How to Join Yarn with Magic Knot in Knitting

 

Have you come across a situation while knitting where you need to join yarn? The knitting crisis may arise because you have run out of yarn or work a colour change (though there are other ways).  The Magic Knot, also referred to as the Russian Knot or the Invisible Knot is a neat technique to join two separate yarn ends together securely without having to weave in any loose ends. You do not need your knitting needles for tying the knot. In fact, the technique works when you crochet too. The yarn joining method works regardless of what you are knitting; meaning whether you are knitting back and forth with straight or circular needles or working with a set of double pointed needles (DPNs) or circulars. In this blog, we’ll go through how to work the magic knot and then discuss where you should and where you not use this method of joining yarn.

What is the Magic Knot?

The Magic knot known as the Russian or Invisible knot is a technique to join yarns. The tric is to knot the yarn carefully. Not too lightly as it would come undone and not too tightly that the yarn snaps and damages the fibers. The precise method does not add to the weight of the project. It is quite seamless and merges in the pattern after few washes.

Instructions on How to Join Yarn with the Magic Knot

Step 1: Place the two yarn ends you want to join parallel to each other, overlapping by a few inches.

Step 2: Take the end of one yarn and wrap it around the other yarn, creating a loop.

Step 3: Thread that end through the loop you just created, making sure to leave a small tail.

Step 4: Now, take the end of the other yarn and wrap it around the first yarn, creating a loop in the opposite direction.

Step 5: Thread this end through the loop you created in step 4, again leaving a small tail.

Step 6: Pull both ends snugly to tighten the knot.

Step 7: Trim the excess tails, leaving just a short tail on each side.

When to Use the Magic Knot

In knitting, any knot can be disruptive to your work. So, it’s important to know when and when not to use the Magic Knot join.

Here’s where it’s great:

Colour Changes: When switching colours in a project, especially if you're working with multiple colors in a single row or round, the seamless join works without adding bulk.

Joining New Yarn: If you run out of yarn and need to join a new skein or ball, the knot can create a strong and invisible join, ensuring your project remains secure.

Weaving in Ends: The knot works join new yarn or change colors, reducing the amount of weaving required and creating a neater finish.

Special Yarns: Silk, laceweight, mohair and yarns can be challenging to join with traditional methods. The magic knot provides a secure join even with these types of yarns. The magic knot creates a minimal and secure join without compromising the delicate nature of the yarn.

Time Saving: The magic knot can be a time-saving technique eliminating the task of weaving yarn ends.

Textured Stitch Patterns: Heavily patterned or textures in knitting or crochet favour the magic knot.

However, there are knitters and crocheters who prefer alternative methods for joining yarn. It's essential to test the technique on a swatch or scrap yarn before using it in your project to ensure it meets your expectations for strength and appearance.

When Not to Use the Magic Knot

So, here’s where you need not to use the technique. not to use it in the following types of projects.

Stockinette is stitch pattern is too smooth and there’s no guarantee that the knot will stay on the wrong side.

Not all colour changes, especially some advanced colourwork techniques work with magic knot.

The Magic Knot is a convenient and secure way to join yarn in many situations. It’s important to assess the specific requirements of your project to choose the joining method that best suits your needs. For all your knitting and crocheting needs, explore the KnitPro collection. Choose from tools that cater to beginners to seasoned makers. If you are just starting out, choose bamboo or wooden knitting needles or crochet hooks before advancing too stainless steel, aluminium, etc.

Happy crafting!

 

 

 

 

 

7 Beginner Crochet Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

 

Are you a beginner crocheter? Are you coming across crochet mistakes? Making mistakes is a natural part of learning. When starting to crochet, beginners often need help with a few hiccups. Many things go wrong, from choosing the right crochet hooks to reading the pattern and weaving in the ends. Everyone makes mistakes; even seasoned crocheters sometimes need to unravel their stitches. But the good news is most mistakes are preventable. And, even if you commit a few, the fix is easy. To help you with your crafting journey, in this blog, we'll discuss the common crochet mistakes and how to avoid them.

 

1. Not choosing the right crochet hook.

 

The right tools and accessories make your crafting journey smooth and comfortable. The most common mistake beginners make is not choosing the right crochet hooks. Wood and bamboo are recommended for beginners. Also, working with single-ended crochet hooks for a few projects is best before expanding your tools. Double-ended crochet hooks are helpful if you want two sizes in one tool. Tunisian crochet hooks are specialty tools used for Tunisian crochet. They come with an interchangeable cable that works similarly to the interchangeable knitting needles. The hooks can work for regular crochet if you choose the right length. Another factor to consider besides the crochet hook type is the crochet hook size. Even though you follow the pattern instructions, sometimes the crochet hook size mentioned

To avoid making mistakes, experiment with crochet hooks and work on a swatch before starting a project.

 

2. Skipping Pattern Reading

 

Before you embark on a new crochet project, take the time to read the pattern thoroughly. Review the tools mentioned, abbreviations, and terminology. By familiarizing yourself with all the instructions beforehand, you'll be better prepared for any surprises the pattern may hold.

 

3. Crocheting too tightly or loosely

 

Most beginners find themselves crocheting too tightly or loosely, especially the starting chain. This happens when you yank the yarn or wrap it around the crochet hook too tightly or loosely. Once you gain experience, you can understand the correct tension. Another trick to avoid the mistake is to work on the starting crochet chain with a bigger hook size and then work on the project with a different hook.

 

4. Mistaking UK and US terminology

 

If you are a knitter learning to crochet or starting with crochet, you may need to learn that there are different terminologies for UK and US patterns. Single crochet in the US patterns is double crochet in UK terms, though the steps of working the stitch pattern are the same. So, before starting a pattern, go through the terms. Most pattern designers mention whether they're using American or English terms or put the alternative name for the stitch in brackets.

 

Take a look at this handy conversion chart:

 

UK	US/Canada
slip stitch (ss)	slip stitch (sl st)
double crochet (dc)	single crochet (sc)
half treble (htr)	half double crochet (hdc)
treble (tr)	double crochet (dc)
double treble (dtr)	treble/triple (tr)
triple treble (trtr)	double treble/double triple (dtr)
tension	gauge
miss	skip (sk)
yarn over hook (yoh)	yarn over (yo)

 

 

4. Not counting the stitches

 

Most patterns include the number of stitches in a row in brackets and state how many rows you need to complete the project. Depending on the pattern, rows are usually relatively easy to count, and stitches are, too, if you look closely. Keep a count as you go along to avoid nasty surprises when you finish your project. Make this easier for yourself by having a pen and paper near you when crocheting and noting down numbers as you go.

 

5. Losing or gaining stitches

 

It's not uncommon to be crocheting happily, only to notice that your work has gone lopsided suddenly. There may be one or a few problems when you lose or gain stitches. First, the turning chain (necessary when you turn over the work to do another row) is not done correctly, or the yarn is split with the hook and then worked twice. Both problems are easy to sort out once you've noticed them, but unraveling is the easiest way to correct them. So, pause and take a close look at your work.

 

6. Not reading your stitches

 

The basic crochet stitches are worked by making loops with your crochet hook. You add more loops according to the height of the crochet stitch. When you learn to crochet, you must understand the number of loops and where to draw the yarn.

 

7. Giving up easily

 

The secret to successful crafting is time and practice. Crocheting takes time and effort, but it turns out to be a lot more complicated or time-consuming than you first imagined. It can be tempting to lay it aside for a while and start something else or give up on it entirely. But persevering for the satisfaction you get from a well-done job is always worthwhile.

With this, we've covered the common mistakes in crochet and how to avoid them. With the right tools and practice, you will soon become a pro.

 

Till then, happy crocheting!