Quick fix: Count your stitches right now. If you have more than you cast on, work k2tog decreases on the next row at evenly spaced intervals until you're back to the correct count.
What you are seeing
Your knitting is gradually getting wider — the edges fan out or the piece is measurably wider than it should be. You may notice you're having to use more yarn than expected, or the piece no longer matches your pattern measurements.
Why it happens
- Accidental yarn overs when moving the yarn between knit and purl stitches
- Starting each row with the yarn in front, which wraps over the needle and adds a stitch
- Knitting into the bar between stitches rather than into actual stitch loops
- Tension loosening gradually over time, causing stitch size to grow even without extra stitches
Fix it now
- Count your current stitches and note the surplus.
- On the next row, work a paired decrease (k2tog) for each extra stitch, spaced evenly across the row.
- If tension is the issue rather than extra stitches: try using a needle 0.5mm smaller for a few rows to rein in the gauge.
- Count stitches every 10 rows going forward to catch any recurrence early.
Prevent it next time
- Before knitting the first stitch of each row, confirm the yarn is in the correct position — behind the work for knit rows.
- Count stitches every 6–10 rows. One minute of counting saves hours of ripping.
- Use stitch markers every 20 stitches so any increase is immediately visible as a mismatched section.