Starting new ball of wool - knitting

[Acekicker]

I have started knitting - at the moment I can only do straight lines so am making scarves for everyone I know. I am intending to persevere though and the next scarf will have more fancy stitching.

However I am crap at starting a new ball of wool - the internet has thoroughly confused me as to how to do it and I end up with what looks like a 'gap' in the stitching whenever I change wool. At the moment I just use the new wool (no knot) at the start of a row and leave the end of the old wool hanging (am ok at darning/weaving ends in). I'm slipping the first stitch though so effectively the new wool starts on the second stitch - is this where I'm going wrong?

Can anyone talk me through what I should be doing or point me in the direction of some good instructions on line - most of the ones seem to be a combination of people saying 'tie a tiny knot' and then 40 comments saying 'don't tie a knot'...

Thank you!

Start the new ball on a new row with the right side facing you.
Don't slip the first stitch - knit as normal using the new ball. Knit the next 2-4 stitches using the wool 'double' so that it gets weaved in firmly and ensure the new 'end' is left at the wrong side.
You should not get a hole.
HTH

Do what mamij says. After you've done a couple more rows, knot the two ends together on the back. This should tighten up the join and stop any gaps appearing. When you make up the garment, sew down the ends on the back with a darning needle.

Another way which I have just heard of but have only used for crochet so far, is to make a slip knot in the end of the new yarn and slip the loop onto the tail end of the old yarn. When it is pushed up as far as it will go, tighten the slipknot so that it is tight against the back of your knitting and as close to the needle as you can get.

Then you can either carry on knitting with the new yarn or, if you want to make doubly sure that you don't leave a gap, knit with the both the tail end of the old yarn and the beginning of the new yarn at the same time and then carry on with just the new ball after 4 or 5 stitch. Weave in any straggly ends on the wrong side. I usually do mine later, when the item is pretty much finished, just in case I have to unpick for any reason.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for all the replies! Am just about to start another scarf so will see how it goes...

As an aside, I'm really enjoying knitting but it is extremely confusing just how many different instructions there seem to be to do the same things - have just spent an hour knitting a few rows and unravelling them to test out the stitches I wanted to do as I wanted to combine rib for the ends of the scarf and then moss stitch. One book basically gave me the impression I couldn't do this as rib needed even and moss odd numbers of stitches...however I think I've finally worked out that it is possible now - I use an even no. of stitches and for the rib start every row with knit, when I switch to the moss stitch I alternate starting with knit and starting with purl...does that sound right?

Sounds fine to me. Surely you need an even number for both rib and moss stitch although it is less important with the moss stitch? So long so long as you make sure you always purl a stitch that you knitted in the row before and vice versa it will be fine.

I just drew it out on a piece of paper and, unless there is some rule I am not aware of about the ends of the row being identical or something, it doesn't matter is you have an odd or an even number of stitches for moss stitch.

Lol - am just drawing it all out on paper now... I think the trouble is when you're teaching yourself from books/on-line it all seems very prescriptive and I tend to assume it must be done the way the book says and then I find somewhere else that contradicts it!

Thank you all for all your help!

You have to be careful if you are combining rib and moss stitch, as if you have more than a few rows of rib, they will pull inwards (it's a very stretchy stitch) and that section will be narrower than the moss stitch rows. Depends if that's the effect you want.

Oooh - that's good to know.

I think it will be ok - am trying to create this kind of scarf.

That's a lovely scarf! It looks like about 10 rows of rib, and it has only pulled in a little bit. If you find the rib pulls in more than you want, you could always knit that bit on a bigger needle.

Thanks all for the help! I've finished the scarf (pic should be on my profile I hope...)

I ended up not doing moss stitch as it didn't look right with the multi-coloured wool so I just went for garter stitch instead.

I've got a request to make some for my niece to sell for a fund-raising fair in November so I'm going to keep knitting, I think the next one will be in plain wool and I'll try the moss stitch then.

Somebody else we would like to welcome on Ravelry. (Ravelry.com) You can search for a group of real knitters local to you, because it sounds like you could do with some RL person to show you. Do join the Mumsknitters group as well.

Hi Acekicker

If you live any where near Waltham Abbey in Essex, I would highly recommend going to The Crochet Chain wool shop in Arlingham Mews off Sun Street, EN9 1ED they are very helpful and are happy to help with your knitting or crochet project with no obligation to buy anything. They have a sofa and a coffee machine and are happy for customers to bring in their own projects and ask for help or advice.

They run beginners crochet courses and will be doing knitting courses too soon. Also have drop in knit and natter sessions on Friday afternoons from 1.30-3.30pm and 1st and 3rd Monday of the month in the evening from 7-9pm too. They have a Ravelry group as well.

Why not give them a call on 01992 679261 or pop into the shop (note it is closed on Thursdays and Sundays).

Sure they will be able to help you with any knitting problems.

Oooh - thanks for all the tips - I've signed up to Ravelry and will track down the Mumsknitters group.

Kateen - I'm not really near Waltham, however we have got a lovely new wool shop just opened near where I live. The fantastic owner has already given me a couple of tips and things - she's figured if she can keep me happy knitting I'll be a good customer.

Next project - a rib scarf (much longer than the short ones with buttons). My niece is fundraising for a trip next year and she wants scarves to sell at a craft fair so I've got lots of chances to try new things out.