Finding an unexpected hole in your knitting is one of those moments that makes your heart sink. But fixing a hole in knitting is almost always achievable without ripping back — even when the hole has been sitting unnoticed for several rows.
Pro tip: The most common cause of mystery holes is an accidental yarn-over at the start of a row. When you move the yarn to the front to purl and then forget to move it back before knitting, the first stitch becomes an unintended yarn-over. Count your stitches at the start of each row to catch this early.
Step-by-step guide
- Identify the cause of the hole — look for a ladder of loose strands below (dropped stitch), a loop with no corresponding decrease (accidental yarn-over), or a gap at a join point.
- For a dropped-stitch hole: secure the live loop with a locking stitch marker and use a crochet hook to work back up through the ladders.
- For an accidental yarn-over hole caught on the same row: drop the extra loop off the needle without working it.
- For an accidental yarn-over hole found later: use a tapestry needle and matching yarn to duplicate stitch over the gap.
- For a yarn-join hole: thread a tapestry needle with one of the yarn tails and weave through the surrounding stitches in a figure-eight to close the gap.
- Block the repaired area by misting with water and smoothing flat.
Why holes appear in knitting — the main causes
Most holes in knitting have one of four causes: a dropped stitch that unravelled; an accidental yarn-over; a poorly joined yarn; or in lace, a misplaced yarn-over. Identifying the cause correctly tells you which repair method to use.
Closing an accidental yarn-over hole
If you catch the accidental yarn-over on the same row, drop it off the needle — the hole will close naturally. If it is a row or two back, you can often drop just that stitch, let it unravel back to the yarn-over, and re-work the column upward.
Fixing a hole from a yarn join or broken strand
Holes at yarn joins happen when the old yarn was not woven in securely. Thread one tail in a tapestry needle and work it in a figure-eight through the surrounding stitches, pulling gently to close the gap without distorting the fabric.
Preventing holes from accidental yarn-overs
The most reliable prevention is to be deliberate about yarn position at the start of every stitch. Before each knit stitch, confirm the yarn is at the back. Before each purl stitch, bring it to the front.