Make the most of that trailing yarn...
- knit4dolls
- May 11, 2012
- 2 min read
When I first started designing these knitting patterns for Barbie, Lottie, Action Man and HM Armed Forces fashion dolls and action figures, I didn't worry too much about whether pieces of knitting were the 'right' way round or not. It didn't really matter, and it did keep things simple. However this had to change for our Barbie Sportswear knitting pattern where yarn of different colours is added... and, whilst considering colours, I also became aware of crafty ways to reduce the number of times yarn had to be sewn into the item. Sounds tricky, doesn't it? But no! It's still quick and easy!
When introducing different colours of yarn, remember that each change of colour will require two ends of yarn to be sewn into the finished item. Pretty obvious really! But it is important to plan where to leave these trailing ends of yarn. Edges, such as the neck of a T-shirt and the hem of trousers, are best left neat and tidy. So it is better to add in yarn elsewhere where it might not be so noticeable, such as at the waist of trousers and at the hem of a T-shirt.
However as pieces of our patterns are so small and similar, the trailing yarn itself has the very important role of actually giving an identifiable reference point from which to work. If the trailing yarn was left at the hem edge, then whatever else happens, that will always be the hem edge, and the waist edge or neck edge will always be opposite it.
It is also helpful to leave trailing yarn ends at places where they will be needed to sew up the item. Trailing yarn at both hem ends of the back panel of the jacket will be nicely placed to sew up the side seams, but will then allow the trailing yarn at the hem of the left and right jacket panels to be constructively utilised. Very constructively utilised...
Nevertheless there will be places that need sewing up that haven't got any abandoned trailing yarn. In these cases it is so easy to just use a knitter's needle and 'feed' a piece of trailing yarn, that had had another function, through to a new place and take up its secondary role from there. Oh... a bit over-descriptive there really, but you get the drift!
And it is always a good idea to leave trailing yarn attached until you are sure that you will not need it again before you cut it off. Because once it's cut then, if you did need it, you will have to add in another piece of yarn... with two ends!
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