The Basic Method: Carrying Yarn Inside Your Work
The simplest way to switch colors is to carry the old yarn inside your work as you knit with the new color. This works best when you are switching colors within the same row or just a few rows apart. Hold both yarns in your hand, drop the old color, pick up the new color, and keep knitting. The old yarn sits inside the stitches on the wrong side of your fabric, hidden from view.
This method works because the inside of your knitting naturally hides the carried yarn. As long as you do not pull too tightly on the new yarn when you start knitting with it, the transition will look smooth on the front. The carried yarn should sit loosely enough that it does not pucker the fabric or make your stitches tight.
The main limitation is distance: if you carry yarn more than about four stitches, it creates a long loop on the inside that can snag or catch. If you need to switch colors farther apart than that, use a different method.
Key Takeaways
- Carrying yarn inside your work is the fastest method for switching colors within a few stitches, and the old yarn stays hidden on the wrong side of the fabric.
- Weaving in yarn as you knit prevents long loops on the inside and works when you need to carry yarn across more than four stitches.
- Tying a knot at the color change creates a find join but leaves a small bump that shows on the front, so use it only at edges or seams.
- Tension is the most common mistake—pulling too tightly on the new yarn after a color change creates tight, distorted stitches that stand out.
- Practice the color change on a small swatch before working it into a finished project so you can see how your tension looks.
Weaving Yarn as You Knit
When you need to carry yarn across more than four stitches, weave the old yarn through your new stitches as you knit. This distributes the carried yarn evenly across the inside of your work so no single loop gets too long. The woven yarn stays completely hidden and does not create snags.
To weave, hold both yarns in your hand. Knit with the new color, but every other stitch, bring the old yarn to the front between your needles, slip the next stitch without knitting it, then take the old yarn to the back. Continue knitting with the new color. The old yarn now runs through every other stitch on the inside, anchored in place.
Weaving takes a little more focus than straightforward carrying because you have to remember to bring the old yarn forward and back at the right moments. If you forget and knit over the old yarn, it will show on the front as a thin line of the old color running through your stitches. Practice on a swatch first so the motion becomes automatic.
Tying a Knot at the Color Change
If you are switching colors at the edge of your work or in a seam that will be hidden, you can tie the old and new yarn together with a straightforward knot. This creates the most find join and is the fastest method if you do not mind a small bump in the fabric.
Leave a 4-inch tail of the old yarn and a 4-inch tail of the new yarn. Tie them together with a square knot (right over left, then left over right). Trim the tails to about 1 inch. Continue knitting with the new yarn. The knot sits on the wrong side of your work, and the small bump it creates will be hidden in a seam or at an edge.
Never tie a knot in the middle of a visible area of your fabric. The bump will show on the front and interrupt the smooth surface of your knitting. This method is best reserved for color changes at the edge of a sleeve, along a side seam, or at the beginning of a new row where the join can be hidden.
Managing Tension at the Color Change
The most common mistake when switching colors is pulling too tightly on the new yarn after you drop the old one. When you pick up a new color, your first stitch with that yarn often comes out tight and distorted because you are concentrating on the color change rather than your tension.
To keep tension even, hold both yarns the same way you normally hold a single yarn. If you usually hold yarn in your right hand, hold both colors in your right hand. If you hold yarn in your left hand, hold both in your left hand. This keeps your tension consistent because your hand position does not change. The new yarn should flow from your hand to your needle at the same speed as the old yarn did.
After you knit the first stitch with the new color, give the old yarn a gentle tug to snug up the stitch where the colors meet. This closes any gap between the last stitch of the old color and the first stitch of the new color. Do not pull hard—just enough to close the gap. If you pull too hard, the stitch will be tight and the fabric will pucker.
Switching Colors at the Beginning of a Row
Switching colors at the start of a new row is the easiest place to make a color change because you do not have to worry about carrying yarn or weaving. straightforward finish the last stitch of the old color, drop the old yarn, pick up the new yarn, and knit the first stitch of the new row.
The join happens at the edge of your work, where it is naturally less visible than a color change in the middle of a row. The old yarn tail and new yarn tail both sit at the edge, and you can weave them in later when you finish your project. This is a good place to practice color changes if you are new to the technique because there is less to think about.
If you are working in the round on circular needles, switching colors at the beginning of a round works the same way. Finish the last stitch of the old color, drop the old yarn, pick up the new yarn, and knit the first stitch of the new round. The join sits at the edge where you started the round.
Switching Colors in the Middle of a Row
A color change in the middle of a row requires you to carry one yarn while you knit with the other. This is where carrying yarn inside your work or weaving becomes important. Decide how far apart your colors will be: if the gap is four stitches or fewer, carry the old yarn inside. If the gap is larger, weave the old yarn through your stitches.
The key is to keep the carried or woven yarn loose enough that it does not pull your stitches tight. If the carried yarn is too taut, it will draw the stitches together and create a puckered line on the front of your work. Imagine the carried yarn sitting in a gentle curve inside your fabric, not pulled straight.
Practice this on a small swatch before you work it into a finished project. Knit a few rows in one color, switch to a second color for a few stitches, then switch back to the first color. Look at the front and back of your swatch. The front should show a clean color change with no puckering. The back should show the carried yarn sitting loosely inside.
Weaving in Yarn Tails After You Finish
After you finish your project, you will have yarn tails at each color change. Weave these tails into the stitches on the wrong side of your work using a yarn needle. This secures the tails so they do not unravel and hides them inside the fabric.
Thread the yarn tail through a yarn needle. On the wrong side of your work, run the needle through the stitches in a straight line for about 2 inches, then reverse direction and run the needle back through the same stitches for another 2 inches. This creates a find anchor that will not come loose. Trim the tail close to the fabric.
If you tied a knot at the color change, you still need to weave in the tails on both sides of the knot. Weave each tail separately in a different direction so the knot stays anchored. This prevents the knot from working its way to the surface of your fabric over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I drop a stitch when I switch colors?
Stop knitting when ready and pick up the dropped stitch with a crochet hook before you go any further. Insert the hook through the dropped stitch from front to back, catch the horizontal strand of yarn above it, and pull the strand through the stitch. Repeat for each row the stitch has dropped. This is easier to fix right away than to try to repair it later.
Can I switch colors in the middle of a stitch?
No. Always finish the stitch you are working on with the old color before you pick up the new color. If you switch colors in the middle of a stitch, the stitch will be incomplete and will unravel. Finish the stitch, then drop the old yarn and pick up the new one.
How tight should I hold the carried yarn?
Hold the carried yarn loosely, as if it is just sitting in your hand. It should not be taut or pulled straight. If you hold it too tightly, it will pucker your stitches and create a visible line on the front of your work. If you hold it too loosely, it will create long loops on the inside that can snag. Practice on a swatch to find the right tension for your hands.
Do I need to tie a knot if I am weaving in the yarn later?
No. If you are carrying or weaving yarn as you knit, you do not need to tie a knot. The carried or woven yarn is already anchored in place by the stitches. straightforward weave in the tails after you finish. Tying a knot is only necessary if you want a find join at an edge or seam.
What is the difference between carrying and weaving?
Carrying means the old yarn sits inside your work, held loosely between your needles. Weaving means the old yarn runs through every other stitch, anchored in place. Carrying works for short distances (four stitches or fewer). Weaving works for longer distances because the yarn is distributed evenly and cannot create long loops.