Russian Join: How to Join Yarn in Knitting and Crochet

Joining yarn, knitting and crochet

The Russian join connects two strands of yarn by threading each tail back into its own strand, so the two ends lock through each other as linked loops. No knot, no holes, and no ends to weave in.

Two colors of yarn connected with a finished Russian join, tails trimmed

6 steps

Tools darning needle, scissors

Skill level beginner

What the Russian join is

A knotless join made in the yarn itself, before it reaches your needles or hook. The joined section is double thick for a couple of inches, and that is the whole tradeoff.

Method Each tail is woven back into its own strand, with the two loops linked
Best for Single-ply or loosely plied yarn, fingering through worsted
Skip it for Yarn heavier than worsted, laceweight and cobweb, knit fabric with lots of yarn overs, amigurumi
Tools Darning needle (straight is much easier), scissors
Ends to weave in None

Because the join happens in the strand, the steps are identical for knitting and crochet. What changes is where you place it in your fabric. Both are covered below.

When to use the Russian join, and when not to

If your yarn is thick, roughly bigger than worsted, this may not be the method to use. The join is double thick.
The added thickness isn’t very noticeable in thinner yarns.
Very thin yarns (laceweight and cobweb) aren’t great candidates either.
Your yarn should be a single-ply or a looser-plied yarn. Tightly plied yarns are possible to join with this method but it’s harder.
It can be done on a right side or wrong side row.
Work it mid-row, not at the end of a row. You still want to place it somewhere that won’t be seen as much.
Precise color changes can be difficult, although you will get better at approximating the exact location with practice.

Materials

New yarn
Darning needle (a straight one is a lot easier to use in this case)
Scissors

Darning needle, scissors, and two colors of yarn for a Russian join.

How to do the Russian join, step by step

With the old yarn, take the end and thread it through the darning needle.

Fold the yarn so it comes back on itself.

Russian join step 2: yarn tail threaded on a darning needle and folded back on itself

Weave the darning needle back into the yarn. Start approximately 1 inch away from the bend and weave the yarn into itself for a length of about 2 inches. You’ll have a tail showing, but we’ll take care of that in a bit.

Russian join step 3: darning needle weaving the tail back through its own strand

One strand finished, with a small loop at the end and the tail still showing — Here it is after you’ve finished one color.

Take the new yarn and put it through the loop at the end of the old yarn. Repeat steps 1 to 3 with the new yarn.

Both strands joined with linked loops, both tails still visible before trimming — You can still see both ends.

Trim both tails so they’re close to the strand of yarn.

Finished Russian join after both tails have been trimmed — And now after they’ve been trimmed.

Grasp the yarn and hold it so you’re on the area with the tails. Pull a bit to neaten.

Don’t grab to the outside of the woven strands though because you’ll pull out the join.

Now you’re ready to work with your newly joined yarn, and there are no ends to weave in.

Russian join in knitting

This join is stable once it’s knit and gets twisted with the stitches. That’s why you don’t want to use it in an area that has lots of yarn overs.

Working the join into a decrease makes the decrease twice as thick. You’ll have 4 thicknesses of yarn where you work the decrease, so shift the join a few stitches either way.

Russian join in crochet

Nothing changes at the hook. Make the join in the yarn, then keep crocheting straight through it.

Avoid putting this join across a chain space. A chain is bare yarn with nothing wrapped around it, so a doubled section landing in a chain space, whether that’s a mesh row, a granny square, or a lace repeat, is out in the open. Aim the join for a run of solid stitches instead.

Decreases have the same problem as in knitting. An sc2tog or dc2tog already gathers two stitches’ worth of yarn into one, so a doubled strand there makes a lump. Keep the join a few stitches clear of any shaping.

One thing that works in crochet’s favor: each stitch uses more yarn than a knit stitch, so the same 2 inch doubled section disappears into fewer stitches. In double crochet it can vanish inside one or two posts.

Russian join questions

Does the Russian join work for crochet?

Yes. The join is made in the yarn before it is worked, so it behaves the same in knitting and crochet.

Is the Russian join bulky?

The joined section is double thick. In fingering through worsted weight it isn’t very noticeable. In anything heavier than worsted, it is, so pick a different join.

Can you use the Russian join to change colors?

You can, but the color will not change at an exact stitch. You are estimating where the join lands, and you get better at it with practice.

Does the Russian join hold?

Once it is worked into stitches, yes. On its own it can be pulled apart if you tug outside the woven section, which is why you neaten it by holding the woven part.

Other ways to join yarn

No darning needle handy, or working in a heavier yarn? The magic knot needs nothing but scissors.

Joining finished pieces rather than a new ball of yarn? See 5 ways to join crochet pieces.

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Russian Join