If your stitch count is one short, look below the working needle for a loose horizontal strand and a column of open loops. That can indicate a dropped stitch.
Place a locking marker near the area so it does not travel further while you assess it. For a simple stockinette fabric, a crochet hook can lift the stitch back through the ladder.
For lace or a complex texture, it is often kinder to your work to pause, secure the stitch, and ask for help before continuing.
