How to Add Skein Yarn When Knitting

To knit multicolored objects, you will have to add a skein of yarn.

As a beginning knitter, you might be able to get away with using a single skein to knit your first few projects. Eventually, however, you will want to know how to add a second skein to make a larger project, or how to change colors with a new skein of yarn. The process is fairly simple, especially with a little bit of planning.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Knitting needles
• Scissors
• Large-eye blunt needle

Instructions

1. Knit with your first skein of yarn until you are ready to change colors or you are about to run out of the first skein. The easiest place to add a new skein of yarn is at the beginning of a new row, so stop knitting at the end of a row when you have just a little yarn left.

2. Cut your working yarn so that you leave yourself a tail approximately 4 to 6 inches long. Pick up a working length of your new yarn, again leaving a 4- to 6-inch tail. Twist these two yarns together and knot them.

3. Pick up the working length of your new skein of yarn and continue with your knitting on the next row. Leave the two tails hanging for the time being.

4. When you finish your knitted item, go back to where you knotted the two yarn tails and untie the knot. Twist the two ends together if they came untwisted, and use a large-eye blunt needle to weave in your loose ends in the coordinated color of yarn on your garment. Weave your ends into the backs of the knitted stitches so that they will not show through on the front. Leave a short (1/2-inch) tail hanging down after weaving and cut any remaining yarn.

References

• Knitting Help: Knitting Tips; Joining Yarn