Carrying Your Yarn Up While Working Flat

Carrying your yarn up while knitting flat is a handy technique when you’re knitting stripes or working with colours that you want to reuse a few rows later. Instead of cutting your yarn every time you change colours, you can leave the unused strand at the edge of your project and bring it up as you work.

The benefit is simple: fewer yarn ends to weave in when your knitting is finished. You’ll also spend less time joining and cutting yarn, which makes projects with repeating colour changes a little easier to manage.

There is a bit of a knack to keeping the carried yarn tidy, though. Pull it too tightly and your edge can pucker. Leave it too loose and you may end up with loops that catch on your fingers or needles. Let’s walk through how to carry yarn up the side of your knitting while keeping your fabric comfortable and your edges neat.

What Does Carrying Yarn Up Mean?

When you’re knitting flat, you work back and forth in rows. If you’re using two colours, you might knit a few rows with one colour, switch to another, and then return to the original colour later.

Rather than cutting the unused yarn, carrying it up means leaving it attached and securing it along the side edge as you continue knitting. The strand travels vertically along the wrong side of the fabric until you need it again.

This technique is particularly useful for striped scarves, blankets, dishcloths, and garments with repeating colour bands.

A quick distinction: This tutorial covers carrying unused yarn up the side of a project worked flat. If you’re knitting in the round, the yarn travels up between rounds instead. The process is similar in purpose, but the placement and handling are different. See my guide to carrying your yarn up while working in the round.

When Should You Carry Yarn Up the Side?

Carrying yarn up works well when you return to the same edge often enough that keeping the strand attached is convenient.

Consider carrying your yarn when:

• You’re working stripes over a repeating number of rows.
• You’ll return to a colour after only a few rows.
• You’d prefer to avoid extra yarn ends and finishing work.
• The carried strand can sit discreetly along the wrong side of the project.

The technique is often easiest when each stripe uses an even number of rows, so the colour changes happen at the same edge. If your pattern changes colours after an odd number of rows, the unused yarn may be waiting at the opposite edge. You may need a different approach, or you may find it simpler to cut and rejoin the yarn.

Think about the finished project, too. A carried strand can add a little bulk to the edge, and it may be visible if that edge is exposed. If you’re making a piece where both sides and edges will be seen, test the technique on a small swatch first.

How to Carry Yarn Up While Knitting Flat

You’ll need your knitting, the colours you’re using, and a little patience while you get comfortable with the movement.


Step 1: Leave the Unused Colour Attached
When it’s time to change colours, leave the previous colour attached rather than cutting it. Begin working with your new colour as directed by your pattern.

Keep the unused strand at the edge where you’ll need it again. Make sure it hangs on the wrong side of the fabric rather than across the front of your work.


Step 2: Cross the Strands at the Edge
When you reach the edge where the unused strand is waiting and need to secure it, bring that strand over the working yarn so the two strands cross.

For the simple carrying method shown here, catch the unused strand at the beginning of a right-side row, then work the first stitch with your working yarn as usual. The strands cross at the edge, helping to anchor the carried yarn instead of leaving it hanging freely.

Keep the movement consistent each time you secure the strand. If you’re following a pattern with a special selvedge or edging, check its instructions before adding a twist, as the edging may need a different treatment.


Step 3: Continue Knitting Across the Row
Once you’ve secured the carried strand, continue working across the row in your established stitch pattern.

You don’t need to keep twisting the colours together across the fabric. The purpose of this method is to secure the unused yarn along the edge, not to carry it across the back of every row.

When you reach the other end, turn your work and continue following the pattern.


Step 4: Keep an Eye on Your Tension
This is the part worth checking as you go.

The carried yarn needs enough slack to allow the edge to stretch naturally. Don’t pull it tight against the side of your knitting, even if you’re aiming for a particularly neat finish.

Every so often, gently stretch the edge between your fingers. It should move comfortably without pulling the fabric inward. If the edge looks pinched, loosen the carried strand before continuing.


Step 5: Repeat Until You Need the Colour Again
Continue carrying the unused yarn for as long as you need it. When it’s time to switch back to that colour, pick it up and work with it according to your pattern.

When you’re finished with a colour altogether, you can cut the strand, leaving a tail long enough to weave in securely.

And that’s it! You’ve reduced the number of yarn ends to tidy up without needing to reattach the same colour over and over.

Prefer a Visual?

Sometimes it’s easier to see a knitting technique in action than to follow written instructions. If you’d like to watch someone demonstrate how to carry yarn up the side of your knitting, take a look at this video tutorial on YouTube.

You can follow along with your own knitting and pause the video whenever you need a closer look at how the yarn is handled at the edge.

Tips for Keeping Your Edges Neat

A tidy edge comes down to a few small habits.

Keep the carried yarn relaxed. A tight strand can pull the edge inwards and make the fabric less comfortable to stretch. Leave enough yarn to accommodate the height of the rows you’ve worked.

Keep the carried strand on the wrong side. Check the front of your work periodically, particularly when using a contrasting colour. The yarn should not be pulled across the face of the fabric.

Be consistent about where you secure the yarn. Planning your colour changes and carrying the yarn along the same edge makes the process easier to manage.

Account for special edging stitches. A slipped-stitch selvedge, an I-cord edge, or another decorative border may need a modified method. Don’t assume that a standard yarn carry will disappear neatly inside every type of edging.

Swatch before committing to a large project. A quick sample lets you see whether the carried yarn is visible, whether the edge stretches comfortably, and whether the extra strand creates unwanted bulk.

Common Problems When Carrying Yarn Up

Why Is My Knitting Edge Pulling In?
The carried yarn is probably too tight. Undo the last few rows if necessary, then repeat the carry while leaving more slack in the unused strand.

It’s better to correct the tension as you work than to hope blocking will fix a restricted edge later.


Why Are There Loose Loops Along the Side?
The carried strand may have too much slack, or it may not be secured consistently. Check that you’re crossing the strands correctly and that you’re not leaving long loops between colour changes.

Adjust the tension gently rather than yanking on the yarn, which can distort the surrounding stitches.


Why Can I See the Carried Yarn on the Front?
Check where the unused strand sits as you change colours. It should remain on the wrong side of the work. If it keeps appearing on the front, try a small swatch and adjust your handling of the strands.

Keep in mind that some stitch patterns and edgings make the carried yarn more noticeable than others. If the edge will be exposed, cutting and rejoining or adding a suitable border may give you a better finish.


Should I Carry Yarn Up Every Row?
Not necessarily. Carry the unused colour when you need to secure it at the edge and keep it available for a later colour change. The method you use and how often you repeat it depend on the pattern, the direction of the colour changes, and the edge construction.

Follow the pattern’s instructions when it specifies a particular method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is carrying yarn up the same as stranded colourwork?
No. Carrying yarn up the side secures an unused strand along the edge of flat knitting. Stranded colourwork carries strands across the back of the fabric while you work different colours within the same row or round.


Can I carry yarn up the side of a scarf?
Yes. It can be useful for a scarf worked in stripes, especially if you change colours regularly and the carried strand will be hidden or incorporated into the finished edge. If both edges will be exposed, check that the carried yarn looks tidy from the outside.


Will carrying yarn up save me yarn?
It can reduce the amount of yarn lost to cutting and leaving tails, although it won’t eliminate all finishing. You’ll still need to weave in the ends when a colour is no longer being used.


Can I use this technique for any knitting project?
It depends on the pattern. Carrying yarn up works best when the yarn can travel neatly along an edge without interfering with the fabric or its stretch. For long gaps between colour changes, unusual edge constructions, or projects where the edge is highly visible, cutting and rejoining may be the better choice.

Final Thoughts

Carrying yarn up while knitting flat is a useful little trick for projects with repeating stripes and colour changes. It can save you from weaving in a pile of extra ends, but the key is to keep the carried strand secure without making your edge tight or bulky.

Try the method on a small swatch first, and check both sides of your work. Once you’re comfortable with the movement, you’ll have one more practical technique in your knitting toolkit.