Securing tails from color changes

[dudeKnit]

Most of you know I'm working on my first project, "The Scarf".

In doing so there are several color changes, I have done these successfully and at some point I will have to secure the tails that I have from all the joins. My actual joins are fine, but the pieces that stick out that I've planned on weaving back upon itself to secure the joint even further are piling up on me.

How do you secure tails in your work from either color changes or yarn changes?

Is there a best way?

I'm not quite ready to do this yet, as I still have several color changes yet to make, but I'd still like to get a plan together now as it will be upon me soon.

[Jan in CA]

I weave in the ends using his method. Then I turn and go on a diagonal a few stitches splitting the yarns if it's a slippery yarn.
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/FEATfall04TT.html

[salmonmac]

When you'd like to take a break from knitting, weave in a couple of the ends. If you do a few as you go along, it becomes less of a chore. (Unless you like weaving in ends.)

[ArtLady1981]

I take my medicine early...and frequently...and weave in a tail when I'm up a row or two from the tail.

If I'm working with a animal fiber yarn...I use the felted join if possible to place it in the right spot.

If I'm working with an accommodating pattern stitch, I use the Russian join.

Both of these joins leave no tails. But as I said, it's not always possible, although I always give it a try.

Click here to view these joins here at KH. Scroll down to JOINING YARN.

[jinxnit55]

Just have to say that you are more ambitious than I was. I, too, made a scarf for my first project, but I got variegated yarn so as not to have to change colors (something I haven't tried yet). I am wowed by the amazing colorful yarns available and humbled by folks who would try changing colors right off the bat. I am thinking about it, but so far am too lazy to try. Thankful for interesting yarn, that's me! Kudos to you for your effort!

[GrumpyGramma]

My first scarf was blue and white. I found that changing colors helped me to see mistakes more easily than just one color but variegated yarn made it harder. Fortunately we can all do things whatever way we do them and there are no knitting police to come and take us away!

Shoot. Now I have, They're coming to take me away he he ha ha ho ho to the funny farm.... in my head.

[jinxnit55]

HA! I found just the opposite! The variegated yarn helped to HIDE the mistakes that I inevitably made and then patched up when I discovered them later! I made the scarf in the middle of January and it was COOLLLDDD. (We live in Truckee, CA, often the coldest temp overnight in the nation). It was -22 one morning and I decided I would wear the scarf no matter what it looks like. And one person actually gave me a compliment , so that variegated color worked like a charm!

Now that I'm getting my "knitting legs" I am a little pickier about how stuff turns out.

[GrumpyGramma]

LOL You agreed with me! Yeah, variegated yarn can hide a multitude of sins (errors) I've found, they simply aren't as obvious. When I was trying to learn to make the stitches and do it correctly, I didn't want that. You needed that scarf in a hurry so the variegated was the absolutely best choice. For me, having something done quickly usually isn't an issue. I found the same thing was true in crocheting, a pattern stitch can get lost in the colors and mistakes can get lost in colors and stitch patterns. Ain't it great??!!

California's supposed to be warm! That's cold!

[jinxnit55]

Yep! That scarf has gotten a lot of use! California isn't all palm trees and beaches! I guess there are probably more knitters in colder regions.

I find that I like variegated yarns the best no matter what because they seem more interesting and you get "surprises" in how things turn out. I like tweeds, also.

[dudeKnit]

Happy to report that this project is now over 6 feet long! Pics coming soon.