• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sheep and Stitch

Knitted goodness made by you

  • About
  • Start Here
  • Patterns
  • How To Knit
  • Knitting Library
  • Blog

Knitting Library  >  Techniques

How to Join Yarn with the Spit Splice

Published on September 12, 2019 By Davina | May contain affiliate links (whats this?)

joining new yarn with spit splice

Balls of yarn aren’t endless. At some point, they run out.

When that happens, you’ll need to join a new ball of yarn to keep knitting.

Just as there are many roads to Rome, so too are there many ways to join yarn together.

The spit splice is one of those handy and slightly weird knitting hacks that seamlessly joins two strands of yarns together. The join is permanent and doesn’t require weaving in any yarn ends.

What makes it unusual is that it uses spit, as its namesake suggests, to get the job done.

In this post, I’ll show you step-by-step how to join yarn with the spit splice, along with some tips and tricks to help you get a perfect join.

What Yarns Work with the Spit Splice?

yarns that work with the spit splice

The spit splice works with animal fibres only. Meaning, wool, alpaca, mohair, camel and cashmere fibres can be joined beautifully.

yarns that won't work with the spit splice

On the other hand, synthetic and cellulose fibres will not work with the spit slice. So, if you’ve got acrylic, polyester, cotton, linen or flax yarns, you’ll need to find another joining method (like the Russian Join for example).

Advantages of the Spit Splice

Unlike a traditional join, which includes weaving in the ends of both the new and old yarns into the knitting, a spit splice is seamless.

Because both new and old strands of yarn are felted together, the join is very strong.

Lastly, a spit splice creates a neater join than the traditional method. Because there are no ends to weave in, there are also no ends that will poke out from the knitting.

Spit Splice Yarn Join Video Tutorial

For a step-by-step video tutorial of the spit splice, look no further than this video!

Step-by-Step Spit Splice Tutorial

1. Untwist the Yarns

untwisting yarn to join together

Untwist about 3 inches of each yarn strand. Loosen the plies on the yarn and slowly untwist them.

The yarn strands will look fluffy like crimped hair when they are un-plied.

2. Overlap the Yarns

two yarn strands that are unplied

Overlap the two strands of un-plied yarn.

3. Get Your Spit Involved

This is the potentially gross part. But I’ve got a couple options to make it less gross.

yarn that is being joined together with spit

a. Put the overlapped yarn strands in your mouth and slobber all over it, like a dog with a bone. Cover both un-plied strands with your saliva (Gross Factor: 5/5)

b. Place the overlapped yarn strands on a plate and spit on them, covering both strands (Gross Factor: 3.5/5)

c. Dab a bit of warm water all over the overlapped yarn strands. While water will work, I personally find that saliva provides a sturdier join (Gross Factor: 1/5)

4. Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Lay the overlapped yarns on your palm. Then lay your other palm over the yarn, sandwiching it between your hands.

With the two un-plied yarn strands sandwiched in your hands, begin rubbing your hands together vigorously.

Continue rubbing for 3-5 minutes or until the spit has dried.

The friction and heat will eventually felt the yarn strands together.

5. Unclasp Your Hands. Ta-da!

yarn that has been joined together by felting

After a few minutes, unclasp your hands and you’ll see that the strands are joined together. Hurrah! Such magic!

6. Trim Away the Furries

If you notice some furry or bumpy areas along the felted join, carefully use a pair of sharp scissors to trim them away.

In Conclusion, if you’ve got animal fibre yarns to join together, try the spit splice for a quick and easy join.

Now I’d like to hear from you:

Are you going to use the spit splice to join your yarn?

Will you use spit or water?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below.

instructions on how to join yarn with spit splice

Pin
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Tweet

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

You May Also Like:

how to join new yarn to knittingHow to Join a New Ball of Yarnyarn weight chartYarn Weight ChartHow to Dye Yarn with Food Coloring (Video and Best Tips!)

Reader Interactions

Comments 4

  1. Erica says

    May 1, 2021 at 11:58 am

    Hi Davina, in your photos in this article, you have the alpaca photo labelled as “acrylic”. Thanks for your helpful website and videos! The explanations are very clear and are easy to see in your videos. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  2. Jo Morris says

    September 28, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    I have been using the spit splice on an Aran pullover. I didn’t fray back 3″ though – probably more like 1-1/2 to 2 inches. Will that still hold? I tested each time by pulling the yarn to see if it would hold and it did, but now I’m afraid it might come undone over the years.
    Thanks, btw, for the clear description of the process.

    Reply
    • Davina says

      October 27, 2021 at 6:20 pm

      It really depends! I prefer a longer overlap because I’m anxious about unravelling. But if you do a tug and the join holds then it should be fine.

      Reply
  3. Bonnie Carroll says

    November 14, 2021 at 5:34 pm

    I used the spit and split method on a wool/acrylic yarn – worked great!

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Most Popular

  • 3 beginner knitting mistakes 3 Beginner Knitting Mistakes and How to Fix Them
  • how to knit a scarf for beginners How to Knit a Scarf for Beginners
  • egyptian knitting The History of Knitting Pt 1: Mysterious Origins

Categories

Footer

Navigate

  • About
  • How To Knit
  • Patterns
  • Blog

Support

  • Privacy and Affiliate Disclosure
  • Technical Support
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Instagram

Follow Us On Instagram

Pom pom pens make great last-minute gifts! If you’ve got scrap yarn and a glue gun, you can make these pens! They turn writing into a fun and playfulness exercise ✨ I’m gifting these pens to my nieces this holiday season. I think they’ll love it!  For more last-minute knit and yarn-related gift ideas check out the link in my profile!  #lastminutegifts #furrypen #diyfurrypen #diyfuzzypen #pompom #pompoms #knitgifts #knittedgifts #giftsfortweens #giftsforteens #knitting #yarn #yarnlove #yarnlovers #knitgift #giftideas #giftidea
This double stockinette stitch headband is super c This double stockinette stitch headband is super cosy and easy to knit!  🤓 Instructions:  Cast on an even number of stitches. (I cast on 36 sts for mine. Cast on more or less depending on the yarn you use and the width you’d like).  Row 1: *k1, slip 1 with yarn in front, then bring yarn to the back; repeat from * to end of row  Repeat Row 1 until headband fits around your head snugly.  Cast off in pattern  Seam together as shown in the video.  Weave in ends and wear with confidence!  To watch the full pattern tutorial, head to my YouTube channel and search for “Twisted Headbands” or go to this link: https://bit.ly/3DLiMWc  Yarn: @malabrigoyarn silky merino in color Mares 196
Needles: 4mm needles
Supplies from @lovecraftscom 
#knittingpattern #knitting #knitstagram #knittersgonnaknit #knitknitknit #freeknittingpattern #beginnerknitter
Let’s make a bobble! 🫧 In this demo I’m m Let’s make a bobble! 🫧  In this demo I’m making a 5-stitch bobble. But you can make a bobble of any size! Just knit into the stitch more or less times to make the bobble bigger or smaller.  🤓 Instructions:  Knit into front and back, front and back, and front of the stitch. 5 sts made.  Turn work to wrong side. Purl the 5 sts.  Turn work to right side. Sl2 sts knitwise, K1, pass 2 slipped sts over first stitch. Sl1 knitwise, K1, pass last 2 sts over remaining stitch. 1 stitch remains  To watch a detailed bobble demo, watch the baby bobble blanket tutorial in the link in the description. Happy knitting!  #bobble #bobbleknitting #knittersgonnaknit #knittinginspiration #knittingtutorial #bobblestitch #bobbles #showtimeknit #knittersofinstagram
The Baby Bobble Blanket is as fun to knit as it is The Baby Bobble Blanket is as fun to knit as it is to snuggle into ☺️  Sized for babies, but easily customisable for kids and adults 👶 👧 👵  Grab the free pattern in the profile link or at sheepandstitch.com  #knittingpattern #knittersgonnaknit #babyknits #babyknitting #babyknit #babyblanket #knittingtherapy #knitstagram
⭐️ New Pattern ⭐️ The Baby Bobble Blanket ⭐️ New Pattern ⭐️ The Baby Bobble Blanket is a beginner-friendly pattern for the tiny tot in your life!  Studded with big bobbles, it’s a delight to hold, snuggle and fall asleep with 😴  This pattern is sized for babies, but easily customisable for kids and adults. Grab the #freepattern and video tutorial in the profile link or at sheepandstitch.com  Yarn: 8 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Baby Pink from @lovecraftscom  #knitting #knittingpattern #knitstagram #babyblanket #babyknits #fallknits #knittersgonnaknit #knitknitknit #knitaddict #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration #handknit #handknits #babyknitting #babyknittingpatterns #bobblestitch #knitblanket
The Market Bag is so cute, practical and eco-frien The Market Bag is so cute, practical and eco-friendly 🍃 It’s a unique knit that’s perfect for all your grocery-toting needs!  I loved knitting this lacy dude. It’s so fun and satisfying, and it comes together very quickly because of the expansive lace 🕸  Grab the #freepattern and video tutorial in the link in the profile!  #knitting #marketbag #knitbag #knit #knittersgonnaknit #knitstagram #knitting #knitting_inspiration #knittinginspiration #knittingpattern #knittingpatterns

Search The Site

Stay in Touch

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

2023 Copyright © Sheep and Stitch Limited

Pin
Share
Tweet