A perfect way to start a new strand

In our weekly meeting of the Phrancko Sweater Knitters, Sumner introduced us to a new way to start a new strand of yarn. He learned it from this video by Debbie Abrahams: • How to Knit Intarsia
I am so thrilled to learn this technique because it is simple and quick and doesn't leave loose, floppy stitches, knots, or double stitches. I think it is the perfect way to join a new strand of yarn. Thank you, Debbie Abrahams, for showing us this technique and thank you, Sumner, for noticing that it can be used simply to start a new strand of the same color and for bringing it to our attention.
Update: This technique is great for holding the two ends in place while you are creating the fabric. It keeps the stitches tighter so you don't have to keep tugging them to close up the hole. However, I have found that when I go to weave in those ends, it works best to pull each end free of the trapping yarn before weaving it in with duplicate stitches, as one should. It just helps the join be completely invisible on the front.

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

I just added an update to the description that is a suggestion about weaving in the ends after you have done this. Click "...more" above to see the update.

[@georgiafl8285]

Beautiful, simple, minimal adjustment for loose stitches! Thanks for sharing.

[@paulaknit]

Really like this, thanks for sharing.

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

You're certainly welcome.

[@cindyduppong9181]

This is great! Simple, clean, and easy.

[@jh2987]

Thank you! Very simple and easier to understand😊

[@camurray]

That’s awesome, I think I would do 2 or 3 and it would lock it in pretty securely. Thanks so much.

[@pamcadd8658]

Elegantly simple! I've been knitting for 65 years and this is new to me. Thanks!

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

I was surprised by it also!

[@bonaschkatze]

Thank you, I'll definitely use this technique! I always have issues when starting a new strand and weaving in the ends. This looks easy enough even for me :)

[@Pluviophile218]

Wow! This is slick. Very useful for many applications; socks, hats, mitts, sweaters. Thank you so much! I'm adding this to my bag of knitting tricks. I just tried this at the end of a row and it works pretty well there as well. I used your method at the next to last stitch. Great! Thanks!

[@NYKnitter]

Thank you for making this close up vid of the technique

[@knittingknut]

Love it. So simple.

[@ellennelsen5576]

That’s great. Thank you for sharing.

[@QuailsKnittingNest]

Once again, thanks for sharing helpful tricks $ techniques!

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

I love passing along helpful information as I learn it myself. I'm so glad you enjoy it.

[@chan58]

Awesome thanks so much!

[@roberta-ohio1043]

Thanks so much!

[@nancywillick5737]

Thank you!

[@user-iw7fx5rl1e]

awesome! thanks

[@peaches7551]

Awesome, I'm going to try this ! Thank you so much

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

Hope you like it!

[@peaches7551]

I did try it and it's great ! Looks so much neater/nicer and easy to do so, thanks so much for sharing

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

I'm glad it helped you.

[@Ss-dz6cm]

Love this. I'm wondering if you have any tricks if you are on a purl row.

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

Sure, it can work pretty much the same way. Just trap the new yarn between the last two stitches of the previous color and vice versa. It can be done on the purl side as well as the knit side.

[@Pluviophile218]

How does this work if the yarn change happens on the purl side?

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

Perhaps I need to do another video. See if you can find a way to work it using the same principle of trapping the new strand with one stitch of the old strand and then trapping the old strand with the first stitch of the new strand.

[@Pluviophile218]

@@KnittingbyPhrancko Actually, I tried it by turning my work to the right side and following your instructions, then I turned the piece back around & continued knitting. it worked alright unless I did something wrong.

[@KnittingbyPhrancko]

Thanks for letting us know.

[@sgoldsmit]

No holes and no loosy goosy stitches