The basic method: tying on new yarn mid-project

When your yarn runs out or you want to change color, you tie the new yarn directly to the working yarn using a weaver's knot (also called a square knot). This knot holds tight, lies flat enough to pass through stitches, and is the fastest way to keep knitting without breaking your rhythm. You tie it right at your needle, then continue knitting as if nothing happened.

The knot itself takes about 30 seconds. You make a loop with the old yarn, pass the new yarn through it, wrap, and pull tight. The tails get woven into the fabric later, so you don't have to hide them perfectly now. Most knitters use this method for color changes and yarn changes within the same project.

Key Takeaways

  • The weaver's knot is the standard way to join yarn mid-knit and works for both color changes and running out of yarn.
  • You tie the knot at your working needle, then knit the next stitch normally—the knot slides up and sits inside your fabric.
  • Leave 4- to 6-inch tails on both the old and new yarn so you can weave them in later with a tapestry needle.
  • If you're joining yarn at the edge of your work, you can use a Russian join instead, which requires no knot and no weaving.

Step-by-step: tying the weaver's knot

Hold the old yarn in your left hand and make a small loop, crossing the yarn over itself. The working end (the end attached to your stitches) should be on top. Now take the new yarn in your right hand and thread it through the loop from underneath, going left to right.

Wrap the new yarn around the base of the loop—go over the old yarn, under it, and back over it again. You've now made a small knot shape. Pull the working end of the old yarn and the working end of the new yarn in opposite directions. The knot tightens and sits flat. Trim the tails to about 4 to 6 inches each.

Slide the knot up to your working needle and knit the next stitch as normal. The knot will pass through the stitch and sit inside your fabric where it won't show. On the next row, you may see a small bump where the knot sits, but it disappears into the texture of the knit.

The Russian join: no knot, no weaving required

If you're joining yarn at the edge of your work (at the beginning of a row), the Russian join is faster and leaves no knot to hide. You thread the new yarn through a tapestry needle, then run the needle through the last 3 to 4 stitches of the old yarn, going in one end and out the other. Then you do the same thing in reverse with the old yarn threaded through the needle, running it through the new yarn.

The two yarns lock together without a knot. This method works best for joining at row edges because the stitches themselves hold the join in place. It doesn't work well mid-row because there's nothing to anchor it. The join is also invisible once you've knit a few rows past it.

The Russian join takes a bit more practice than the weaver's knot, but many knitters prefer it because there's no knot to weave in later. If you're changing colors at the edge of a project, this is worth learning.

Joining yarn when you run out mid-row

If your yarn runs out in the middle of a row, you have two choices: finish the row with a new ball of the same yarn (using the weaver's knot), or frog back to the beginning of the row and restart with new yarn. Most knitters choose to tie on and keep going because frogging wastes time and risks dropping stitches.

Tie the weaver's knot as described above, leaving tails, and knit to the end of the row. On the next row, you'll knit right past the knot. The bump it creates is small and usually blends into the fabric. If you're working on something where the join will be visible (like a thin, smooth yarn on a stockinette stitch), you might prefer to frog back and rejoin at the row edge using the Russian join instead.

Weaving in the tails after you're done

Once you've finished your project, you need to hide the yarn tails from the weaver's knot. Thread each tail (one at a time) through a tapestry needle and run it through the stitches of your finished fabric for about 2 inches, going in one direction. Then reverse direction and weave back through nearby stitches for another inch or so. This locks the tail in place so it won't pull out.

Trim the tail close to the fabric. If you wove it in properly, the end will disappear inside the knit and won't unravel. This is the same technique you'd use to weave in any loose end, whether it came from casting on, binding off, or joining yarn.

Joining yarn for color changes

When you're changing colors intentionally (like in a striped or patterned project), the weaver's knot works the same way. Tie the new color to the old color at your needle, knit the next stitch, and continue. The knot will sit inside your fabric just as it does when you run out of yarn.

Some knitters prefer to change colors at the edge of a row so the join is less visible. If you're planning a color change, you can knit to the end of the row with your current color, then tie on the new color at the start of the next row using the Russian join. This puts the join at the edge of your work where it's easier to hide later.

When to call in help

If you've never tied a weaver's knot before, it's worth watching a video demonstration—the motion is easier to learn by seeing it than by reading about it. Many knitting YouTube channels show the knot in real time, which takes the guesswork out of the hand positions and wrapping direction.

If your knot keeps coming undone or your yarn keeps splitting when you try to thread it through the needle, you may be using yarn that's too delicate for the weaver's knot. Very thin or fuzzy yarns sometimes work better with the Russian join instead. A local yarn shop can show you which method works best for your specific yarn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I tie a regular knot instead of a weaver's knot?

A regular knot (like tying your shoes) will work, but it's bulkier and harder to pass through stitches. The weaver's knot lies flatter and is less likely to create a visible lump in your finished fabric. If you're in a pinch, a regular knot will hold, but the weaver's knot is worth learning.

What if the knot comes undone while I'm knitting?

This usually means the knot wasn't pulled tight enough. Retie it, making sure both the old and new working yarns are pulled firmly in opposite directions. If it keeps happening with the same yarn, try the Russian join instead—some yarns slip more easily than others.

Do I have to weave in the tails, or can I just trim them?

If you trim them without weaving them in, they will unravel and pull out, especially with washing or wear. Always weave the tails in with a tapestry needle. It takes a few minutes per tail and makes the difference between a project that holds together and one that falls apart.

Can I join yarn in the middle of a stitch?

No—always tie on at the point where you're about to knit a new stitch, not in the middle of one. This gives the knot a clean place to sit and prevents it from getting caught or distorted as you knit.