What is a Twisted Stitch? What Does it Look Like?
And How Do I Fix it?

There are two types of twisted stitches, the kind you make by accident - a knitting mistake, and the kind that you create on purpose.  

Actually, there are some beautiful knitting stitch patterns where you're twisting stitches. Like the Twisted Stockinette stitch pattern.

However this page is all about fixing a knitting mistake, a stitch that is on your needle backwards.  And this page is mainly pictures so that you will truly know what a twisted knit stitch looks like.

Most times these stitches were twisted because they fell off your needle and in a panic you put them all back on before they started unraveling. Phew that was close.  And I know how you feel because I've done it.

Great job for getting them all back on!

View of A Twisted Stitch on the Needle

Twisted Stitch

You'll notice that when you have a twisted knit stitch on your needle a couple of the stitches won't be sitting quite right. 

You see when one stitch is on backwards (the little trouble maker) it also makes it's neighbors a little off center as well. 

Normal Knit Stitch and Twisted Knit Stitch

Twisted Stitch

This is a normal stitch.  It is a simple loop that narrows as it goes through the stitch below it. 

The two legs of the stitch sit beside each other at the narrow opening but they never cross over each other.

Twisted stitch

This is a twisted knit stitch. It doesn't even sit properly on the needles because it's twisted.

It crosses at the bottom as it goes through the stitch below. 

Here's a Way to See the Stitches as You're Knitting

View knitting normal knit stitch

Twisted Stitch - untwisted view

When you knit into a normal stitch the needle will go through the front leg and open up the stitch just like in the photo.  It will also feel smooth as you knit it.

View trying to knit twisted stitch

Twisted Stitch

When you knit into a twisted stitch it doesn't open but actually crosses at the bottom kind of forming an 'X' like in this picture. 

It will also feel much tighter.

Whenever I have a stitch that suddenly feels tighter than the rest, I double check to see if it somehow got twisted.

And Finally A Twisted Stitch In A Knitted Item

Twisted Stitch

If you were to ignore it like I have done before, tisk, tisk, it will look like this in your knitting. 

It just doesn't look right does it?  

A twisted stitch just looks awkward and breaks up the flow of the stitches. 

Sometimes it may be a little bigger than the normal ones or they may be tighter and it breaks up the symmetry of the knitting.  Over time it may even develop into a hole because the stitches around it are displaced also.

How To Fix A Twisted Stitch?

Twisted Stitch

Simple, just knit into the back loop and that will untwist the stitch, OR

Twisted Stitch

You can simply take the twisted stitch off the needle, untwist it and...

Twisted Stitch

Slip it back on the right way.  Easy peasy.

The easy part is fixing it.  Knowing what a twisted stitch is, is half the battle. That's why I wanted to show you lots of pictures.  Now you shouldn't have any trouble finding it when it happens.

Happy Knitting!

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