Q&A for How to Change Colors in Knitting

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Question

How many stitches should be in an inch?

Gregory Patrick
Knitting Specialist
Gregory Patrick is a knitter who runs the popular blog Madman Knitting. He is also the author of the book "Mad Man Knitting or The Waiter and the Fly". He has been knitting and writing about knitting for over 10 years.

Gregory Patrick

Knitting Specialist

Expert Answer

There's no universal answer for this—it really depends on the size of the yarn that you're using. For instance, a bulky yarn will have fewer stitches per inch than a finger-weight yarn will have. Tension is also a factor, which is why many patterns call for a swatch before you begin.

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Question

How do I hide the stray yarn?

Community Answer

Once you're done with the knitting project, use a tapestry needle (a large sewing needle works too) and sew in the loose ends. Make sure you sew them into the sides that correspond with their colors so that they become invisible.

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Question

How do I cast on 250 stitches to make vertical stripes for a blanket, with Color A having 10 stitches and Color B two stitches in between every 10 stitches?

Community Answer

Knit in the round, and this will be very easy. I expect the pattern you are using is giving instructions for kitting in the round. Different needles are used for this, and you can get "long" flexible ones that are made for this sort of thing.

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Question

My project has 5 colors of yarn. I don't think that I can carry 5 strands of yarn up the side. Any suggestions?

Community Answer

If it's in horizontal stripes, you might have to consider breaking the yarn after each stripe and just sewing in the ends after you finish your project. If not, you could try to carry one color at a time, depending on what would be most convenient for your pattern.

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Question

When stranding with three colors, why are my stitches tight?

Community Answer

Changing colors generally makes knitting much more difficult and often tighter. Try loosening up both your regular stitches and the yarn carried behind. If you have been making one of them too tight, the other will probably be affected and become tight as well.

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Question

My pattern reads change color s1. How do I do that?

Community Answer

Stop knitting with the current color and start knitting with the new color on the first stitch.

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Question

Can I cut the cotton and tie another cotton piece on it then start?

Community Answer

Yes. Make the knot as close as possible to the knitting to prevent the color change from being seen.

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Question

I need to knit 15, then change colors and knit 10, then go back to first color for the last 15. How do I do this?

Community Answer

Knit 15 stitches with the current color, then knit 10 with the other color, then the next 15 with the first color. If you want to make it so you can't see the tails of the yarn, then the easiest way to do that is to weave them into your project with a tapestry needle.

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Question

How do I change colors in the middle of a row?

Community Answer

You can't change the color of the wool in the middle of a row, you'll have to wait and finish the row you're doing before you can change it.

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Question

Jumper with change of color goes on angle underarm to neckline. Row 1 knit 2 contrast knit to end with main, row 2 purl to last 4 stitches main then contrast 4. Changing color leaves a hole, how can I fix?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Instead of knitting the stitch, make a twist on the stitch. When transitioning colors there is not enough tension to keep the stitches neat. Before knitting in the new color, do the following:slip the stitch from left to right, bring the right needle forward and insert left needle into slipped in the same direction as right needle, slide stitch onto left needle, and continue knitting the twisted stitch as normal. This may also help on the last transition stitch of the previous color.

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Question

I'm knitting a blanket that you knit color A 6 stitches, then color B 4 stitches, then color A 10 stitches across 156 stitches. How do I carry the different color yarns?

Community Answer

The only way to carry the yarn is to leave it attached and then continue using it in the pattern. However, if you don't want the back to look odd, you may want to cut the yarn.

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