Knitting with chunky yarn…?

Posted on June 30th, 2009 by admin

I have been knitting for years, but usually I work with very fine yarn. I make a lot of Fair Isle or cable knit garments- anything that seems challenging. My problem is, I've never used a BULKY wool yarn before, and I usually don't make scarves. I'm having trouble weaving the ends in so they don't show. Usually, I can hide the ends inside the garment, but since it's a scarf, it's presenting a bit of frustration. I made a scarf for someone out of 3 balls of a chunky merino blend (100% wool, but it's treated so it can be washed). Normally, if I were in this situation, I would simply take the end of one ball of yarn, and felt it to the beginning of the next ball of yarn. No dice on this one, since it's washable. I've blocked it already, but I can still SEE where I wove the yarn back into the scarf!!! Any suggestions?

I guess that's what I get for thinking I could use chunky wool to make a scarf.

Well, if your bulky is a multiple ply yarn (as opposed to a Lopi style or Brown Sheep Bulky–although that one is really 3 ply) where the plies can be separated, separate them out and weave each ply strand in individually in different directions for a smooth finish. If it isn't a plied yarn, split it carefully and do the same thing, twisting each section up somewhat so it doesn't fall apart.

6 Responses

  1. suzb49 Says:

    Could you clip the ends close and use a dab of glue to keep them from fraying? Hiding ends has always been a problem for me as well. I usually try to crochet them into the stitches as I go, but if I use a different color, it shows! I clipped the ends and used glue on an afghan and it worked really well, just a dab of glue so you don't have a hard spot on your scarf. Good luck.
    References :

  2. emo girl Says:

    i crochet with chunky yarn sometimes. i actually find it easier with crocheting to weave the ends into chunky yarn rather than some of the finer yarn i use. i usually use a larger plastic needle with a good sized eye to weave the ends back in when i work on a project. i'll pull the yarn through several stitches and pull a bit tight, then cut the excess and slowly stretch the pattern back out so the yarn is camouflaged. i know knitting is a bit different, though. hope i was able to be of some help. :)
    References :

  3. ricksuearmour Says:

    I use the "Thick and Quick" which is also a number 5 chunky and I pick up the new ball about 2 stitches before the end of the row and leave a tail. I weave it under two more stiches and trim. The tail from the piece that I picked up, I weave down one or two rows and than in a couple of stitches.

    The chunky yarn is harder to weave but I think you will like it after you get the hang of it. I love the texture of it. You are right though, it just does not weave the same as the thinner yarns.

    Hope this helps!
    References :

  4. sue Says:

    I use a very large yarn needle and run the tails back through the yarn in several stitches, mimicing the stitch itself. Similar to embroidering over stitch except I go through the yarn instead of over it. Then clip it off closely and pull to hide the tail.

    Hope that helped, Merry Christmas, to all fiberholics!!!
    References :

  5. mickiinpodunk Says:

    Well, if your bulky is a multiple ply yarn (as opposed to a Lopi style or Brown Sheep Bulky–although that one is really 3 ply) where the plies can be separated, separate them out and weave each ply strand in individually in different directions for a smooth finish. If it isn't a plied yarn, split it carefully and do the same thing, twisting each section up somewhat so it doesn't fall apart.
    References :
    I have been knitting for 53 years.

  6. Anla Says:

    1. Use very thick needles.
    2. If you're knitting a scarf, add fringes and the tails could just "blend in" as a fringes.
    3. If you are really that desperate, just cut the tails off.
    References :

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