The two main ways to add color: carrying yarn and joining new yarn
You add a new color to your knitting by either carrying the old yarn along the edge of your work while you knit with the new color, or by joining the new yarn directly into a stitch. Carrying works best when you switch colors every few rows and plan to use both colors again soon. Joining works better when you are done with one color entirely or when the color change happens far apart — like every 20 rows or more.
The choice matters because carrying yarn creates bulk along your edge, while joining leaves a small knot that you will need to weave in later. Neither method is wrong; the right one depends on how often you are switching and what your finished piece will look like.
Key Takeaways
- Carrying yarn means holding both colors as you knit, letting the unused color run along the side of your work until you need it again.
- Joining yarn means tying or knotting a new color into place and starting fresh, best used when you will not return to the old color soon.
- Carrying works for stripes and patterns that repeat every few rows; joining works for large color blocks or one-time color changes.
- Weaving in loose ends is required for both methods, but joining creates more ends to hide than carrying does.
Carrying yarn for stripes and frequent color changes
To carry yarn, hold both the old color and the new color in your hands as you knit. Drop the old color and pick up the new one at the start of the row or round where you want the color to change. The old yarn now runs along the edge of your work, held loosely between stitches.
Keep the carried yarn loose — if you pull it tight, your edge will pucker and your piece will not lay flat. A good rule is to let the carried yarn sit about a quarter-inch away from the edge of your knitting. On the next row when you need the old color again, straightforward drop the new yarn and pick up the old one. The carried yarn is now ready to use.
This method works best for patterns that repeat every 2 to 10 rows, like horizontal stripes or straightforward two-color designs. If you are carrying yarn for more than about 10 rows without using it, the long float of unused yarn on the inside of your piece can snag on fingers or get caught when you wear the garment.
Joining yarn when you are switching colors for good
To join a new yarn, cut the old color, leaving a tail about 4 to 6 inches long. Tie the new color to the old tail using a straightforward knot — a square knot or overhand knot works fine. Pull the knot snug but not so tight that you distort the stitch.
Start knitting with the new color on the next stitch. The knot sits on the wrong side of your work (the inside), so it will not show. You will need to weave in both the old tail and the new tail later, but the join itself is complete and ready to knit.
Some knitters prefer to join yarn in the middle of a row rather than at the edge, because the knot is then hidden inside the fabric instead of sitting at the edge where it might be visible. To do this, straightforward knit until you run out of yarn, then tie on the new color and keep knitting in the same row.
Weaving in ends after you finish
Once your piece is done, you will have loose tails from every color change. Thread each tail onto a yarn needle — a blunt needle with a large eye — and weave the tail through the bumps on the back of your stitches for about 2 inches. This anchors the tail so it will not unravel when you wash or wear the piece.
Weave in one direction for an inch, then reverse direction and weave back over the same path for another inch. This creates friction and keeps the tail from slipping out. Trim the tail close to the fabric when you are done.
Stranding versus weaving: managing floats on the inside
When you carry yarn across multiple stitches, the unused yarn on the inside of your work is called a float. Short floats (under 5 stitches) are fine and will not cause problems. Long floats can snag, so you need to manage them.
The two main ways to manage long floats are stranding and weaving. Stranding means you straightforward let the float sit loose on the inside. Weaving means you catch the float under the working yarn every few stitches so it does not run long. Weaving takes more attention but prevents snagging on long color changes.
To weave a float, bring the carried yarn over the working yarn on one stitch, then under it on the next stitch, alternating as you go. This breaks up the float into shorter segments. It is most common in colorwork patterns like Fair Isle, where you are switching colors many times in a single row.
Choosing between carrying and joining based on your pattern
Look at your pattern or design and count how many rows you will knit before you use each color again. If the answer is fewer than 10 rows, carry the yarn. If the answer is more than 10 rows or "never again," join the yarn instead.
For horizontal stripes where you alternate colors every few rows, carrying is almost always the right choice. For large color blocks — like a sweater with a solid body and a contrasting stripe near the hem — joining is better because you will not use the first color again for many rows.
If you are unsure, carry the yarn. You can always trim it later if it bothers you, but you cannot undo a join without unraveling.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is pulling the carried yarn too tight. This makes your edge wavy and distorts the shape of your piece. Keep the carried yarn loose and let it sit a quarter-inch or so away from the edge as you knit.
The second mistake is carrying yarn for too many rows without weaving it in. If you carry the same yarn for 15 or 20 rows straight, the float on the inside becomes long enough to snag. Either weave it in as you go, or switch to joining the yarn instead.
The third mistake is tying knots that are too tight when you join yarn. A knot pulled too hard will distort the stitch and make that spot weak. Tie the knot snug enough that it will not slip, but not so tight that you can see the distortion in the fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I carry more than two colors at once?
Yes, but it becomes harder to manage. Holding three or four colors while you knit is awkward, and keeping all of them at the right tension takes practice. Most knitters carry two colors maximum and join a third if needed. If your pattern uses many colors, you may find it easier to join each new color rather than carry multiple yarns.
What if my carried yarn shows on the edge of my finished piece?
If the edge is visible in the final garment, you can hide it by seaming the edge closed, binding it with a contrasting color, or folding it to the inside. If the edge will be visible and you do not want to see the carried yarn, join the yarn instead of carrying it, even if you plan to use both colors again.
Do I have to weave in ends if I am making a blanket?
Technically no, but it is not recommended. Loose ends can unravel over time, especially if the blanket is washed or handled often. Weaving in ends takes time but makes your piece last longer and look more finished. If you truly do not want to weave ends, at least tie the tails in knots so they cannot slip out.
How do I join yarn in the middle of a row without a visible knot?
Tie the knot as usual, then knit the next stitch or two with both the old tail and the new yarn held together. This distributes the bulk of the knot across a few stitches instead of concentrating it in one spot, making it less visible. Trim the tails after you finish the piece.
What is the difference between joining and splicing yarn?
Joining means tying a knot. Splicing means splitting the plies of both yarns and twisting them together so there is no knot. Splicing is harder and works only with certain yarn types, but it creates a nearly invisible join. Most knitters use knots because they are faster and work with any yarn.