So I knit, and the first two scarfs I have started began with 20 stiches and ended with 40+.What is up??

Question

I begin and some how, I end up with much more stiches on my needle than I started with. A friend suggested that I am splitting the yarn some how, but that isn't the case-and accidentally wouldn't have doubled the amount of stiches that I have in the rows. I am baffled that somehow I managed to do this, any ideas of what is happening??

Answer 1

don't stress. This is a very common mistake especially when you're just beginning. It's hard to describe without being able to show you but basically you're picking up strands of wool that aren't actually stitches. Most likely the bits in between. Alternatively you may not be sliding the stitch you have worked off the needle. I know it's tedious but do some small practice square and count the stitches after each row. If you don't have the right number back track until you find the mistake. With practice it will become easier to spot them.

I hope that makes sense to you. Knitting is one of those things it's much easier to show people than to describe. Believe me though, any mistake you can possibly make with knitting, I've done it.

Answer 2

You're increasing as you're knitting. A common way to create an unintended increase is by doing a yarnover (wrapping the yarn around the needle) and knitting that yarnover on the next row. If you're doing this, you'll see holes in the scarf.

Another common way to increase without meaning to is by knitting 2 sts in one--typically this happens with the first stitch. Take a look at this blog entry. She shows how she mistakenly read the first stitch as 2.
http://www.anxiousdog.com/archives/knitting/introducing_lum.php

One thing you can do to keep count of your stitches with every row is add stitch markers every 5 stitches. You'll be able to see easily if you suddenly have 6 sts where there should be 5.

Answer 3

Look at your stitches--get them all lined up properly. Then pull your work around the needle a bit. You'll see that on the bottom of each stitch, the loop from the stitch you pulled off previously is there; if your work isn't pulled down on the needle properly, that loop will come over the needle and will look like two stitches instead of one. It's *very* easy to do that accidentally, and over the course or a number of rows it can indeed end up doubling your stitches. Just make sure when you start a new row that all the stitches on your nedle are indeed your working stitches and not the loops from last row's.

Answer 4

It's hard to say what you're doing wrong without sitting down with you and watching you. Perhaps you're yarning over and not realizing it, or maybe when you knit the stitch you're not removing the yarn from the left needle all the way and knitting into it twice. If you go to your local yarn store someone there might be able to tell you for sure if you show them how you knit and what you're doing.

Answer 5

i found the same thing happening and i dont have an answer the only way i stop myself adding stitches is counting every 2nd row to make sure ive not added any more even after 10 years of knitting im still adding stitches

Answer 6

you prefer to seek for KITCHENER stitch, no longer Kircher stitch. it somewhat is how knitters weave issues mutually to look seamless, like the underarms of circularly knit sweaters or sock feet, between different issues, alongside with scarves knit in 2 products. it somewhat is likewise properly-referred to as grafting. BTW, that crochet hook is a strong investment for a knitter, all knitters could understand some trouble-free crochet, yet those hooks are attainable for figuring out on up dropped stitches, too.

Answer 7

I just taught my best friend how to knit and her biggest problem is not always completely knitting the stitch. She wraps it but doesn't pull it off. This can add stitches, so you may want to check your stitches.