Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Work a Pretty Edge on a Two-Color Project

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How to carry the non-working yarn and make a chained edge when you knit stripes.When I’m knitting a project in two colors with just a few rows of each color worked at a time, I like to carry the unused yarn up the side of the work rather than cutting the yarn and having all those extra ends to weave in.

I usually just do this by holding the non-working yarn at the back of the work and knitting the first stitch of the row such that the yarn is caught and sort of pulled up into the next row if that makes sense. (I’ll do a video soon to show you what I mean.)

This tip on working stripes from We Are Knitters also involves slipping the first stitch of each row to make a chained edge along the side. It’s super easy as long as you remember to do it, and those slipped stitches are perfect to work into if you need to pick up stitches along the sides of the project later.

I’m definitely going to give this a try. How do you carry yarn up the side of a project?

[Photo: We are Knitters.]

Comments

  1. I have just let it sort of hang. I like the idea of the chain edge along the side but need a video to understand it. My luck I’d end up with an unfinished stitch and the whole works would in-ravel.

  3. If it is going to be a raw edge, then I would do as you do, catching the unused strand at the end every time.

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.