Joining Yarn Almost Seamlessly (using the "Magic Knot" method)

I was merrily knitting along, when suddenly I noticed that my working yarn came to an abrupt end, right off of the ball I was using (I blame my cat and his claws for this). So, unless I wanted to make my scarf 20 inches long, and thus, very very short, I needed to figure out how to join the little bit of working yarn I had, to the remaining ball.

Being a beginner, I hadn't had to join yarn yet, and had no clue how to go about doing it. Thank goodness for the internet, which is where I went straight away. I browsed Youtube, and found the method known as "The Russian Join", so I tried that. However, my yarn, being worsted weight, wasn't cooperating with me, and probably that's because my darning needle was too big, so I gave up on that. Going back to Youtube, and after looking at other methods, I decided to use this one, called "The Magic Knot" method.




I found that this method is quite simple and easy, and the join is almost seamless. You'd have to know the general area where the knot is, and finger around the work for it, to even find it, much less notice its there. Here is a picture of my own work, with the "Magic Knot" join used in it.

One side of the work

Other side. Can you see it yet?

There it is!!

So, you see how its almost invisible. I am quite pleased with this join and will use it again in the future. Its also worth noting that it is very secure (if done right) and won't come undone. Also, there are no ends to weave in. Something I am very diligent about is avoiding any extra work, when possible. Maybe that's because I am lazy. Or could it be that I am just efficient? Either way, this join was worth finding and using!!

Back after Summer Hiatus

I know that its been a while since I've last blogged, but that's because I've previously made the decision to put down my knitting for the Summer. The hot, humid weather that blows through Charlotte, seeing as it sits in a big valley of sorts and that kind of weather just settles in, made knitting next to impossible, and frustrating to no end.

Since I don't handle frustration well, I just gave up until the cooler fall weather would settle in, which it has, hence my resuming my blogging. I am still working on that lavender garter stitch scarf, and have since picked up a new UFO from Knit One, Stitch Too, my LYS. Its another garter stitch scarf, but this time, its made out of a cotton/acrylic yarn blend that has many different blues in it. The yarn is just gorgeous, and reminds me of the ocean, with the aquas, and deep navy blues it has . In case you want to drool over it too, here is a picture!

Can't you just feel the ocean breeze?

And for those of you who have been wondering where my original work is, and what it looks like now, well, wonder no longer!

I've since learned that blocking one's FO (Finished Object) is a must, to make it look more uniform, neat and to correct tension issues in the work. I've asked my mother about blocking and she says she'll teach me how once I am done with the lavender scarf, which is what I am working on now, more so than the blue scarf. Since I am using acrylic yarn for this scarf, I have to block it a little differently than if it were made out of wool or cotton. I'll need to use steam to block it out, and hopefully I won't kill the yarn. That's when you steam it to death and it looses all its elasticity. It is, however, a desired look sometimes, but not for this scarf!

 I'll get into that in more detail in my next post where I will show how to block work made out of acrylic yarn.

One other thing I am considering, is buying a set of interchangeable circular needles, and I think I've found the set I want. I found the set on Amazon (Knitter's Pride Trendz Deluxe Set), which are acrylic, much like my straight needles. I find that as I learn more about knitting, that I will need a good circular needle set to make things like sweaters, cowls, and other projects that have a lot of stitches in them. I plan on making my chihuahua, Noelle, a sweater one of these days, after I get done with a scarf, or both (or not). Again, I'll post about that in the future.

Well, now my right hand fingers feel this sensation of the yarn still being in them, I guess you could call it phantom knitter's hand? I don't know, but they are itching to get back to knitting. So, I guess I'll finish up here and resume my bouncing between knitting and browsing Ravelry and other knitting sites.