How to Change Colors of Yarn While Knitting

Use color in your knitting.

Knitters have many techniques to add color to their projects. Complex designs use Fair Isle and intarsia, but this requires planning and concentration. Or you can change colors at the edges of the project to make stripes that span the entire row of knitting. But if you find stripes too limiting, use this simple technique to change colors in the middle of a row.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn in two colors
• Knitting needles
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. Knit with the yarn A, the first color, to the point where you want to change colors of yarn.

2. Hold yarn A in one hand at the back of the work. With the other hand, loop the end of yarn B, the second color, around yarn A and tie a slip knot around it.

3. Slide the knot up to the knitting needles.

4. Begin knitting with yarn B. Cut yarn A, leaving an 8 inch tail on the wrong side of the work.

5. Undo the slip knot and use a duplicate stitch technique to weave in the ends when you have finished. To prevent a hole where the two colors meet, twist the stitches together before starting to weave in the ends.

Tips & Warnings

• Use this method when to change colors one time in a row. This is not the same as intarsia where there are multiple color changes on one row of knitting. You can also use this technique when knitting in the round.

References

• Knittinghelp.com: Knitting Tips, Joining New Yarn Color