I’m interested in how everyone deals with their yarn ends, especially when marling and making color changes mid row? Any tips for keep those little ends from popping out?
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If you are using 100% wool definitely spit splice. Otherwise I’m in the same boat.
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Good idea. I’m using all super wash for easy care of a blanket so not sure if that will work?
I’m a big fan of the “weavin Stephen” used and published by Stephen West. I generally use this method to get rid of the yarn ends as I’m knitting, introducing a new skein or something mid row. There is a quick YouTube video just look up Stephen West and “weavin Stephen”.
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Yes me too! That’s what I usually do, was wondering if there’s any other words of wisdom out there. I’ll probably stick with Weavin Stephen.
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Weavin’ Stephen technique sends the yarn along only one row of the knitting. Great for temporary holding, poor for long-term stability. Yes, I just did the West MKAL and had reason to try it. To really lock yarn in place, it has to change direction at least three times. Knitting the overlapping ends together for four stitches will do this, and you can then just snip the ends an eighth-inch away from the fabric, and you are done. This works for even SW wool, and leaves no DNA samples.
The downside is it’s not totally invisible in non-wool yarns or more open stitches. However, marls are already two threads together and will easily disguise the overlapping 4 stitches of three yarns quite well.
The ultimate answer is the old yarn needle and fishhook or diagonal weave in with the three changes of direction. Overlap then drop is faster, less hand motions than weavin’ Stephen.
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I’ve seen people asking this on the Marlalong thread too, and maybe I’m doing something wrong but I haven’t been weaving my ends in at all because when you switch colors you knit the first six stitches with all three colors, and I believe that means you don’t have to do any additional weaving in right? Maybe I’m wrong about this though, would love others input on this.
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You are right…knit all three, drop the extra, clip later or right then, as you prefer.
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I knit the samples and used the ‘knit 3 strands’ technique (I was a little skeptical) and couldn’t be happier with the results.
In general, I weave ends in with a duplicate stitch.
Happy Knitting!
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Absolutely agree. No offense to Stephen, but this technique has been around a very long time (although his renaming it is very cute). It’s easy to do but not always the best. Plus there will be always be an area with double thickness which may throw off the pattern/gauge. Additionally weaving in ends this way isn’t always sturdy and will pull out eventually. I’ve found that splicing ends together as mentioned by another poster or splitting the yarn ends then duplicate stitching them in the back works very well. Find many great tips by searching under “ends” at TECHknitter’s site (TECHknitter: SUBJECT INDEX).
After completing this step do leave about 2-3 inches, wash and block and cut the end at an angle about a half inch. This ensures the ends don’t pop out after their bath. (The angle is just my quirk as it seems to blend in with the yarn twist better than a straight edge.)
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I love using the Russian Join when changing skeins. Jen actually did a post on changing colors when marling, and she did another post on using the Russian Join when changing colors.
I don’t know how helpful these are as I’ve never marled.