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Magic Knot

January 26, 2023 / No Comments

Hello there!

It’s my first tutorial of 2023, the Magic Knot, woohoo! It’s a secure way to join a new skein to an old one using a knot that wont unravel and doesn’t require ends to be woven in. This is a technique that was one of the most difficult for me to master, mostly because my brain couldn’t focus on and follow the multiple strands of yarn as it was shown in other tutorials.

Once I figured out a way of looking at those strands that made it make sense in my own head, I was able to do it effortlessly without having to look up a tutorial each time. Just in case there are others whose brains are wired like mine, I thought I would share how I look at it to maybe make it make sense to others too. Or muddy the waters even more, I don’t know. I hope not!

Pin Image: Crochet Tutorial: Magic Knot; Photo and Video Tutorial. Hooksbookswanderlust.com

If you’re subscribed to my YouTube Channel, then you may have already seen the video tutorial for this technique posted there. Today I’m going to share my written photo tutorial for it, but I’m posting the video below for you so you have both options available to you in one place! Woohoo!

“Pretzel Knot”

The first step to understanding the magic knot is to understand what I call the “pretzel knot.” I’m sure it has another actual name, but I don’t know what that is and the shape before pulling it closed looks like a pretzel, hence the moniker. You’re probably already familiar with it. This is the basic knot you tie on a single string when you need a knot in the strand, likely without even thinking of it. You make a loop out of the strand with the tail crossed under the length of the string, then feed the tail through the loop. Before you pull tight, look at the shape. Pretzel!

Make a loop with your yarn tail so that the tail lays under the length of the working yarn.
Feed the tail through the loop. Notice that the shape looks like a pretzel!
Pull on both sides of the pretzel to tighten and watch your pretzel get smaller.
Pulled all the way tight, you now have a basic knot that I call the "Pretzel Knot."

Keep that pretzel knot in mind as we make the magic knot.

Magic Knot

A magic knot is two pretzel knots that have been made with the lengths of the opposite yarn secured through the center of them. Those knots then slide together when pulling on their respective yarn lengths (the working yarn attached to your project and the new skein) to form the double knot we call the magic knot. So let’s break it down!

Lay the old yarn (attached to your project) and the new yarn (attached to the new skein) parallel to one another, facing opposite directions. The gray yarn is labeled "old yarn" and the green yarn is labeled "new yarn."
Fold the old yarn tail 90 degrees down and over the length of the new yarn. Then, do the same with the new yarn, folding it 90 degrees up and over the length of the old yarn, forming a rectangle of sorts.
Pick one of the yarn tails, order doesn't matter, (shown as the old yarn chosen) and fold the tail back up under the lengths of BOTH the old and new yarn to form a loop.
Feed the tail through the top of the loop with the second yarn length trapped inside. It should look like a pretzel. Then tighten the "pretzel" by pulling on both the length and tail to make a knot. Be careful not to pull too tightly, leave a little room for the second yarn to slide through the knot freely.
This completes the first of two knots. Repeat the same for the opposite yarn.
The second yarn tail (new/green yarn) should still be laying on top of the first yarn length. Fold the yarn tail under the lengths of BOTH the old and new yarn to form a loop.
Feed the yarn tail through the top of the loop with the first yarn trapped inside to make the pretzel shape again. Pull on the yarn tail and lengths of the "pretzel" to tighten into a knot. Again, do not pull so tightly that you can't pull the first yarn through the knot freely.
This completes the second of two knots.
Magic! Now, tighten the individual knots snugly by selecting the yarn tail and length of the same yarn (either the old or new) and pull as tightly as the yarn will allow. Repeat for the remaining yarn tail and length.
With those tightened, you'll notice a little gap has formed between the two individual knots again. Pull on the yarn lengths once again to slide the knots back together and pull as snugly as the yarn will allow.
That's it! Snip the yarn tails as close to the knot as possible and you're done!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If there’s a stitch or technique you’d like to see me make a tutorial for, let me know in the comments below!

Until next time!

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