I have been working on several projects lately that require different balls of yarn. Example: Weather or Knot Scarf.
I read people’s posts about weaving in ends on this and other projects (like fade cardis and shawls). Please don’t weave in ends! Please minimize your ends as you go! It will look better and save time. This video discusses how to eliminate ends on shawls and scarves that have no seam for hiding ends. I splice my cast on tail and I splice when I join a new color. I used this on my Comfort Fade Cardigan and had very few ends when I was done. It works well on fades because the color changes are meant to flow from one to the other.
On my weather scarf, you are supposed to slip the first stitch unless you join a new color – then you knit it. That means that the left edge is always slipped but the right edge isn’t. I slip every first stitch on both edges. I splice in the new color after slipping. I don’t care if there is a candy cane effect on my weather scarf as my colors blend quite well…that is until summer! My red and gold could be very “candy caney” (yes, I made up that word!!). If it’s too noticeable I will Russian join those colors. So far, I am into February and do not have a single end to weave in.
I have used this method on many different yarns, even cotton – both plied and unplied. Yes, I knit mostly with wool, but this works with superwash wool as well as regular. I have found very few instances where I could not make this work. If you can’t make it work, then you are no worse off than you were before!
Thank you. That was a very informative video. I also found it useful that you fumble a bit. I’ve tried doing the Russian join before and because I found it so awkward, I thought I wasn’t doing it right. So, if experts like you also fumble, I figure I’m on the right track and it will get easier with practice. Thanks again.
Comment by technikat — February 4, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
Thank you so much for the video, Susan. It pointed out several areas where I can improve what I’ve been doing, and your voice is so soothing!
Comment by Pru — February 4, 2019 @ 4:27 pm
This is a fabulous method…I had never heard of a Russian join before today. Thank you so very much for putting this together; it is much easier to watch than to have it explained in words only. You made my day!
Comment by Celeste — February 6, 2019 @ 7:08 pm
You are an inspiration.. clever, useful and easy to follow video.
Comment by Marlys — February 7, 2019 @ 6:49 pm
Thanks! I knit a lot of superwash yarns, which I didn’t think could be spliced. This is a game-changer! (Is it okay with you that I link to this post in my regular Monday knit-links post?)
Comment by kmkat — February 10, 2019 @ 4:29 pm
Is there a subscription list to follow your blog or a newsletter signup? I love what I am seeing. I am a slow knitter but knit some every day. I just downloaded a free one day baby hat. It is adorable. We just found out that my niece and hubby are expecting twins. Thought I’d knit a couple of them.
Comment by Karen monteith — February 16, 2019 @ 9:37 am