How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Are you working on a knitting project where you need to create horizontal stripes or blocks of color? By reading this post, you will learn how to change colors at the beginning of the row in a secure and tidy way!

It’s a really simple method to apply to all your flat-knitted garments or accessories. With this technique, you will change colors while preventing the stitches at the outer edges of the work from loosening, getting uneven, and making any side seams less precise.

It is also perfect to change the ball of yarn when you run out of thread and need to add a new one. But if  you’d rather not leave any loose ends to weave in later, you can always join two yarn balls with the magic knot.

If you are a beginner, you will find this technique very useful while knitting the Amarie Scarf, available in an all-inclusive kit with everything you need to make it in your favorite colorway!  

Amarie Scarf, striped hand-knitted scarf

If you are more of an advanced knitter, this comes in handy to create colorful garments like our Maisie Cardigan! The knitting kit is available on Bettaknit’s website.

Maise Cardigan, color block hand-knitted cardigan

 

Watch our video tutorial or continue reading for the step-by-step guide on how to change colors at the beginning of the row!

FOR THIS TUTORIAL, YOU MIGHT NEED:

Tutorial: how to change colors at the beginning of the row

For this tutorial, we used:

Start at the beginning of a row and take the new color.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Put it close to the yarn connected to the work, leaving at least a 15-cm tail on the back.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Holding the two yarns together, slip the first stitch purl-wise.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Bring the two yarns in front of the work.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Then place the first stitch back onto the left needle.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Separate the two yarns and bring the new one behind the right needle.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Now knit normally until the end of the row.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Turn your work and continue working with the new color.

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

How to change colors at the beginning of the row

Remember!

In flat knitting, if each stripe of color corresponds to an odd number of rows (i.e. if the stripe is 1 row tall, 3 rows tall, etc.), at the end of each stripe you will have to cut the yarn and reattach the color you need at the beginning of the next stripe.

If, instead, each color stripe corresponds to an even number of rows, you won’t need to cut the yarn, but you can simply drop the old color and pick up the new one, all on the same side edge of the work. By working an even number of rows, for each forward row, you will also work a return row, which will get you to the starting point, where both the new and the old color are hooked.

 

Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever tried this method to change colors in your knitting!

Remember to share your projects on Instagram using the hashtags #bettaknit!

 

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