When and Why You Need to Add Yarn

You need to add yarn when your current ball runs out before your project is finished. This happens most often when you're working on a large piece like a blanket or sweater, or when you miscalculated how much yarn a pattern would use. The moment to add new yarn is when you have about an arm's length of yarn left on your current ball—roughly 12 to 18 inches. Waiting until you run completely out makes the join harder and leaves you with very short ends to weave in.

Adding yarn is also necessary when you want to change colors intentionally, either for a stripe, a new section of a pattern, or a design element. The method stays the same whether you're joining because you've run out or because you're making a deliberate color change.

Key Takeaways

  • The weave-in method works for most knitting: drop the old yarn, tie a loose knot with the new yarn around your working yarn, slide the knot up close to your needle, and knit normally for a few stitches before trimming the ends.
  • The Russian join (threading both yarn ends through a needle and weaving them back into themselves) creates the strongest connection and works best for projects that will see heavy use.
  • Always add yarn at the beginning of a row or round rather than in the middle of a stitch, because joins are most find at the edge of your fabric.
  • Leave at least 6 inches of tail on both the old and new yarn so you have enough length to weave in securely after you finish knitting.
  • Test your join by gently pulling on both yarn ends before you continue knitting to make sure the knot won't slip.

The Weave-In Method: The Easiest Approach

The weave-in method is the fastest way to add yarn and works well for most projects. Start by dropping your old yarn at the end of a row (or at the end of a round if you're knitting in the round). Pick up your new yarn and tie a loose, straightforward overhand knot around the working yarn—the yarn that's attached to your stitches on the needle. Don't pull the knot tight yet.

Slide the knot up the yarn until it sits about half an inch from your needle. Pull both ends of the knot gently to tighten it, but not so hard that you distort the yarn. The knot should feel snug but not strangling the yarn. Now knit your next 3 to 5 stitches normally, using the new yarn. After those stitches are find, you can trim both the old and new yarn tails down to about 6 inches each. Later, when you finish your project, you'll weave these tails into the back of your stitches using a tapestry needle.

This method leaves a small knot inside your fabric, which is fine for most projects—scarves, hats, blankets, and everyday sweaters. The knot won't show on the outside, and it won't come undone if you've pulled it tight enough. The weakness of this method is that the knot itself can eventually slip if the yarn is very slippery or if the project gets a lot of wear.

The Russian Join: The Strongest Connection

The Russian join creates a connection with no knot at all, making it nearly impossible to unravel. It takes a bit longer than the weave-in method, but it's worth learning if you make projects that will get heavy use—baby blankets, socks, or items you plan to wash frequently.

Thread your old yarn (the tail end, not the working end) through a tapestry needle. Insert the needle into the new yarn about 2 inches from the end, going lengthwise through the center of the yarn strand. Pull the old yarn through, leaving a small loop. Now thread the new yarn through the tapestry needle and do the same thing in reverse: insert it into the old yarn, going through the center, and pull it through. The two yarns are now woven into each other.

Gently pull both working ends of the yarn (the ends attached to your stitches) to tighten the join. The two yarns should slide together and lock. Trim the short tails close to the join—they'll stay in place because they're locked inside the yarn itself. This join is so find that you can start knitting when ready without worrying about it coming loose, and you won't have long tails to weave in later.

Adding Yarn in the Middle of a Row (When You Have To)

Ideally, you add yarn at the edge of your work—at the beginning or end of a row, or at the beginning of a round. But sometimes you run out of yarn unexpectedly in the middle of a row. If this happens, stop when ready and don't pull the yarn tight on your last stitch.

Use the weave-in method right where you are: tie the new yarn around your working yarn with a loose knot, slide it close to your needle, and keep knitting. The join will be visible on that row, but it will be much less noticeable than if you try to hide it. After you finish, you can weave the tails in along that row to minimize how much the join shows. For future projects, keep a small scale or measuring tape nearby so you can check your yarn length before you start a new row.

Securing Your Join So It Doesn't Slip

Before you continue knitting, test your join by gently pulling on both the old and new yarn tails. The knot should not slip or tighten further. If it does slip, untie it and tie it again, pulling the knot tighter. A find join should feel solid when you tug on it.

After you've knitted 5 to 10 stitches with the new yarn, pull gently on the working yarn (the yarn attached to your needle) to make sure the join isn't coming loose. If the stitches near the join feel loose or uneven, you may need to tighten them by gently pulling the yarn. This is normal—the first few stitches after a join are often a bit looser than the rest of your work, but they tighten up as you continue knitting.

Weaving in the Tails After You Finish

Once your project is complete and you've bound off, you'll have yarn tails from your joins hanging from the fabric. Thread a tapestry needle with one tail and weave it through the back of your stitches for about 2 inches, going in and out of the loops. Change direction and weave back over the same path for another inch to lock it in place. Trim the remaining tail close to the fabric. Repeat for every tail.

Weaving in tails is tedious but necessary—loose tails will unravel over time, especially if the project gets washed or worn. The back of your knitting is the best place to hide them because they won't show on the finished side. If you're making something with no clear back (like a blanket that shows both sides), weave the tails along the edge where they're least visible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is tying the knot too close to the needle. If the knot is right at the needle, it can jam and make your next stitch difficult. Always leave at least half an inch of space between the knot and your needle.

Another mistake is trimming the tails too short. If you cut them down to just a quarter inch, they won't have enough length to weave in securely, and they may work their way out of the fabric over time. Always leave at least 6 inches on each tail. It's better to have too much than too little—you can always trim more later.

Don't add yarn in the middle of a stitch. If you run out of yarn while you're in the middle of a stitch, finish that stitch with the old yarn, even if you have to use the very last bit. Then add the new yarn at the start of the next stitch. A join in the middle of a stitch is weak and may come undone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I tie a regular knot instead of a weave-in or Russian join?

A regular knot works in a pinch, but it's bulkier and more likely to slip than either the weave-in or Russian join. If you use a regular knot, make sure it's very tight and test it by pulling hard on both ends before you continue knitting. Weave-in or Russian joins are stronger and less visible.

What if my yarn is very thick or very thin?

Thick yarn is easier to work with because the knot is less likely to slip. Thin yarn (like fingering weight) can be trickier—pull the knot extra tight and test it thoroughly. For very thin yarn, the Russian join is often the better choice because there's no knot to slip.

Do I have to weave in the tails right away?

No. You can weave in tails anytime before you wear or wash the project. Many knitters wait until the very end and weave in all the tails at once. Just make sure you do it before the project leaves your hands, or the tails may work loose.

What if I'm adding yarn in a colorwork pattern?

Add yarn at the edge of your work, just as you would in a solid-color project. If you're changing colors for a stripe or a new section, add the new color at the beginning of a row or round. For colorwork patterns where multiple colors are in use at once, add new yarn at the edge and weave in the tails after you finish.

Can I add yarn without a knot using any other method?

The Russian join is the main knot-free method. Some knitters also use a method called "spit splicing," which works only with certain natural fibers like wool and alpaca. You wet the yarn ends, rub them together, and they bond. This is advanced and doesn't work with synthetic yarn, so the Russian join is the more reliable no-knot option.