How to Fix a Dropped Stitch in a Flat Row of Tunisian Crochet (Advanced Tunisian Workshop Week 1)

Do you love Tunisian Crochet? If so, you know how common it is to drop stitches every once in a while and how frustrating that can be. For the first week in the 6-week-long Advanced Tunisian Crochet Workshop we are learning how to pick up those dropped stitches without having to frog all the way back to where you dropped them. Let’s learn how!

How to Fix a Dropped Stitch in Tunisian Crochet

Welcome to WEEK ONE of the Advanced Tunisian Crochet Workshop! In this workshop you will learn various next-level Tunisian tips and tricks, paired with various new crochet patterns specifically designed to grow these skills. If you love Tunisian, you will LOVE this workshop!

During the next 6 weeks we will learn how to fix a dropped stitch when working in flat rows, how to change colors in a multitude of ways, how to Tunisian crochet in the round, how to fix dropped stitches when working in the round, various ways to increase, to decrease, and more.

So I’ve got good news and bad news…

The bad news is that if you know and love Tunisian crochet, you have certainly come across dropped stitches at some point along the way. The knee-jerk reaction is to rip out everything you’ve got up to that missed stitch and redo it. I know I’ve done it.

The good news is that this is NOT the only way! Not only that, but it is actually super easy to pick up those dropped stitches without having to frog anything. YES! 🙌For today’s workshop we will start with a small square of Tunisian Crochet. This can be ANY stitch you like, but for tutorial purposes I am using Tunisian Simple Stitch. A pattern for a 6″ TSS square is included below.

As I mentioned in the introductory “Continuing the CAL” post here, I am making a baby blanket with my 6″ squares. I plan to make enough squares using the different techniques outlined throughout this 6-week workshop, so I will make a total of 25 squares. This includes solid squares like we’re making today as well as various color changing techniques we’ll learn in future weeks. Once we compile them and add the border, the blanket will be ~30″ square. The next size up would need 36 squares, for an overall finished measurement of ~41″ square.

Of course, you can simply use scrap yarn and learn the techniques without making all 25 or 36 squares… but what’s the fun in that? Ha!

Now about those dropped stitches…

About Dropped Tunisian Crochet Stitches:

Dropped stitches usually happen in the return (backward) pass of Tunisian Crochet.

Stitches are dropped when the hook gets a bit twisted, or the yarn doesn’t get completely hooked, or somehow the loop does not get created.

How to Pick Up Dropped Tunisian Stitches:

We’ve all been there. Happily crocheting along in the backward pass and BAM all of the sudden you’ve got several missed stitches and panic sets in. First things first…

Stay calm. Don’t move.

Now you’ve got two things to consider: are those dropped loops salvageable or unsalvageable ?

1. Salvageable means that all dropped loops are still present and fully formed – or enough so that you can simply (and CAREFULLY) reinsert the hook in all of the dropped loops.

Tips: Do not create tension on ANY part of ANY of the loops as you reinsert the hook through them as the next loop will simply come undone. Don’t worry though… if this does happen you’ll be able to fix them using method #2.

If you are able to successfully pick up those dropped loops by simply reinserting your hook it is important to make sure that all of the loops are oriented the same direction and not twisted. See what I mean in the video tutorial below.

2. Unsalvageable means that the loops have been so distorted or pulled that there is no hope of simply picking them back up with the hook.

Honestly, this method is almost easier than the first.

To fix unsalvageable dropped stitches, leave the hook where it is. First you’ll pull the working side of loop from the return pass large and leave it there. We’ll grab it here in a second.

Rip out as many stitches as needed, back to where the hook is.

Use the hook to re-crochet those stitches back into action. Tip: Stay on the loose side when redoing those stitches. You can always “settle” them if needed, or let them work out in the wash.

Once you have picked up all of the dropped stitches, reinsert the hook in the return pass loop (the one that you pulled large a second ago) and pull back down to size.

Be careful not to pull that previous chain of the backward pass too tight. See what I mean in the video below.

Resume crocheting!

Try it out with this small square pattern. I’m using Worsted Weight Yarn with an 8mm hook…

Tunisian Simple Square:

Row 1: Ch-20, pull up a loop in each ch to end. Backward Pass. (20)

Rows 2 – 16: TSS in each st to end, Edge Stitch (ES). Backward Pass. (20)

Slip stitch across to fasten off and weave in all ends.

Tunisian Flat Row Dropped Stitch VIDEO Tutorial:

If you would rather watch this video on YouTube you can find that on my channel here. Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there. 😉

Isn’t it funny how it is so hard to intentionally drop stitches, but it seems to happen naturally just fine?

If you, too, plan to make a bunch of squares to compile for a baby blanket, feel free to go ahead and make several in each of the (4) colors we discussed in the materials post here. We will have a decent amount of color changing square patterns (and of course we can change up the color sequences to make modified multiples if needed) but you will still need at least 3 – 4 solid colored squares of each color to get to the 25 or 36 total squares required. I’m using these as quick little filler projects. Easy peasy!

Stay tuned for NEXT week when we learn various methods, tips, and techniques for changing colors in Tunisian Crochet. Can’t wait!