Learning how to pick up stitches in knitting is a fundamental technique that adds flexibility and structure to your projects. Whether you’re adding a neckline, sleeves, button band, or fixing a mistake, this method allows you to build new sections of fabric from existing edges. It’s used in both beginner and advanced patterns, giving your project a polished, seamless look.
In this guide, you’ll learn what it means to pick up stitches, when to do it, and exactly how to do it—step by step.
What Does “Pick Up Stitches” Mean in Knitting?
To pick up stitches means to use your knitting needle to draw new loops of yarn through the edge of a knitted piece, creating live stitches that can be worked just like those from a cast-on row. This is often done along straight or curved edges where additional knitting is needed.
When Do You Pick Up Stitches?
You’ll encounter this technique in many knitting projects, especially in the following scenarios:
- Adding collars or necklines
- Working sleeves on a seamless sweater
- Knitting button bands on cardigans
- Finishing borders or edgings
- Fixing dropped stitches or gaps
What You’ll Need
- Your knitting project with an edge where stitches need to be picked up
- A knitting needle in the same size or slightly smaller than your main needle
- Your working yarn
- (Optional) A crochet hook to help you pull the yarn through if it’s tight
Step-by-Step: How to Pick Up Stitches in Knitting
Step 1: Identify the Edge
Find the edge where you want to pick up stitches. You can pick up from cast-on/bind-off edges, sides of rows, or curved areas like necklines or armholes.
Step 2: Insert the Needle
Insert your needle from front to back through the edge stitch or space where you want to pick up.
For vertical edges (like the side of a sweater), go through the “V” or edge stitch from the side.
For horizontal edges (like a cast-on edge), go through the gap between stitches or the actual stitch loop.
Step 3: Wrap the Yarn
Wrap the working yarn around the tip of the needle, just as you would if you were knitting a stitch normally.
Step 4: Draw Through a Loop
Pull the loop of yarn through the fabric and onto your needle. You’ve now picked up one stitch.
Step 5: Repeat
Continue inserting, wrapping, and pulling through until you’ve picked up the required number of stitches across the edge.
Tips for Picking Up Stitches Evenly
- Use stitch markers to divide the edge into equal sections. This helps distribute your picked-up stitches evenly.
- The general rule of thumb for picking up along vertical edges is to pick up 3 stitches for every 4 rows, unless your pattern says otherwise.
- On horizontal edges, like cast-on or bind-off edges, you usually pick up one stitch per stitch.
- If using a crochet hook, you can pull loops through the edge and then transfer them onto your knitting needle afterward.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Twisted stitches: Make sure the stitch you pick up is not twisted. If it is, just remove it and try again.
- Loose loops: If your stitches look loose, try using a smaller needle to pick up, then switch back to the correct size afterward.
- Gaps or holes: Pick up into the body of a stitch (rather than a space between them) to avoid holes, especially in curved areas.
Practice Project: Pick Up and Knit a Simple Border
Want to get hands-on? Try this simple exercise:
- Knit a small square (e.g., 20 stitches by 20 rows).
- Bind off and then try to pick up stitches along one side.
- Knit a garter or ribbed border using the picked-up stitches.
It’s a great way to practice evenly spacing stitches and creating clean edges.
Why Picking Up Stitches Is Essential
Mastering how to pick up stitches in knitting means you can:
- Seamlessly add design elements
- Improve the fit and finish of garments
- Make corrections without ripping out large sections
- Expand your skills into advanced knitting patterns
Final Thoughts
Once you learn how to pick up stitches in knitting, you’ll find it unlocks countless creative options. From necklines and sleeves to borders and fixes, this technique makes your work look more professional and allows you to move confidently through more complex patterns. Practice on small swatches, follow your pattern’s instructions closely, and soon this will be one of the most useful tools in your knitting toolkit.