How to Pick Up and Knit Stitches: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

Understanding the Basics of Picking Up and Knitting Stitches

Picking up and knitting stitches is a fundamental knitting technique. It allows you to add new sections to your existing project. This is useful for creating button bands, edgings, or even complex modular designs.

Many knitters find this technique intimidating at first. However, with a little practice, it becomes quite straightforward. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you understand each stage clearly.

What Does ‘Pick Up and Knit’ Actually Mean?

The term ‘pick up and knit’ can be a bit confusing. It’s important to distinguish it from simply ‘picking up’ stitches.

Pick Up: This involves inserting your needle into the edge of your fabric and creating loops on the needle *without* using yarn. It’s like preparing the stitches for a later step.
Pick Up and Knit: This means you’re not just creating loops. You’re actively knitting a new stitch as you pick it up, using yarn.

This guide focuses on ‘pick up and knit’, which is the more common technique.

Where Can You Pick Up Stitches?

You can pick up stitches in several places on your knitted fabric:

Cast-on or Bound-off Edge: This is a common place to add a border or edging.
Side Edge: Useful for adding button bands or vertical design elements.
Along an Angle or Curve: This is more challenging but essential for shaping and intricate designs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Picking Up and Knitting

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to pick up and knit stitches:

Prepare Your Yarn and Needle: Choose a yarn that matches or complements your project. Use a needle size appropriate for the yarn and the gauge you want to achieve.
Locate the Edge: Identify where you want to pick up stitches. Examine the edge carefully to see the structure of the knitted fabric.
Insert Your Needle: Insert the right-hand needle into the edge of the fabric, going under one or two strands of the existing stitch. This depends on the look you’re trying to achieve.
Wrap the Yarn: Wrap the working yarn around the needle as if you were knitting a regular stitch.
Pull Through a Loop: Pull the yarn through the loop you created on the edge. This forms a new stitch on your right-hand needle.
Repeat: Continue inserting the needle, wrapping the yarn, and pulling through loops until you have the desired number of stitches on your needle.

Joining Yarn: A Neat Trick

If your yarn isn’t already attached, here’s a handy trick for a clean start:

First Stitch: Leave a 3-4 inch tail of yarn. Wrap the unattached yarn around the right-hand needle and pull through to create the first stitch.
Second Stitch: When picking up and knitting the second stitch, wrap both ends of the yarn (the working yarn and the tail) around the needle.
Third Stitch: Drop the tail end and continue knitting with only the working yarn. This secures the yarn neatly.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Pick-Ups

Here are some tips to help you achieve professional-looking results:

Consistent Tension: Maintain even tension as you pick up stitches to avoid puckering or looseness.
Spacing: Pay attention to the spacing between stitches. Uneven spacing can create a jagged edge.
Counting: Accurately count the number of stitches you pick up. This is crucial for symmetrical results, especially for button bands.
Blocking: Blocking your finished project can help even out any minor imperfections in your picked-up stitches.

The Importance of ‘Pick Up and Knit’ Math

Sometimes, the number of rows and stitches don’t perfectly align. You’ll need to adjust how often you pick up a stitch to make it even. This is where ‘pick up and knit’ math comes in.

A common ratio is picking up 3 stitches for every 4 rows, or 2 stitches for every 3 rows. This depends on your gauge. To calculate the ratio, divide your stitch gauge by your row gauge.

For example, if your stitch gauge is 5 stitches per inch and your row gauge is 7 rows per inch, the ratio would be approximately 5/7. This means you’d pick up 5 stitches for every 7 rows.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some common problems and how to solve them:

Issue	Solution
Puckering	Loosen your tension slightly when picking up stitches.
Gaps or Holes	Ensure you’re picking up stitches close enough together. Try picking up an extra stitch in the problematic area.
Uneven Edge	Carefully count your stitches and adjust your spacing. Blocking can also help.

Advanced Techniques

Picking Up Multiple Stitches in One Stitch

Sometimes a pattern calls for picking up more than one stitch in the same stitch. This can be useful for creating increases or decorative effects.

To pick up 3 stitches in one stitch, pick up and knit one stitch, yarn over, then insert the needle back into the same stitch and pick up and knit one more stitch.

Picking Up and Purling

Instead of knitting, you can also pick up and purl stitches. Poke the tip of the needle through the edge from back to front, then wrap the yarn and complete the stitch as for a purl.

Conclusion

Picking up and knitting stitches is a versatile technique that opens up a world of possibilities in your knitting projects. By following these steps and practicing regularly, you’ll master this skill and create beautifully finished pieces. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you!