Jogless Stripes

All of the free patterns and tutorials on this website are supported by my amazing Patreons! If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be able to continue to produce or host freebies. We'd love to have you join us and in return, you get exclusive behind-the-scenes material, member-only discounts and early access to new free content. Membership starts at $1 per month. You can also say thanks for the freebie via the Tip Jar.

I don’t tend to knit a lot of stripes; they’re not something I’ve ever worn and although I don’t wear most of what I design, they’re not really something I want to design with often, either! That said, I do get the urge to created stripey Hats from time to time but one thing that stops that happening is the lack of a good jogless stripe method.

I’ve taught a few methods over the years and my favourite is probably the travelling jogless stripe method used in my Anca’s beret pattern. This method I’m sharing today I tried out on the new free Striped Slouch pattern, and it didn’t fair to badly.

I used a grippy 100% Peruvian wool for these samples, ‘Unplugged Light’ from Molly Girl Yarn - your stripes may lay differently with a smoother or grippier yarn.

1) You’ll prepare for this jogless method on the last round of every colour you work.

2) Knit to the marker.

3) Then slip the last stitch of the round back onto the left-hand needle. Don’t unpick, just slip it.

4) You’re then going to knit this stitch again with the new colour.

5) The last stitch of the round has now been worked twice, and the new colour will now show.

6) Knit the next round in the new colour, stopping just before the last stitch.

7) With the tip of the right-hand needle, gently lift the stitch from the row below. What you’re doing here is lifting the last stitch when it was knit with the previous colour.

8) Then pop this stitch onto the left-hand needle so that it sits next to the last stitch.

9) Now knit these two stitches together to complete the round.

10) The round has now been finished, and the loop that was worked in the previous yarn may be a little saggy, you’ll want to tighten it up at this point to maintain an even tension.

11) And here it is, after evening up!

12) Here we can see how the jog has become much less visible after working another round in the second colour.

13) And here it is on the finished Striped Slouch Hat. It’s not perfect, but it’s not bad either! I’m not sure whether it’s the grippiness of the yarn causes the join to not be completely smooth, or my knitting style or tension. But overall I think it has potential in the right circumstances and reckon it’s worth a try.

Support

If you’ve a question about this technique, pop it in a comment below or visit the forum! I’m unable to offer help with patterns or techniques via email.