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Knitting Tutorial: How to Alternate Skeins and Achieve a Stretchy Edge

Knitting with hand dyed yarn brings a beautiful, one-of-a-kind quality to your projects, but it can also present some unique challenges, especially when it comes to alternating skeins. Without the right technique, you can end up with unwanted transition lines or a tight, rigid edge. In this photo and video tutorial will guide you step by step through the process of alternating skeins to ensure constant knit fabric and a stretchy edge. Whether you're new to working with hand dyed yarn or looking for a foolproof way to avoid those dreaded lines, this tutorial will help you achieve flawless results.


Check out this blog post for a deeper explanation of why every hand dyed skein of yarn is unique (even when they are from the same dye pan), how that unique quality can cause issues for a knitter and why the technique shared in this blog post can help.


Jump to:

The Solution: A Photo Tutorial


I used this technique in my Autumn Waves Wrap to create a visually consistent fabric, even though there were slight differences between the skeins dyed by Less Traveled Yarns. You can find the pattern in the SDK Shop or on Ravelry.


The Problem: An Overly Tight Edge

So... why can't we just carry our yarn up the side edge of our project when alternating skeins in knitting?


Take a look at the two edges of this shawl baby. I did not use the technique I share in this post while knitting it. The left edge is clearly shorter than the right edge. (Please excuse the scissors used for relative size rather than a ruler - I have kids who take off with important tools and don't return them.)


This issue is caused by the difference in stretchy factor between a single strand being pulled length wise (as it will be when carried up the side) and the stretchy factor of a whole stitch (which can borrow a bit from its neighbors if needed).



The Solution: A Photo Tutorial

I used two colors in the baby shawls I made in order to better illustrate the process but I most often make use of this technique when working with two hand-dyed skeins of the same colorway. I also added a row of garter ridge because I thought it was pretty, but this technique will work with any stitch pattern.


In essence, we are going to start each row with a yarn over and then drop it off the needle on the following row. Let me show you how:

Knitting tutorial: step 1
1. Ensure that the yarn used in the row just worked is hanging to the FRONT and appears on top of the strand you are about to work with.
Knitting tutorial - step 2
2. Holding the strand you intend to knit the next row with, place it in front of the right needle.
Knitting tutorial - step 3
3. Work your first stitch
Knitting Tutorial - step 4.
4. It looks like there are TWO stitches on the needle - and with the yarn over we created, there technically are! (but don't worry, we will get rid of it in a moment).
Knitting Tutorial - step 5
5. This is how it should look after working the first three stitches. Continue on to work the rest of the row, turn around and come back.
Knitting Tutorial - step 6
6. From the wrong side, this is how our project will look with three stitches left in the pattern. My index finger is resting on the yarn over.
Knitting Tutorial - step 7
7. Work the last three stitches as your pattern instructs. The yarn over will be remaining.
Knitting tutorial - step 8
8. Drop the yarn over.
Knitting tutorial - step 9
9. The excess strand will be taken up by the first stitch in the row worked in this color and the last stitch from 5 rows below.
Knitting tutorial - step 10
10. You are now ready to repeat the process in the next row with the other skein.

I traced over some of the edge stitches in every other row with red. The blue shows where the unused strand is being carried up the edge of the project. As you can see, any excess yarn from the yarn over blocks smooth, but is still available when needed to create a stretchy edge.


The Solution: A Video Tutorial

How to Alternate Skeins of Hand Dyed Yarn and Maintain a Stretchy Edge



Did you enjoy this video and want to be sure to find it later? Click the image below to pin it to your yarny Pinterest board!

Alternating skeins and making a stretchy edge when knitting Pinterest Pin
Pin It Now! Find It Later!


I would love to hear from you! Do you have a favorite dye style? Do you work with hand-dyed variegated yarn often and if so, who are some of your favorite dyers? How do you pair pattern and yarn in a way that lets them both shine? Share in the comments!


Happy Making! ~Sönna




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