Russian Join for Non-Wool Yarns

McKnitty · 08-13-2009, 11:39 PM

I use the Russian join for everything, except bulky yarns. However, I usually use yarns with at least a little wool. Right now I'm knitting a summer baby blanket with Berroco Comfort. The yarn is nylon and acrylic, and seems to be a little splitty IMO. I think it is the nylon that is the problem.

Has anyone used the Russian join for this type of yarn? I'm not sure if the join works well for all types of yarn. I've used it for all-acrylic yarn, but I'm concerned about the nylon in this yarn. I'm barely going to have enough yarn for the blanket, so I don't want to waste any if at all possible.

bambi · 08-14-2009, 03:26 PM

I have done Russian joins on all kinds of yarn, including 100% acrylic yarns. I haven't had a problem yet.

I love the Russian joins! No ends to weave except the begining and the end and it makes a seameless color change, too.

Bambi

GinnyG · 08-14-2009, 04:24 PM

Hmm........... I have never used the Russian join for anything but wool, I always felt it a bit after joining. I suppose if you made the join long enough it might work............

OffJumpsJack · 08-14-2009, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by bambi

I have done Russian joins on all kinds of yarn, including 100% acrylic yarns. I haven't had a problem yet.

I love the Russian joins! No ends to weave except the begining and the end and it makes a seameless color change, too.

Bambi

I agree with Bambi.

Today I was winding balls from leftovers of Caron Simply Soft 100% acrylic and also Lily Sugar 'n Cream 100% cotton. The Russian join worked well on both acrylic and cotton. Now I have one large ball of acrylic (from several pieces) and one separate ball of cotton (from two pieces).

I overlapped 2 inches (5 cm) on each side of the join and it doesn't slide out even with the slippery acrylic. Now the cotton was more fiddly in getting the yarn to thread into the splice since it was so grabby. I'm sure it will not unravel, slide, or fray.

I would guess that nylon is somewhere in between the slippery acrylic and the grabby cotton.

MAmaDawn · 08-14-2009, 06:47 PM

I've used it with all acrylic too, if you are worried about the nylon slipping too much you can tack the join down with some matching thread.

McKnitty · 08-14-2009, 10:59 PM

Thanks everyone, I think I'll go ahead and try it. Usually I'm not this concerned about a join (no big deal if it doesn't work, try a different one) but I can't afford to lose any yarn.

Knitting_Guy · 08-15-2009, 05:13 AM

If it works, it works. If it will felt the join will work, if it won't felt it won't work.

LizzieK8 · 08-15-2009, 12:34 PM

I've used the Russian Join on acrylics for years and years and it works just fine. Once it's knitted or crocheted into the fabric, it's not going to come undone. I've used it for scrapghans that get washed at least once a week and never had any issues at all.

Anarfea · 08-15-2009, 01:08 PM

I thought the whole point of a russian join is that you can use it on yarns that won't felt. Since I find it kind of a pain in the but to do, I only use it on yarns that can't be spit-spliced.

Are you joining yarns in the same color or doing a color change? If it's the later, you might also try Techknitter's overcast method.

McKnitty · 08-16-2009, 05:56 AM

Well, I did it and it works okay. Not great, but it will have to do. I've never had a problem with acrylic so I'm assuming it is the nylon in the yarn that is causing difficulty.

I'm not very happy with this yarn and have found it unpleasant to work with. It is very splitty and the ends fray terribly. There have been several knots in the yarn (from the manufacturer) and also the yarn tangles and knots on itself quite easily.

However, it does feel soft and it is a pretty color, so I'll keep on knitting.