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Knitting Library  >  Techniques

How to Join a New Ball of Yarn

Published on December 19, 2018 By Davina | May contain affiliate links (whats this?)

Balls of yarn aren’t limitless – they run out! At some point you’ll need to join a new ball of yarn to your knitting.

Here are two ways to do it, including my favourite, stealth way. Never tie a knot to join again!

Join a New Ball of Yarn Video Tutorial

 

So, you might be wondering, what do you have against knots? Why can’t I just tie a knot to join my new ball of yarn?

The answer is this: even the tightest knots can unravel! So, knots are generally not “safe”. Knots can also make their way to the front of the knitting, marring your beautiful stitches. Not cute!

So, that’s why I’m introducing these two methods for joining new yarn.

Method 1: Drop and Join

Method One involves dropping the old yarn, while leaving a 6″ tail, and then picking up the new yarn. Continue knitting with the new yarn as if there was no yarn break at all. Use a tapestry needle to weave in the loose yarn tails and close the gap between new and old yarn.

Leave a 6″ yarn tail on old yarn and new yarn to be joined
Lay new yarn beside old yarn, with the yarn tails facing the back of knitting
Pick up the new yarn and knit the rest of your row…
… like so. Keep the new yarn tail anchored with your left hand.
You’ll notice a giant hole where you joined the new yarn.
Use a tapestry needle to weave in ends, pulling the hole closed.

Method 2: A United Join

Method two involves leaving around 10″ of old yarn. Lay the new yarn across the needle, so that its yarn tail sticks out at the front of the knitting. Then hold both the old and new yarn together as if they were one big yarn strand.

Knit three stitches with the joined yarns. Let go of the old yarn, pick up the new yarn and continue knitting with the new yarn. When you’ve finished your project, weave in the old and new yarn strands.

Leave around 10″ of old yarn
Lay new yarn across needle, so that its yarn tail sticks out at the front
Grab old and new yarns together. Imagine they’ve joined to become one big yarn strand
Holding both old & new yarns, knit the next 3 stitches
Drop old yarn and continue knitting with new yarn. Later, weave in yarn strands

And that’s two ways to join a new ball of yarn to your knitting! Personally, I like method two because I find that the tension is more even across the new and old yarns. But both methods will work just fine.

If the photo guides above are a bit confusing, check out the video tutorial up top to see both methods in action.

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Category: Techniques / Subcategory: Joining Yarn, Subcategory: Yarn-Related

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Reader Interactions

Comments 11

  1. Gina Mcguffey says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:21 am

    I am new to knitting so I need to learn everything from start to to finish like even dropping stitches and tieing on other yarn

    Reply
    • Davina says

      June 10, 2019 at 7:26 pm

      Welcome to the wonderful world of knitting! I hope this site can help you out on your knitting journey!

      Reply
    • Linda says

      November 29, 2021 at 1:05 pm

      Hi Davina,
      Your tutorials are fantastic. Thank you for helping me learn how to knit with confidence.

      Reply
    • Jane Kelly says

      December 31, 2021 at 7:57 am

      I am using a chunky, yarn with a lot of acrylic in it. It’s a good quality yarn and I didn’t realize when I bought it. I’ve never knitted with acrylic. It’s very slippery, and now I need to join a new skein. Will this join stay safely bound together using this method?

      Reply
  2. Dikla says

    July 27, 2019 at 3:02 pm

    Hello! Im new to knitting (too…) and your site is exciting! Thank you!
    Do these methods for joining a new ball of yarn also suit to switching colours of yarn when knitting a colourful scarf (for example)?

    Reply
  3. Abby T. says

    July 28, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    This is so great ty so much. I don’t knit but really want to. Last week I went to Michael’s twice and walked out. I felt so intimidated. you really put me at ease. tomorrow I’m buying knitting needles and yarn. I’m eager to knit.

    Reply
  4. banafsheh says

    January 10, 2021 at 8:09 pm

    then what to do with the dangling pieces in second method?

    Reply
    • Davina says

      January 20, 2021 at 10:48 pm

      You can weave them into the knitting with a tapestry needle

      Reply
  5. Sangeetha Basker says

    January 24, 2021 at 2:36 pm

    Hi Davina!

    Am new to knitting. Your step by step videos were very easy to follow. Thanks to your videos, I am almost done with my first scarf!!!!! So thank you….

    Btw do you teach crocheting also?

    Reply
  6. Cherie Henderson says

    November 5, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    I love your site! Your videos are so easy to follow and you make it fun!
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  7. Molly says

    February 26, 2022 at 11:37 am

    How do you switch to a different color when knitting

    Reply

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