Easier way to secure yarn ends!

[ravingcutie]

:idea: Does anyone else knit in their ends when changing colors or switching to a new skein? I just read how to do it here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/PATTtiptoe.html
(scroll down to where it talks about avoiding weaving in)

I didn't really get it from the description, so I just went ahead and "tried" it - it turned out to be very, very easy! I don't think that I will ever go back to weaving in if I can help it. (I know I can't totally avoid it.)

[pageta]

I've heard of the second method before, and I thought about trying it, but then I was concerned that it would affect my gauge in that area and you'd be able to tell I'd knit with two strands of yarn. Did that happen to you? Or am I somehow misunderstanding the directions?

[BethyM99]

I haven't tried it, but it doesn't sound like you're knitting with two strands... but rather just holding the one behind. It's not much diff than if you went back with the tapestry needle and weaved it in, you're just doing it as you go.

I wish I had read it about 3 months ago! I just finished an afghan for a wedding and I have to go weave in the ends... Wugherty!

[ravingcutie]

You don't actually knit it into the stitches. On the backside of every knit stitch, there is a bar (you know - the "purl bar" for lack of the correct term) You simply alternate pulling the end yarn either over or under that "purl bar" as you form the stitch. I'm pretty slow at it, I have to take the time to kind of wrap the end yarn over or under the yarn I'm knitting with and then pull the end yarn taught at the back (otherwise it pokes through to the front side of the work when I draw the yarn through to make my stitch). Essentially, your weaving in the end thread on the backside of the work - not knitting it in. My work was slightly - very slightly tighter for the 15 or so stitches that have the thread running behind.

I highly recommend just trying this out whenever you get the chance. It's much easier done than explained!

[chaos_pie]

yes...I do this method for weaving in ends. It is how you weave a color in during long "strands"in fair isle. This preven'ts long "floats".

How I do it is I carry my working yarn in my right hand. The "loose end" is carried in the left hand (like you you are going to knit it). Then for one stitch I "lift" the yarn with the left hand above the working yarn and then the loose end is carried below the next stitch as it is knit. I am not sure if that helped...but seeing how to weave in ends in fair isle may help.

It is very fast for me just like knitting.

[ravingcutie]

Great idea - now all I have to do is figure out how to carry my yarn in my right hand. I've never been very good @ that despite being right handed. I think it's because I crocheted before I learned to knit. :holy

(I just liked the random sheep....)

[chaos_pie]

yes....holding yarn in each hand is tricky. I figured it out because I wanted to do a fair isle sweater. I am usually a left handed knitter and knitting with my right hand felt very awkward.

[amyrobynne]

that's a great link--thanks! I liked the part dealing with uneven stripes, too.

[ravingcutie]

Yeah, I love those socks. But as we're about to start a project in the Knit-A-Long, and I have 2 soakers going, I figure I had better hold off...for now.

[pamelamama]

Wow, that is so cool! I avoided reading it because I thought it was knitting with two strands, but wow, it is NOT! :dig

xo pam