How & Where to Join Yarn

There are three basic ways to join yarn together: tie a knot, start knitting with the new yarn, and double up the yarn. Which one you use when mostly comes down to personal preference. All three ways can be used at any point in the row. The tabs below discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. The best way to learn which technique is right for you or the situation is to play around with each.

Where should you join? If at all possible, the best place to join is the end but that's not always possible.

Placement What Happens
Beginning May be bumpy at the beginning
Middle May be bumpy in the middle
End Easiest place to hide the join

Tie a Knot
Start with new yarn
Double up
Video

This is a very simple method. Just tie a knot to join the end of the skein currently in use and the beginning of the next one.

Advantages

  • Tying a knot is very secure
  • It will not unravel during washing or wearing
  • This method can be used when switching colors

Disadvantages

  • The knot may poke through the front of the project and look tacky
  • Not suitable for some areas of the projects because of the bump it creates. For example, if the bump is on the bottom of a sock, or slipper it won't be very comfortable!
  • If you do not cut the end of the knot down short, you will need to weave both into your finished project using a tapestry needle.

With this method, you just starting knitting with the new yarn. The ends of both skeins will be left hanging in the back for you to go back and weave into the project with a tapestry needle at the end.

Advantages

  • It will never pop through like a knot will
  • Weaving in the ends can make the joining both secure and invisible, however it does take practice to learn to do a good job with this
  • This method can be used when switching colors

Disadvantages

  • This method is not as secure as tying a knot.
  • You will need to weave both into your finished project using a tapestry needle.

In the double-up method, you knit with both yarns for at least six stitches and then drop off the old skein and continue with the new skein. After you finish knitting with both, cut off the ends of the first skein short.

Advantages

  • You do not have to weave in ends

Disadvantages

  • This is not a feasible method to use with bulky and super bulky weight yarns. It will create too large of a bump.
  • This method cannot be used for switching colors.

Coming soon!