Monica Knits

Stranding and weaving are techniques for carrying yarn not in use across the back of the work until it is needed. In the Rocking Horse Bib weaving was used, and in the Single Digit Hat stranding was used. Each of these garments was knitted with two colors of yarn. There are advantages to each technique and there may be occasion to use both in a given garment. This article discusses the stranding technique.

Click here to watch a video on using a fingertip knitting guide to knit with 2 colors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-0ApmvvhTA . The video clip shows the stranding technique in the round (all knit stitches), which is easier and faster than stranding with a flat (back & forth) method as is described below. When stranding in the round, it is easier to control tension and the stitching is less complicated.

Wrong SideIn the hat, the wrong side of the fabric is an inner layer of the tube that is never exposed so stranding is very effective and the yarn will not catch. The hat is folded over on itself to create a double layer that encapsulates the wrong side of the fabric. The reverse side of stranding does not look as tidy as that of weaving, but weaving may not be appropriate for worsted weight or bulky yarns; the contrasting colors may show through in weaving heavier yarns. The hat was knitted with worsted weight yarns, the bib with fingering weight yarns.

Right SideIn addition, stranding is a much quicker process than weaving. Stranding is similar to weaving, but the yarn not in use is carried over several stitches before it is caught or twisted with the working yarn. Do not carry the yarn more than 4 or 5 stitches. The pattern of knit and purl twists is the same as in weaving, but doesn't occur as frequently.

The instructions below are my method of stranding, with both (or more) yarns on the left hand, and using a yarn guide. This is a faster process, that allows me to keep more even tension than some of the two hand methods described elsewhere.¹.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6

Knit row: You can view a larger image by clicking on any thumbnail.

1. The white yarn is being carried and the green yarn is being knitted, normally. (The white yarn is to the right, out of the way.)
2. Pull the white yarn in front of the green yarn, but behind the needle. Knit the green yarn; this has the effect of trapping the white yarn between the green yarn and the loop.
3. Complete knitting the green stitch of step 2.
4. Knitting the next green stitch. The white (carried yarn) is to the right out of the way for a few stitches in stranding.
5. The next few steps are a repeat showing the white yarn as the working yarn, and the green yarn as the carried yarn. The first step is a normal white knit stitch with the green yarn out of the way.
6. This is the second stitch in the pattern. The carried yarn (green) is pulled in front of the white yarn, but behind the needle. Knit the white yarn; this traps the green yarn between the white yarn and the loop.

The knit row is the right side (RS) of the garment. The pattern can be considered a twist one way and then untwist on the next stitch (twist in the opposite direction).

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Purl row: You can view a larger image by clicking on any thumbnail.

1. The white yarn is being carried and the green is being purled. This is a normal purl stitch.
2. The white yarn is pulled between the green yarn and the needle, on the purl side of the needle. A purl stitch is formed with the green yarn.
3. This is the continuation of the purl stitch in step 2, showing the white yarn wrapped over the green yarn.
4. This image shows the trapping of the white yarn a few stitches further on.
5. The last image shows the white yarn being held out of the way for a few purl stitches.

The purl row is the wrong side (WS) of the garment.

Footnotes
1. There are alternate methods where one yarn is held on the left hand and the other on the right hand. The Reader's Digest, "Complete Guide to Needlework (1979) describes such a method on page 320.
Click here to transfer to the favorite books page: Favorite Books