Has this ever happened to you: you’re crocheting along, but discover that you need to use your yarn for another piece? Do you have to cut the yarn? Not if you know this little trick! This one will work for both crocheting & knitting.
As you can see here, I’ve been crocheting with the yarn from the center of the skein of yarn. And here’s the thing that’ll help you: every ball of yarn has 2 ends!
You can use this second end of the yarn to start your new item… while leaving the existing piece in tact! To do this, you’ll want to pull out your crochet hook:
And fasten a safety pin into your loop to keep it from unraveling (if you’re knitting, you’ll want to use a stitch marker as you pull out your needle):
With your previous work secured, you can pick up the second end of the yarn and make a new piece!
Once you’ve completed your urgent 2nd project, you’re free to return back to your first project… and all without needing to cut your yarn!
How’s that for a handy trick?
This is particularly helpful if you have a slow-moving project happening on a very lovely skein of yarn!
Wow, so much better then having 2 or 3 skeins of the same yarn open at once (as I have been known to do).
Thanks for the tip!!!
This is a handy little trick to know ( I do this alot ) and its fantastic. You did a great blog post of this and such wonderful images.
All tricks and tips are welcome, especially this time of year when I’ll be doing a lot of cold weather knitting and crocheting.
Stacey, what is that luscious yarn? What brand and what color? I love it. I use this trick all the time, especially for your crabs, when needing to sew the small holes in the claw before making the leg part. I am always inserted in the yarns you show/are using, maybe you could let us know what you are using. I am sure I am not the only one who would like to know about your yarns.
Rae
Hey Rae! This yarn is Vickie Howell’s Sheep(ish) in the color turquoise. Isn’t it beautiful!
That’s a great idea to put a note at the bottom of the post… I’ll see if I can remember to do that 🙂