When you knit a single / odd numbered-row stripe pattern in flat knitting, you keep having to cut the yarn and re-join the new colours. I don’t really like having lots of strands to tidy at the end.
This meant that I never really designed any flat-knitting-style pattern with single / odd numbered stripes. BUT things are now changing!!!!!
I have discovered the way to knit a single / odd numbered stripe patterns without cutting the yarn and rejoining the new colours using circular needles and today I will show you how this can be done.
Following is the basic rule to this technique:
- 1) It only applies to flat knitting (and not circular).
- 2) You need a circular needle to make this happen.
- 3) When the colour of the yarn you want to knit on the next row is NOT at the beginning of the next row (i.e. still at the beginning of the previous row), pull the needle to the left all the way to the other end of the circular needle. This means that you may knit the Right or Wrong side row more than once – so keep an eye on the row count.
Here is how to do it.
Step 1: Knit 1 row with colour 1 (in this case, pink) (pic below).
Step 2: The next colour I want to knit is green. But this green yarn is not at the beginning of the next row (i.e. still at the beginning of the previous row (on the right). So I pull the needle to the left. Hold the fabric and move all the way to the other end of the needle facing the right (pic below).
Pic below shows where all the stitches have moved to the other end of the needle, which is facing the right.
You can now knit with the green yarn without having to cut and re-joining (pic below).
Notice that when you work the green yarn, you have knitted the RS row again (pic below).
Step 3: The next row I want to knit is pink. This time, the pink yarn is already at the beginning of the next row, which means that you can work the next row straight away without pulling the needle (pic below).
Step 4: After working one row (or an odd number of the row) with pink, I now want to knit the next colour with green. But the green yarn is not at the beginning of the next row (i.e.still at the beginning of the previous row). So I pull the needle all the way to the other end.
Work the WS row again but without cutting the yarn (pic below).
That’s it.
Using this technique, you can do various combinations of rows in stripe patterns as well as colours. I experimented with single garter pattern using this technique and I really like how the pattern looks – it’s retro!
Below is the video tutorial on this technique 
Happy stripe knitting!
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That looks like a very ingenious technique! I’m sure other knitters will appreciate it very much!
Hehe! When I figured it out, I was like “woo hoo! I don’t have to cut the yarn anymore!” LOL.
It’s so amazing that a simple craft like knitting, there are so much to discover!
Happy week!
*hugs*
Kyoko
This makes so much sense and I can’t thank you enough for printing this info, I can’t wait to use your technique on my next project. I love single row stripes and have always worked with four balls, two of each color and ran the braid up the sides. This seems so much better.
Hi Rondy!
So much fun and so much to knit! Thank you for your comment 
yay! I am so happy that this technique is useful. Me too, I love single stripe patterns and it’s interesting to know that you have used 4 balls of wool. That also makes sense!
x
Kyoko
Excellent tip, Kyoko–my thanks! I will use this in a project very soon.
Hi Beth!
I have now conquered my fear of single stripe knitting! 
Thank you very much
Happy weekend!
x
Kyoko
Thank you for sharing this clever idea and the excellent explanations and pictures!
I always love to read your posts. Great blog – congratulations!
HAve a good time.
Hi Elenor,
Thank you very much for your lovely comment. Look forward to your visits
Happy weekend knitting!
x
Kyoko
Hi Kyoko!
Thanks for this tutorial. This method is so clever.
Mary
Hi Mary,
Thank you – it’s kind of cool finding new methods of knitting. It opens a whole new world!
x
Kyoko
CLEVER!!!!
Thank you!
x
Kyoko
Cool trick. It would work with double pointed needles too, right?
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for the comment. Absolutely right. It wold also work with DPN.
x
Kyoko
This is a fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing.
How are you knitting one row, knitting the next row and still coming up with stockinette stitch?
Hi Cheryl,
You would be sliding the circular needle onto the other side to work the next colour.
So basically you are just working the knit row twice. Hope it makes sense!
Best,
Kyoko
Ingenious! I am so happy you posted this, the worse part of knitting stripe is all the weaving at the end. Thanks so much sharing this method.
Thank you so much for your comment!
x
Kyoko
As I see it, there is no purling in this method. Is that right?
Only knitting each way, each color
Yep, you are exactly right!
x
Kyoko
Brilliant! This makes so much sense that I’m tempted to start a new flat, striped project, just to play with this technique.
Thank you for your comment!
Amaze! Thanks for posting.
Thank you for your comment!
that is so so clever. I will be using that method in future. Also I will try knitting the way you do. I tend to wrap the wool round my right fingers using the index finger to wrap wool round needle. Your method looks so much easier
Hi Margaret,
Thank you for your comment! It sounds like you knit English method. I knot continental method where I hold the working yarn on my left. If you can knit both ways you can do fair isle pattern very quickly!
x
Kyoko