How to Switch Between Two Different Yarns When Knitting
The technique of knitting large sections of different colors across knitted fabric is called intarsia. A new ball of yarn is used for each color change. Fair Isle knitting also involves color changes, but with this technique, the color changes from different intricate patterns, are often close together, and you carry the colors across the back of the work for small distances rather than change to a new ball. The same method to start a new color is used for both techniques.
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Instructions
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1
Knit until you come to the stitch where you want to change colors.
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2
Insert your needle into the next stitch, then instead of wrapping the old color around the needle to complete the stitch, wrap the new colors instead.
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3
Pass the strand of old color over the top of the new color to cross them. This prevents a hole from forming at the color change stitch.
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4
Grab both the strand of new yarn and its tail and hold them together as you knit the next three stitches. This both captures the old strand of yarn within the new stitch and it weaves the tail of the new yarn in for a few stitches.
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5
Repeat steps 1 to 4 for each color change if you are working a pattern in intarsia, which uses a new ball of yarn for each color change, and cut the old strand of yarn approximately 6 inches from the color change.
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Do not cut the first color yarn if you are knitting a Fair Isle pattern because you will probably need it a few stitches later. When you need the first color again, drop the second color, then pick up the first color from the back of the work, passing it beneath the old color, and continue knitting.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are working a striped pattern and changing color every few knitted rows, you can carry the second color up the edge of the fabric rather than cutting and restarting it each time. This will leave you with less ends to weave in when you are done.
When working Fair Isle patterns or those with frequent color changes where you carry the yarn across the back, avoid pulling the stitch too tightly at the color change. This may cause the fabric to pucker.
