below — just a horizontal strand across the gap.
Why it happens
- Yarn moves to the front before a knit stitch — the most common cause. The yarn drapes over the needle as you insert it, creating a new loop.
- Yarn moves over the needle when switching between purl and knit within a row — the yarn takes the long route around rather than the short one.
- Wrapping yarn around the needle accidentally when repositioning your hands or resuming work after a break.
Fix it now
- Identify the yarn over — it is the loop on your needle that has no stitch below it, only a horizontal strand bridging the gap.
- If it is on the current row: drop it off the needle without working it. The hole will close as the fabric relaxes.
- If it is one row back: tink (unknit) back to the yarn over, drop it off the needle, then re-work the stitches you just tinked.
- If it is several rows back: drop just the column of stitches containing the yarn over, unravel carefully down to the error row, then use a crochet hook to re-knit upward without the extra loop.
- Check that your stitch count is back to the correct number before continuing.
Prevent it next time
- Say "back before knit, front before purl" aloud each time you move the yarn — it slows you down just enough to catch the error.
- Slow down at colour changes or whenever you pick up work after a break — these are the highest-risk moments.
- Check stitch count at the end of every right-side row.