Running out of yarn mid-row, or needing to join a new skein for any reason, doesn’t have to mean a bulky, visible knot in your finished project. Several reliable techniques let you join new yarn smoothly, with the join secured through weaving rather than knotting. This guide covers the most common and dependable methods. A poorly executed join can also contribute to the kind of inconsistencies described in our guide on why crochet can look uneven.
What You’ll Need
- Your current working yarn (nearly finished)
- A new skein of the same yarn
- A crochet hook
- Scissors
- A yarn needle for weaving in ends
Before You Begin
The core idea behind knot-free joining is that a properly woven-in yarn tail, following the path of nearby stitches, holds just as securely as a knot—often more so, since knots can work themselves loose or create a visible lump under stitches. The right method depends partly on your yarn type and how much working yarn tail you have remaining.
Method 1: The Standard Join (Most Versatile)
This method works similarly to the color-change technique and is suitable for nearly any yarn type or project.
Step 1: Work until your remaining yarn is just long enough to complete one more stitch. The Craft Yarn Council’s general finishing guidance covers similar joining principles if you’d like additional reference material.
Step 2: Begin your next stitch as normal with the old yarn, working up to the final yarn over.
Step 3: Drop the old yarn and pick up the new skein, using it to complete the final pull-through of that stitch.
Step 4: Continue working with the new yarn, leaving both the old and new tails long enough to weave in later (at least four to six inches).
Step 5: Once the project is complete or you’re past the point of needing to unravel that section, weave in both ends securely with a yarn needle, following the path of nearby stitches.
Method 2: The Russian Join (Best for Slippery or Fine Yarns)
The Russian join creates a spliced connection between two yarn ends before you even begin crocheting with the new strand, which is especially useful for yarns that are prone to slipping or fraying.
Step 1: Thread the tail of your old yarn onto a yarn needle.
Step 2: Fold about two to three inches of the tail back onto itself and weave the needle through the strand’s twist several times, pulling it through to create a small loop.
Step 3: Thread the new yarn’s tail onto the needle and pass it through the loop created in the old yarn.
Step 4: Weave the new yarn’s tail back through its own strand’s twist in the same way, then trim any excess close to the fabric.
Why it works well: This method creates a single, continuous-feeling strand rather than two separate ends to weave in later, which is particularly helpful for slippery fibers where a standard join might be more likely to loosen over time.
Method 3: Felted Join (Wool and Animal Fibers Only)
For 100% animal fiber yarns like wool, felting the two ends together creates an essentially seamless, permanent join. This method does not work for synthetic or plant-based fibers, which don’t felt.
Step 1: Untwist the plies of both yarn ends slightly and overlap them by about an inch.
Step 2: Wet the overlapping section with a small amount of water (or use saliva, which is a traditional method for quick felted joins while working).
Step 3: Rub the overlapping section briskly between your palms until the fibers felt together into a single strand.
Why it works well: Once felted, the join is essentially invisible and permanently secure, with no ends left to weave in at all.
Choosing the Right Method for Your Project
For most acrylic, cotton, or general-purpose projects: The standard join is simplest and works reliably across nearly all situations.
For fine, slippery, or fraying-prone yarns: The Russian join provides extra security against the ends working loose.
For 100% wool or animal fiber projects: The felted join offers a permanent, invisible solution when the fiber content allows it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Tying a knot as a quick fix instead of using one of these methods, which can create a visible lump and doesn’t always hold securely over time.
- Leaving yarn tails too short to weave in properly, resulting in ends that may work loose.
- Attempting a felted join on synthetic or plant-based fibers, which won’t felt together regardless of technique.
- Joining yarn mid-stitch rather than at the final yarn over, which can create a visible interruption in stitch shape.
Tips for Better Results
- Practice new joining methods on a scrap swatch before using them in a visible section of your actual project.
- Keep yarn tails on the longer side when joining, since it’s easier to trim excess afterward than to work with too short a tail.
- For projects using multiple yarn types in one piece, match your joining method to whichever section of yarn is more delicate or slippery.
- Weave in ends along a color-matched section of stitches when possible, to further disguise the join.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ever okay to just tie a knot when joining yarn? While knots can work as a quick, temporary fix, they often create a visible bump and can loosen over time, especially with smoother yarns. A woven-in join is generally more secure and less noticeable in the finished project.
Which join method is best for beginners? The standard join, which mirrors the basic color-change technique, is usually the easiest for beginners to learn and works well across most common yarn types.
Can I use the Russian join with any yarn weight? It works well across most weights but is especially useful for finer yarns, since bulkier yarns can create a noticeably thicker section where the two strands overlap.
Does a felted join work with wool blends? It depends on the blend percentage. Wool blends with a high percentage of animal fiber may felt reasonably well, but blends with significant synthetic content typically won’t felt securely.
How do I know if my join is secure enough before weaving in the ends? Gently tug on both sides of the join before weaving in the ends. If the stitch holds its shape without gapping or pulling apart, the join is likely secure enough to proceed with weaving in the remaining tails.