Knitting Tutorial: How To Fix A Split Stitch With a Duplicate Stitch

Sometimes you'll find that you've split a stitch long after binding off when knitting. What's a knitter to do?  Re-knitting the whole item doesn't seem like a reasonable option, but don't worry, there's a much easier fix!

Step 1. Below you'll see a split stitch. This happens when you don't grab the whole strand when knitting a stitch. It'll create a bit of a hole in your knitting, but more importantly, this is a weak point in your knit fabric. If your item is going to get lots of wear (which we're sure it will!) this spot is the first place that's likely to get a hole in it. So prevent the hole from forming at all! Today we're going to show you how to duplicate stitch over your split stitch to reinforce the area and hide the split stitch. Step 2. First we'll show you in another color yarn. This fix is so invisible that if we demonstrate it with white yarn there won't be anything to see! Start by threading your tapestry needlewith yarn and poke your needle through from the wrong side at the base of the stitch that you wish to duplicate. With the duplicate stitch method you are embroidering over a stitch, duplicating the yarn and placing another stitch on top of the one that was knit. Step 3. Pull the yarn through the base of the stitch. Step 4. Thread the tapestry needle underneath the stitch above. Be sure to go under both sides of the stitch.Step 5. Pull the yarn through. You'll see that we've already duplicated the right side of the stitch.Step 6. Now thread the yarn through the same spot where you started your duplicate stitch—in the base of the stitch, and pull through to the wrong side.Step 7. Now you've duplicated your stitch! Now it's time to do it with the same color yarn as the swatch and cover up the split stitch.Step 8. Follow the same steps, place the needle from the wrong side through to the front at the base of the stitch. Step 9. Then work your needle underneath both sides of the stitch above, tracing the yarn with your needle. Step 10. Pull the yarn through and re-insert back into your original starting point at the base of the stitch. Step 11.  And Voila! There's no longer a hole in the knitting! Step 12. On the right is the duplicate stitch in yellow, and on the left in white. As you can tell the stitch in white is indistinguishable from the other stitches. Step 13. On the back you'll see there are some ends. Just weave these in through your work just like any other end. Do not cut without weaving them in! If you cut your ends without weaving them there won't be any friction to keep the yarn from falling out and exposing your split stitch again. 

The duplicate stitch is also used to make colorwork patterns, and can also be used to fix other common mistakes. If you're working fair isle and worked a stitch in blue that was supposed to be white, just duplicate stitch over the erroneous stitch with the correct color.

If you have one purl that should have been a knit in ribbing just duplicate stitch over it!

This is a great technique that can help you to troubleshoot lots of different problems in knitting. Happy knitting from your friends at AlpacaDirect.com!