Joining yarn, crochet and knitting
The magic knot joins two strands of yarn with two small knots, each tied around the other strand, that slide together and lock. It’s secure, it needs no darning needle, and there are no ends to weave in.
What the magic knot is
The fastest way to add a new ball of yarn. The tradeoff is a tiny knot in your fabric, so placement matters.
- Method Two knots, each tied around the other strand, slid together and pulled tight
- Best for Yarn that can take a firm pull, and joining another ball of the same color
- Skip it for Precise color changes, amigurumi and the sole of a sock
- Tools Scissors
- Ends to weave in None
The knot is tied in the yarn itself, so the steps are identical for crochet and knitting. What changes is where you place it in your fabric. Both are covered below.
When to use the magic knot, and when not to
- It’s NOT for precise changes in color.
- It’s great for yarn that can take a little pulling.
- If your yarn can’t withstand a lot of pulling, you can still use this join, but you have to be more careful when pulling at the knot (step 5).
- It can work well for socks, but avoid placing the knot under your foot. I made that mistake once and I could feel a tiny pebble in my sock.
Materials
- New yarn
- Scissors
Note what I’m not saying: a darning needle. You don’t need one for this method!
How to tie the magic knot, step by step
Lay the two strands side by side, about an inch apart, running in opposite directions so the ends extend about 4 inches past each other.
Bend the light blue yarn so it’s UNDER the dark blue yarn.
Bend the light blue yarn UP so that it’s on top of both yarns. Then knot it, using just the light blue yarn.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the dark blue yarn. Finish it by knotting the dark blue yarn. When you’re done you’ll have this.
Now comes the fun part. Grab each yarn from the side that’s attached to the ball and slide the knots together.
Test the knot by pulling tightly at it. It shouldn’t fail. If it does, something wasn’t done right with your knots. Do it again.
Once it’s passed the pull test, trim the tails very close to the knot.
When you’re done, pull again to make sure you didn’t mistakenly cut the knot itself.
Don’t let all the steps discourage you. I gave you a lot of details, but this join goes quickly once you get the hang of it.
And remember, no ends to weave in. Once it’s done, it’s done.
Magic knot in crochet
Nothing changes at the hook. Tie the knot in the yarn, then keep crocheting straight through it.
- Avoid having the knot span a chain space. It needs to be buried in a stitch and not out in the open
- Ideally, the knot will land between 2 stitches.
- Amigurumi: A magic knot is a poor choice because the tight tension makes it much more likely to see the knot.
Magic knot in knitting
Place the knot at the back of your work and avoid any section that people will be drawn to.
Whenever possible, the knot should go in between two stitches when working it. You may need to slightly adjust your tension to make this happen.
While this isn’t required, it looks more polished when the knot is at the back of your work.
After a few rows have been knit
You’ll be hard-pressed to find it if you’re joining another ball of the same color.
Magic knot questions
Does the magic knot come undone?
Not if it passes the pull test in step 5. If it slips when you pull, one of the two knots was tied wrong. Cut it off and tie it again before you trim anything.
Can you feel the magic knot in the finished fabric?
Only where there is pressure on it. Under the sole of a sock it feels like a tiny pebble. Anywhere else, placed at the back of the work, you won’t notice it.
Is the magic knot good for changing colors?
Not when the change has to land on an exact stitch. It is best for adding another ball of the same color.
Do you need a darning needle for the magic knot?
No. Scissors are the only tool.
Other ways to join yarn
Don’t want a knot in your fabric at all? The Russian join is knotless, and also leaves no ends to weave in.
Joining finished pieces rather than a new ball of yarn? See 5 ways to join crochet pieces.
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What is the best joining for 100% acrylic yarn? I’ve used so many different ways, but because acrylic is just thin strands of plastic, it seems to loosen, no matter what I use. (I make hats for our food pantry’s annual coat drive and since people can be allergic to natural fibers-and more expensive-I use acrylic because people aren’t allergic to plastic)
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
I’d do the traditional join of weaving in yarn.
Be sure to make the woven-in tails long enough and I’d make them go in a few different directions.
I’d even split the yarn (with the needle) to weave in the ends (it’ll anchor it a bit more). As long as you don’t see things on the public side, you’re good.
I never thought I would catch on without instructions, but I did! Thank you for the visuals.
You’re welcome!
I’m so glad it worked for you. It’s a great way to join in a new skein.
Thanks so much for the tutorial! I’m excited to give the Magic Knot a try!!
You really need a video, confusing.
Thanks for your comment!
I’m a big believer that people learn in different ways.
Personally, I prefer stills and avoid video tutorials at all costs. Given that, I haven’t invested any time in learning video editing (something I now regret).
But it’s funny you left this comment just yesterday, because earlier this week I recorded my first video tutorial and it was on the Magic Knot! I still have a ways to go before making it live on the site, but it’s very encouraging to get your comment because it’s making all this effort really worth it!
I definitely want the video to be of good quality, so it might take me a bit of time before I make it live, but I will do it. And then, depending on the comments I get and how much I learn, I might do more as well.
So, I truly thank you for your comment! Learning video editing has been a real effort (it’s so different from editing images), so this really encouraged me to keep going 🙂
Your still shots are first class – The clearest possible and I’m happy I caught your explanation.
Oh thank you 🙂 you’re so very welcome!
Magic Knot until your heart’s content 🙂
I am now a magic knot convert, your stills were easy to follow, managed it in one go. I now am well on to rolling my first magic ball of wool. Many thanks.
I’m with Debby – I am a big “spit splice” fan as well, most often because I’m too lazy to look for even a pair of scissors! LOL!! But honestly, the main reason is that there is absolutely NO waste with a spit splice….. none. Even superwash will spit splice if you’re aggressive enough with it when scrubbing it together. I truly do prefer it to all other methods if the yarn is natural/animal. No waste, no bulky spot, and no tools needed at all – other than a little spit and elbow grease 🙂
You both make great points. I didn’t include it with the join tutorials but maybe I should…
This is the joining method I use the most… I really like it!!
Thanks for all the tutorials and ideas!
You’re welcome!
Do you have any suggestions I didn’t mention?
I also use split splicing when using natural fibers.
Cool! I’ve used that one but tbh I use Magic Knot now for natural fibers.
When do you use splicing?
I’ve used it with alpaca fuzzy kind of yarns, or with a lace weight yarn that would show the knot if I used the magic knot. I like how it felts the yarn together, but doesn’t leave the thickness that the Russian join leaves.