Drop Stitch (abbreviated drop st)

Dropping or missing a stitch is not usually desirable in knitting as you don’t want to unintentionally lose a stitch. However, when used intentionally, drop stitches are decorative stitches that create openwork patterning in your fabric. Drop stitches are created by making an increase in a certain location, working several rows or rounds and then dropping the loop of the stitch off the needle and unraveling the stitch down to where it was first made. This creates a wide opening with horizontal bars of yarn crossing it.

Elongated stitches are a form of drop stitch as well. Elongated stitches use yarn overs that are then dropped on the next row to create extra-tall stitches.

Your pattern will direct you where to create an extra stitch. You will then work several rows or rounds as stated in the pattern. When indicated, work up to the point where the drop stitch is to occur, then remove the next stitch from the left-hand knitting needle. Allow the stitch to unravel down to the point where it was first made.