Thursday, January 05, 2006

Changing to a New Ball of Yarn

I have used a technique my knitting instructor showed me but still when I change to a new ball of yarn, I seem to have a tiny little hole and it is obivous where I changed. Can anyone describe for me how they do this?

I just start knitting with the new yarn. But for the first stitch, I use the new yarn wrapped around and knit with both strings for about three stiches. My teacher told me it was stronger this way (no knots) but still I have a little hole.

This is hard to verbalize I realize but maybe someone can tell me a better way??

Lisa

8 comments:

JustApril said...

I think you just need more tension on the new yarn. Also, give a little tug on the remainder tail from the old ball, that should help a little. Let me know if you have more trouble and I'll practice it and tell you what works for me.

YarnB said...

I have done both these things and still there seems to be a visible little hole. Maybe this is just the way it is? Are you using shine and have you started? Take a look where you changed yarns and tell me what you think. Thanks for any help April or anyone else... perhaps I am just being too picky?

JustApril said...

I haven't started mine, yet, I've just done it with other projects. I was using this method today on a test swatch for something else, but it was not knit in the round, and was on the edge of the piece. I'll try to work on the problem tomorrow, too and see what I come up with.

YarnB said...

thanks april, I was looking at mine a bit closer today again; i tried adusting both sides and still a little hole. i don't like it i must admit. i am going to bring it to my stitch n bitch meeting (hopefully next week) and see what they say.. i hate to ask the yarn store since i didn't use their yarn..

Anonymous said...

When I add a new ball of yarn, I tie the old and the new together on the backside, only until the project is finished.When I finish all my tails, I open the knot and finish it like all the other tails, except I go in the opposite direction with each tail,that erases the little hole. I tried to knit 3 stitches with the old and new yarn method, but I don't like it on thin yarn or where there is no pattern to hide the extra thickness o double stitching, It really shows with "Shine Yarn"

Anonymous said...

Whenever I join a new yarn, I wrap the new over the new and old tails for a few stitches. Then continue wraping over the new, and on the way back / next round (on circs) wrap over the old tail. That way there are no knots or lumps, and no ends to weave in later.

Tosh said...

Depending on the thickness of the yarn you can try the Russian join. I just learned this method and now I use it when I can't felt ends together. I found the tutorial at the Knitting Help website. No hole, no weaving, it is way cool.

YarnB said...

thanks for all the suggestions...i am definitely going to have to try something different on my next join because i don't like what I have done so far. I have never had this happen before..so it must be the smaller needles, finer stitch, etc. Going to go look up the Russian join now and I can try the other two as well. THANKS!