Changing yarn color or starting a new ball of yarn is a common technique in knitting. It allows you to introduce new colors for stripes, colorwork, or simply to continue knitting when a ball runs out.
Basic Method for Changing Yarn
The most common way to change yarn involves simply joining the new yarn at the point where you want the change to occur and continuing to knit with it.
Here’s a general approach:
- Work to the change point: Knit or purl to the end of the row where you want the new color to begin, or to the specific stitch within a row if instructed by a pattern.
- Introduce the new yarn: Hold the new yarn parallel to the old yarn, leaving a tail of a few inches for weaving in later.
- Begin knitting with the new yarn: Knit the first stitch (or the next stitch) with the new yarn, dropping the old yarn behind your work.
- Continue knitting: Proceed to knit the rest of the row or project section using only the new yarn.
As shown in the provided reference:
And we just knit through and there is that one new white yarn color and we are no longer using the pink. And we have a white tail. And we just continue knitting all the way down the row.
This describes switching from a pink yarn to a white yarn, knitting the first stitch with the white yarn, leaving the pink yarn behind, and then continuing to knit the entire row with the new white yarn.
Tips for Managing Yarn Changes
- Leave Tails: Always leave yarn tails of sufficient length (at least 4-6 inches) for weaving in neatly later.
- Secure the Join: While simply knitting with the new yarn works, some knitters prefer to twist the old and new yarns together for a stitch or two or tie a temporary slip knot close to the work (to be removed and tails woven in later) for added security, especially with slippery fibers.
- Consistency: Try to make your yarn changes consistently, ideally at the edge of the fabric if possible, as this can make weaving in ends easier and less visible.
- Weaving in Ends: After you've knit a few rows with the new yarn, go back and weave the tails into the back of your work using a darning needle. This secures the join and prevents unraveling.
Understanding how to properly change yarn ensures smooth transitions between colors and helps maintain the structural integrity and appearance of your knitted fabric.
