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Russian Join Tutorial for Crochet and Knitting

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Ready to take your crocheting and knitting up a notch with the Russian Join method of joining yarn? One thing (the only thing?) I hate about crocheting is having to weave in yarn ends. This method of joining yarn eliminates that step!

How to Make a Russian Join Video and Written Tutorial

Russian Join Tutorial for Crochet and Knitting

The Russian Join is a great way to connect two ends of yarn so that the join is as seamless as possible in your next project.  The Russian Join also works well when you are making your own yarn cakes with a yarn ball winder. Stay tuned for a tutorial on that!

To make a Russian Join, you’ll take the yarn and feed it back through itself using your yarn needle.  Do this once on the working yarn, and once on the new skein of yarn, connecting the two together in the middle.

How to Make a Russian Join 

Video tutorial below!

1. Thread your pointy yarn needle with the first yarn, leaving about a 4″ tail.

How to Make a Russian Join Step 1

2. Working through the center of the yarn (through the spirals if you untwist it a bit) feed your needle straight through for about 3″. The farther back you go the stronger the join.

How to Make a Russian Join Step 2

3. Pull the yarn to the base of the needle (make sure you keep the loop on the end!) and pull the tail through.

How to Make a Russian Join Step 3

4. Feed the second yarn end through that loop created on the first and thread your needle.

How to Make a Russian Join Step 4

5. Weave the second yarn through the center of itself, just like you did with the first side. Pull all the way through.

How to Make a Russian Join Step 5

6. You now have two joined pieces of yarn, pull on each tail to cinch up the loops where they are joined.

How to Make a Russian Join Step 6

When finished, trim the tails on both ends. You may need to trim more than once to get it all.

That is it!

Russian Join Video Tutorial

YouTube video
The Russian Join is particularly useful when you are creating a large project all in one color such as an afghan or other blanket, or if you are creating your own yarn cakes instead of purchasing one of the five major brands.  While some projects won’t suit for Russian Join, many projects do! Try this method of joining yarns today and let me know what you think!

More yarn tips and tutorials:

How to Choose the Best Yarn Ball Winder for Your Needs
Hobby Lobby’s NEW Sugarwheel Yarn Cakes: Comprehensive (Independent) Review
The Difference in Bernat Pop! Yarn Cakes, Caron Cakes, Mandala and Sweet Rolls
How to Create Planned Yarn Color Transitions in Crochet

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23 Comments

  1. I learned this a year or so ago, and I LOVE this! Its so easy and so much more secure. Not to mention, you cant even tell where its joined! It's like invisible! Love this! Everyone needs this in their life!
    Reply
  2. Thank you so much! I've been crocheting for years and have a method (don't know what it's called) but I've always worried about it holding up. Especially with machine washable items. This looks more secure. I can't wait to try this out! Think I'll practice on some left over yarn first. Love your site, tutorials and , of course, your patterns! Hope Caden is doing well
    Reply
  3. I've been crocheting for years, how have I never heard of this?! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Oh and a few random side notes: 1. Your yarn wall is amazing, did you construct it yourself? 2. Love the patterns on the website... I may have bookmarked almost every single one. 3. Your kids are adorable :3 thank you for all your craft knowledge!
    Reply
  4. Thank you for such a fabulous tutorial, Thank you also for letting me join your awesome site. I'm very excited to try this and see much more. Thank you again.
    Reply
  5. To not have the ends pop, instead of cutting the yarn blunt, take the scissors and rub on the yarn back and forth; you will get a feathered edge which blends in much more.
    Reply
  6. What a great idea,just like you I hate all the weaving at the end of my work, especially when knitting four colours at the same time. Thank you .
    Reply
  8. Love the info ty! But you might want to ‘check’ your video- holy moly interrupted by 5x commercials to your instruction. It was very frustrating. But your join has saved me and made my work so much more professional. Thank you so much!
    Reply
  10. Thank you foe the explanaruon and pulling tight enough to hear the snap. I wondered how strong this was. Also thank you for NOT over talking with your hands that so many crafters do. It is distracting and....silly.
    Reply
  11. What a great new and very useful step to smoother and effective yarn joining for us to learn. Genius, in my opinion. Thanks.
    Reply
  13. Hello, thanks for the video on Russian Join. I have hand issues and have difficulty doing this method so it comes out smooth looking and not raggedy. It also comes out thick. I’m working on a c2c graphgan, I’m using a weavers knot for color changes. Works good, but still that tiny knot! I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong with the Russian Join. Can you help? Old lady here! Really need help. Thanks, Dawn
    Reply
    1. I have used this stitch for about 1 1/2 years, and almost every time I have to change color I use the Russian join.
      Reply
  15. I had never heard of this technique but was eager to try it. I'm a hands-on, visual learner, so the video was especially helpful. I did it! The join was a bit too thick for my current project (with baby sportweight), but I'll use it on a thicker yarn, for sure! Thank you for a great tutorial! Your website is a wonderful reference, and I'll come back for more!
    Reply
  19. This is wonderful! I dislike so very much weaving in tails that invariably poke out of my work. Thank you so very much. Deana
    Reply