Mastering Color Changes: How to Fix the Jogless Join "Peekaboo"

When knitting stripes in the round, many knitters notice a small "step" or a visible strand where the new colour begins. This is not a mistake in the knitting itself, but a natural result of how circular projects are constructed.

The Mechanics: Spirals vs. Circles

Knitting in the round does not create a series of stacked circles; it creates one continuous spiral. Because the yarn travels upward as you work, the end of a round will always sit slightly higher than the beginning. When you change colours, this vertical offset becomes visible, creating what is known as a "jog."

Technical Comparison

Using the right technique is the difference between a staggered line and a seamless transition.

• The Standard Result: Simply changing the yarn and continuing to knit. This leaves the natural spiral "step" visible.

• The Jogless Result: Using the slip stitch technique on the second round of a new colour to pull the spiral into a closed circle.

How to Execute a Jogless Join

Round 1:

1. Slip: Before knitting any stitches, slip 1 stitch from the right needle to the left needle.

2. Yarn Over: Using your new colour, create a yarn over (YO).

3. Slip Back: Slip that same originally slipped stitch back onto the right needle.

4. Continue: Proceed to knit the rest of the round as normal with the new yarn.

5. The Join: When you reach the end of the round, work the last stitch of the old colour and the YO of the new colour together (k2tog).

6. Tighten: Pull both yarn tails (old and new) to remove any slack.

Integrating this small technical shift into your workflow ensures your colour changes remain seamless across any circular project. It is a simple way to give your hand-knits a professional, polished finish that disguises the natural spiral of the work.