How to Avoid Holes When Changing Colors in Knitting?
When knitting a color project, seamless transitions into different colors are a must to give it a neat look. Holes and loose stitches are the worst nightmares, even for experienced knitters. Sometimes, it seems impossible to avoid creating holes while transitioning between different colors. Wondering how to avoid holes when changing colors in knitting?
First, you need to weave in the ends of the new color as you start knitting with it. Another way is to twist the new yarn with the old one to secure the new color and avoid creating holes.
When using the intarsia technique, twist and weave in the old and new yarns to make a seamless transition.
Let’s get into the details and find out how to prevent creating holes and make the color transitions seamless while knitting.
How Do You Knit without Holes?
No matter which color-changing technique you’re using, you can always end up creating unwanted holes between stitches while changing colors. Typically, it happens due to not following the knitting technique correctly and leaving loose ends.
Below are some effective methods of avoiding making holes or jogs-
Method One – Interlocking the Two Yarns
One common mistake that newbies make is to start the row with the new yarn while the old one is left behind. However, that’s not the right way to start a color pattern as it results in holes and increases the number of stitches.
To avoid this, you need to twist and interlock the old and new yarn together for the first few stitches. Here’s what you need to do –
Leave a 6″ tail of the old yarn when you’re done working with it. Don’t worry about the hanging thread, as you’ll be weaving it later into the fabric
As you start the new row with a new color, take the new yarn and create a basic overhand knot to twist or attach it around the old yarn
Now, start working with the new yarn with your regular stitches and finish the pattern as you wish
When you’re done, undo the knot first. After that, you can weave in the old yarn tail using a sharp needle
Method Two – Catch the Float and Weave
If weaving the ends doesn’t work for you, try this method instead. It works best when you’re working with multiple colors. However, when you’re weaving the float as you go, the old color will be visible on the wrong side of the fabric. Yet, this method is highly effective in preventing forming of holes while taking care of the long float.
For this method, follow the given steps-
When you’re about 5 stitches away from finishing knitting with the old yarn, take the new yarn and trap it between your needles and the old yarn. Pull the old yarn through the stitch while also pulling the new yarn through, securing it between the working yarn and the stitch
Once the new yarn is trapped, knit a stitch to wrap the new color around the old color clockwise once. Repeat the process for about 5 stitches
Now, pick up your new yarn and continue stitching just as regularly. If the old yarn has a tail, weave it into the fabric as you continue stitching with the new yarn
Method Three – Carry the Yarn
If you’re working with stripes or other color patterns, you can carry the yarn up the side of your work instead of cutting it and weaving it in the ends. It’s a great way to avoid creating holes and visible joints.
For this method to work, here’s what you need to do-
Simply drop the old color and start knitting with the new color, leaving a tail of about 6 inches. After that, carry the old color up the side of your work and knit a few stitches with the new color.
When you’re ready to switch back to the old color, pick the old yarn up and start knitting with it again. Carry the new yarn along in case you want to change the color again.
Method Four – Twist and Weave the Intarsia Pattern
When you’re creating patterns with multiple colors, intarsia knitting is the perfect technique to go for. To create a picture-perfect woven piece using this technique, you need to bring a change to the traditional method. Instead of only twisting the two yarns, we’ll weave in the old yarn to prevent holes.
Here’s how you can do it-
Hold the new yarn parallel to the working yarn, leaving a tail of about 6 inches or longer. When you’re ready to change color, you need to trap the new yarn. One stitch before changing color, insert your right needle into the next stitch as if to knit.
Place the new yarn over the right needle, between the working yarn and the right needle. Wrap the working yarn around the right needle as you normally would knit the stitch.
Pull the working yarn through the stitch while also pulling the new yarn through, trapping it between the working yarn and the stitch. Once the new yarn is trapped and secured, you need to twist the working and new yarn twice around each other.
For the next stitch, use the new yarn. Secure the joint by tugging on the tails. Proceed further following your regular pattern. Finally, instead of cutting the tails, weave them in using any method you prefer. You can use a tapestry needle to weave the tails diagonally through the fabric.
Can I Use the Same Techniques for Changing Colors in Knitting as I Would for Weaving?
Yes, a beginner’s guide to weaving can provide valuable techniques for changing colors in knitting. Both crafts involve working with different color yarns to create patterns and designs. Learning color-changing techniques in weaving can easily be applied to knitting projects, making it a versatile skill for craft enthusiasts.
Final Words
So, now you know how to avoid holes when changing colors in knitting. The trick is to avoid common mistakes such as not twisting the yarns, keeping loose tension, leaving long floats loosely, creating incomplete intarsia joins, etc.
Avoid these mistakes and choose any of the above-mentioned methods that best suit your project and knitting style. Each technique has its advantages and challenges, so it’s essential to practice and become comfortable with the method you choose.
