How to Switch Yarn Colors in Knitting
As a beginning knitter hones her skills, there will come a time a project requires changing yarn colors. Changing colors in knitting to create stripes or patterns should be done correctly to preserve the project's appearance and keep it from unraveling. A well-made join gives the knitting a polished, professional look. There is more than one way to create a strong join that is almost invisible.
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Instructions
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Weave
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1
Knit to the place where your pattern tells you to change colors. For creating stripes this will be at the end of a row.
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2
Cut the old color from the yarn ball leaving a 4 inch tail.
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3
Hold the new color and old color side by side in your right hand.
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4
Knit two stitches with the new color not with both strands.
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5
Drop the yarn tail and continue knitting with the new color.
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6
When the project is finished, weave in the tails.
Carry
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7
Knit up to where your pattern calls for a color change.
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8
Leave the old color yarn on the ball. Don't cut it.
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9
Hold the new and old colors together and begin knitting with the new color.
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10
Drop the old color after two or three stitches. As you knit with the new color, the old color will run up or be carried up the back of your project. When you are ready to return to that color, repeat the process and carry the other yarn color.
Russian Join
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11
Cut the old yarn away from the knitting but leave it attached to the ball.Thread a tapestry or yarn needle with the old yarn. Leave a tail about an inch long. Push the needle through an inch or two of the yarn at the opposite end from the tail, picking up pieces of yarn as you weave.
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12
Pull the needle through the yarn and then remove it. This will form a loop at one end of the yarn and a tail at the other end.
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13
Thread the new color through the tapestry needle and draw the needle through the loop in the first color.
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14
Weave the needle through the second piece of yarn, picking up bits of yarn as you go. Pull the yarn through itself just as you did with the first piece of yarn. The yarns are now joined at the loops.
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15
Tighten the join by pulling on one end of yarn and then the other.
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Tips & Warnings
Never cut the old color and simply knot it to the new color. This results in a bump in your fabric and a weak join that could result in the item unraveling.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit patterned handknitted jumper image by helen simpson from Fotolia.com
