Step by step tutorial on how to join a new color with the weave in and twist method; perfect for intarsia
Who doesn’t like knitting projects with more than just one skein? But when it comes to colorwork, you often have to weave in a lot of ends. The problem: the joins can often become super visible and disturb the picture-perfect look of your finished project. But there is a simple solution to join new colors in knitting. I call it “Weave in and Twist”.
For me, this joining method is just perfect for intarsia knitting. The bad news is that it doesn’t make weaving in the ends easier (but not harder either). I kind of developed the method myself because I was dissatisfied with all the other ways to join a new color.
Reading tip: 10 advanced intarsia knitting tips
Twist & weave is certainly a nice alternative, but I often noticed that after I wove in the tails, the stitches in the immediate vicinity of the join looked a bit wonky. And I figured that’s because they are not anchored in the right way. So, that’s why I came up with this solution. The best part: it’s beyond simple.
Anyway, let’s show you how to join in a new color in Intarsia.
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Instructions: How to join a new color with weave in and twist
This method works best when doing colorwork but you can also use it to join a new ball. You have to start it one stitch before the actual transition and you will need a suitably long tail for weaving in later on.
Tools
Instructions
- One stitch before you want to change colors, place the tail of the new color in between your working yarn and the knitting needle.
- Knit one stitch as normal. This should trap the tail on the wrong side of your work.
- Twist the new and old colors around each other twice.
- Knit the next stitch in the new color.
- Tug on the tails to secure the join, and continue knitting according to your pattern.
- Weave in the tails with your preferred method. I always go diagonally using a sharp tapestry needle.
Notes
This method works for any yarn and project. Only when you are knitting with a very loose gauge, you have to be careful. But that's very rare for colorwork techniques.
Is this method the neatest way to join a new color in knitting? I actually believe so, at least when it comes to intarsia and similar projects. When you are knitting stripes or simpler colorwork techniques, where you want to start a new row with a new skein of yarn, it’s obviously not a feasible technique, though.
But for intarsia, I yet have to find something that creates a better transition. Sure, sometimes the strand trapped on the wrong side can peek through. But as you are usually knitting with slightly fuzzy yarn that is actually very, very rare.
Anyway, that’s how to join a new color using Weave in and twist. Comment below in case you still have any questions.
Thank you so much for developing and posting this method, it works so well! I have modified it for myself slightly by working it from 2 stitches before the transition – first stitch to catch the new colour, second to do the twist and then knit new colour on the third. For some reason the first stitch looks a touch better when it’s not right next to the twist 🤷🏻♀️ Anyway, thanks again!