It took me some trial and error, but I figured out how to change colors. Once I did, I was able to make a bag for my projects only having to weave in the first tail and the last. I changed colors every row for 25 rows of that bag and I only weaved in two tails!
Now, I'm using it on a blanket. Here's what to do:
1) Crochet (and complete) to the last stitch in your current color.
2) Snip the yarn right where it is on your hook. This makes certain that you only have the amount of your current color that you need before the color change. Put your hook aside.
3) Pull out one or two of your stitches to give you yarn to work with.
4) Join the new yarn to the end of your current color, making certain that the knot of your current color is as close to the end as possible. I can generally work it so that I only have about a half an inch of excess.
5) Complete your knot, snip off the ends.
6) Reinsert your hook and crochet back the stitches you took out. The new color should come up right at the point you want it to start!
I'm not worried about that speck of white on the side, because I'm planning on including a border. However, I've learned that you can pull your stitches back out, readjust your tension and crochet the stitches again to make that knot completely hidden by your stitches.
I absolutely love the Double Knot method and I hope you find this method of joining colors helpful!
This is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Dawn! Make sure to watch Jane's video. It really helps getting the technique down for tying the knots.
DeleteTip from my mom: place a tiny dot of fray check liquid on the knot and let dry....glued for posterity!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteAlso if you are worried for any reason your knot will come undone. Tie a square knot and it will not come undone for any reason. Learned this on the paper machine and use it now crocheting
ReplyDeleteI have a blanket I made for my son who is almost 21 yrs old now. It has been washed oh so many times, still the same vibrant color of teal and black as the day I made it and NOTHING has ever come undone. Crochet on!
ReplyDeleteI hesitate doing things that require a color change. This makes it so much easier. No worries at all about it coming undone, I've done the knot using the same color and haven't had any problems.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer! I'm fairly new to crochet and need all the help I can get :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Lori! Make sure to watch Jane's video. The key to this is the tying of the knots and the cutting of the yarn. That is what secures it.
DeleteI already use the double knot but never thought of using it the way you demonstrate. Great tip, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs with Pigtails, I use this method as well, but I don't do it the same way as demonstrated. I always leave a little extra yarn because I make tons of mistakes that sometimes I have to untie and unravel several rows down. I've done it a few times where it was very close to the last stitch but because I made a mistake I had too short of yarn to work with. Your method requires a perfected technique and confidence both of which I don't currently possess. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand, Maria. I did a bunch of swatches with different stitches to make sure I could get this to work before I tried it on something that was important to me. I hope you find it helpful!
DeleteI hate to doing big/multicoloured items as I hate all the ends I need to deal with. Especially as perfectionist, I hate when I can see ends etc. This should solve the problem!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I just recently discovered Jane's magic knot method and loved using it with a solid piece I was working on. I just started a granny stripe afghan and wondered if/how I might use that method when changing colors but couldn't figure it out. There you are... and right on time! Seriously, I'm very grateful!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I could help! I figured it out because I was working on Moogly's Loopy Love Blanket. It was masterful for that! Enjoy!
Delete*mind blown
ReplyDeleteI am confused cause the way this shows to tie the know and the way the video shows to tie the know is 2 different things, and she says in the video if not done right the knot will fail.......
ReplyDeleteHi, Barbara, I've tied the two knots the same way Jane did in her video. I do tie the current yarn first because I want to make sure that I am able to control the length of the end of the yarn. She leaves quite a tail for both knots, but that is because she is joining the same colors. Since this method is joining two colors, we need to have more control over how much yarn we discard from the yarn we are ending. I hope this clarifies a bit more!
DeleteI also hate joining ends. I recently learned the Russian Join. Here's a link http://www.knittinganyway.com/freethings/russianjoin.htm. You can also find it on youtube. It's super easy & gives invisible joins. It's more for continuing in the same color, or if you are using free form multi colors. I love it!
ReplyDeleteJennifer!!! THANK YOU! This is fantastic. I've just shared Jane's video and your tut with the group of ladies with whom I knit and crochet (for charity). Bless you. This is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I am so happy you found this helpful! Seriously, this has changed my crocheting! Enjoy!
DeleteMuy interesante. Gracias.
ReplyDeleteCarmen
THANK YOU! I have been so afraid to try this, but you make it look so easy and what a wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteI am currently working on the lacy trellis blanket on got from your website. Going to practice this double knot method. Wish me luck and thank you for the great idea.
ReplyDeleteI just found this and it has totally changed how I will crochet! As much as I love the look of projects that have many colors I have always avoided them because of how much I dislike weaving in ends. I can't thank you enough!!! I have already tried this and it is perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that this method is working for you! It has completely changed my world, too!
DeleteI know some yarns are more slippery than others and this isn't the best for some types. For instance, I tried it with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and it was too slippery. I'm considering a blanket using 75% cotton/25% acrylic and wonder what your thoughts are about this one? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi, Dorothy,
DeleteI've used it with all of my yarns and never had an issue. The key has always been pulling as tightly as possible.
Jennifer
Hi, Dorothy,
DeleteI've used it with all of my yarns and never had an issue. The key has always been pulling as tightly as possible.
Jennifer
This is fabulous! I absolutely dread weaving in ends. Just finished practicing going to try it out on a rug I am making.. Do you have any techniques to hiding the knot on projects that don't have a border?
ReplyDeleteHi, Hanna!
DeleteI'm so glad you like this method. The trick for me has been with tension. To hide the knot inside a stitch, you may have to recrochet and frog a few times. I can always manage to hide it, but it may take a few attempts. Your tension changes from time to time, so you'll have to play with it to find the right amount of tension.
Jennifer
Wow, thanks for sharing going to use it in my next blanket. Enjoying your blog too♡. Mirta
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for sharing going to use it in my next blanket. Enjoying your blog too♡. Mirta
ReplyDelete