How to Remove Purl Dash Lines (Knitting Technique)
You’re going to love my simple trick on how to remove purl dash lines when changing colors in knit stitch patterns that have a combination of both knits and purls in the same row. My trick will help you create invisible color change in knitting will help you when knitting stripes every time.
Have you ever noticed when knitting up a hat or scarf with a bit of texture, that when you change your yarn colors, the right side of your work looks a little bit like the wrong? You can see the little dashes of the old color showing through the new color change, making it look (to your practiced eye) a little sloppy.
Luckily, there is an easy fix to remove those purl dash lines when changing yarn colors to knit stripes. This knitting hack not only gives you a seamless color change, but it is super simple. Let’s check it out together with some specific knit stitch patterns.
Table of Contents
MAGIC TRICK TO REMOVING PURL DASH LINES IN KNITTING
When changing yarn colors on straight knitting needles for a flat knitted piece, you will always have a distinct right and wrong side of your work.
Even with a pattern like the Garter Stitch that is Reversible when knitted with one color, the color change lines will be obvious on the wrong side of your work.
I am adding photos below to demonstrate how each side looks for the different patterns when changing yarn colors to knit stripes.
Ready to learn the secret for removing purl dash lines in any stitch pattern?
For any pattern that has a combination of both knits and purls on your yarn color change row, simply knit the entire color change row on the right side OR purl the color change row on the wrong side instead. Okay, that sounds really easy!
Let’s take a close look at exactly how to knit some basic Stitch Patterns to see exactly how we remove those purl dash lines.
2 SIMPLEST COLOR CHANGE PATTERNS
There are two No-Brainer Knit Stitch Patterns that need no pattern adjustments when changing yarn colors to knit stripes. Let’s begin by taking a quick look at the best way to knit stripes with the simplest of patterns, the Garter and Stockinette knit stitch patterns.
GARTER STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
When you are knitting every row in your knitting swatch, you are creating the most basic knit stitch pattern, the Garter Stitch.
When changing your yarn color, always do so on the right side of your work by knitting the entire row. So sweet and simple!
GARTER STITCH PATTERN
Cast On: Any number of Stitches
Row 1: Knit All Stitches (Right Side)
Row 2: Knit All Stitches (Wrong Side)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the length desired.
CHANGE YARN COLOR: Any time BEFORE starting to knit Row 1 on the Right Side of your work.
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF GARTER STITCH STRIPES
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STOCKINETTE STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
When you are Knitting one row, then Purling the next, you are creating the Stockinette Knit Stitch Pattern.
You’ll see that my sample is curling up a bit on the edges. Totally common for this pattern. To fix it, I like to add Garter Rows to all sides of the work to help it lay flat. Blocking my work really helps, too.
STOCKINETTE STITCH PATTERN
Cast On: Any number of Stitches
Row 1: Knit All Stitches (Right Side)
Row 2: Purl All Stitches (Wrong Side)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the length desired.
CHANGE YARN COLOR: Any time BEFORE starting to knit Row 1 on the Right Side of your work.
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF STOCKINETTE STITCH STRIPES
WATCH COLOR CHANGE STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
Click to Play Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
5 EASY KNIT STITCH PATTERN COLOR CHANGES
Here are the Knit Stitch Patterns that need slight adjustments in the pattern to help create a perfect color change row.
Below I am including the following 5 examples so you can best understand how to modify basic stitch patterns when changing yarn colors in your next knitting project.
2X2 RIB STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
The 2×2 RIB Stitch a bit thicker and is great for knitting scarves, hats, blankets, and more!
BEFORE WE REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE 2X2 RIB STITCH PATTERN
You can see that along the line of the color change, there are little purl dash lines that make our work look a little sloppy. It’s not terribly noticeable, especially if your rib stitch is closed up, but there is a way to perfect it!
LET’S REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE 2X2 RIB STITCH
Typically, we would change yarn colors and knit a * K2, P2 * repeat pattern. However, we are going to knit a clean yarn color change row by simply knitting that entire first row instead.
PATTERN FOR 2X2 RIB STITCH WITH STRIPE COLOR CHANGE
CAST ON: In Multiples of 4 Stitches.
COLOR CHANGE PATTERN:
- ROW 1: KNIT ALL (Right Side)
- ROW 2: * K2, P2 * (Wrong Side)
repeat pattern within * * - ROW 3: * K2, P2 *
- ROW 4: * K2, P2 *
REPEAT: Rows 3 and 4 until the length desired.
READY TO CHANGE YARN COLOR AGAIN? Once you’ve completed Rows 3 and 4, begin again with a new yarn color on Row 1 by knitting that entire row on the right side of your work.
KNITTING OTHER RIB STITCH PATTERNS? There are seemingly infinite Rib Stitch Patterns, like 1×1, 2×3, 3×5, and on and on… For all of these, you can use this exact same pattern by simply knitting up the right side of Row 1 with the knit stitch all the way along the row.
BUT IS THIS RIB PATTERN STILL STRETCHY? Oh, yes! The stretchiness of your Rib Stitch Patterns, even when knitting the entire color change row, is still totally intact. Hooray!
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES 2X2 RIB STITCH STRIPES
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SEED STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
This Knit Stitch Pattern is called the Seed Stitch because the raised bumps from your PURL stitches resemble seeds. It creates a really pretty and sturdy piece of knitting.
BEFORE WE REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE SEED STITCH PATTERN
You can see that along the line of the color change, there are little purl dash lines. Let’s fix it.
LET’S REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE SEED STITCH
Similarly to the 2×2 Rib Stitch above, we are going to clean up that purl dash line by switch the Seed Stitch pattern of * K1, P1 *, K1 to simply knit the entire first row instead.
This technique really works! The Seed Stitch looks so much better. And nothing is easier than knitting an entire row, right?
PATTERN FOR THE SEED STITCH WITH STRIPE COLOR CHANGE
CAST ON: An Odd Number of Stitches.
KNIT IN COLOR A:
- ROW 1: KNIT ALL (Right Side)
- ROW 2: * K1, P1 *, K1 (Wrong Side)
repeat pattern within * *, ending with K1 - ROW 3: * K1, P1 *, K1
- ROW 4: * K1, P1 *, K1
REPEAT: Rows 3 and 4 until the length desired.
CHANGE YARN COLOR: On Right Side of Work, before knitting up Row 1.
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF THE SEED STITCH STRIPES
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IRISH MOSS STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
The Irish Moss Stitch, also called the American Moss Stitch, is similar to the Seed Stitch above, but with a slightly thicker texture. It’s nice and squishy, too.
BEFORE WE REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE IRISH MOSS STITCH PATTERN
You can see the little green purl dash lines within the tan color, and vice-versa. Let’s take a look at how to remove those purl dash lines by changing up the pattern just a bit.
LET’S REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE IRISH MOSS STITCH
Let’s clean up that purl dash line by modifying the pattern as we did with the Seed Stitch by simply knit the entire first row instead.
PATTERN FOR THE IRISH MOSS STITCH WITH STRIPE COLOR CHANGE
CAST ON: An Even Number of Stitches in Multiples of 2
COLOR CHANGE PATTERN:
- ROW 1: KNIT ALL (Right Side)
- ROW 2: * K1, P1 * (Wrong Side)
repeat pattern within * * - ROW 3: * P1, K1 *
- ROW 4: * P1, K1 *
IF YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP KNITTING WITHOUT CHANGING COLORS, KEEP KNITTING WITH THIS PATTERN:
- ROW 1: * K1, P1 * (Right Side)
- ROW 2: * K1, P1 * (Wrong Side)
- ROW 3: * P1, K1 *
- ROW 4: * P1, K1 *
REPEAT: Rows 1 thru 4 until the length desired.
READY TO CHANGE YARN COLOR AGAIN? Begin again with the above Color Change Pattern by knitting the entire first row on the right side.
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF THE IRISH MOSS STITCH STRIPES
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WAFFLE STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
The Waffle Stitch also has a really fun texture, and syrup is optional. This yummy Waffle Stitch Pattern, with its series of knits and purls, resembles one of our favorite breakfast treats!
BEFORE WE REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE WAFFLE STITCH PATTERN
You can see the little blue purl dash lines within the tan color, and vice-versa. Let’s take a look at how to remove those purl dash lines by deciding when to change our yarn colors in the pattern.
LET’S REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE WAFFLE STITCH
Unlike the patterns above that are chock-full of knit and purl combinations on every row, this pattern actually has an entire row of the purl stitch to help us out.
So, let’s take advantage of keeping the pattern intact, but deciding when to change yarn colors.
PATTERN FOR THE WAFFLE STITCH WITH STRIPE COLOR CHANGE
CAST ON: In Multiples of 3, plus 1
- Row 1: * K1, P2 * K1
- Row 2: * P1, K2 * P1
- Row 3: Knit All
- Row 4: Purl All (Color Change Row)
Repeat 4 Rows until your piece is the length you desire.
READY TO CHANGE YARN COLOR? When you are ready to change your yarn color in this pattern, simply begin your new yarn color before Row 4 and purl that entire row on the wrong side of your work.
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF THE WAFFLE STITCH STRIPES
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GARTER CHECKERBOARD STITCH INVISIBLE COLOR CHANGE
This vintage Garter Checkerboard pattern is a combination of garter and stockinette stitch patterns, blocked together. It looks really intricate to knit, but it’s actually quite simple.
BEFORE WE REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE GARTER CHECKERBOARD STITCH PATTERN
You can see the little blue purl dash lines within the tan color, and vice-versa. Let’s take a look at how to remove those purl dash lines by deciding when to change our yarn colors in the pattern.
LET’S REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE GARTER CHECKERBOARD STITCH
This pattern actually has entire both rows of the purl stitch and the knit stitch to help us out like the Waffle Stitch above, yay! But, it’s a little more complex.
So, let’s take a look at when to best decide to change yarn colors.
PATTERN FOR THE GARTER CHECKERBOARD STITCH WITH STRIPE COLOR CHANGE
CAST ON IN COLOR A: Multiples of 10, plus 5
- Row 1: * K5, P5 *, K5
- Row 2: Purl All
- Row 3: * K5, P5 *, K5
- Row 4: Purl All
- Row 5: * K5, P5 *, K5
CHANGE TO YARN COLOR B NOW (optional)
- Row 6: Purl All
- Row 7: * K5, P5 *, K5
- Row 8: * K5, P5 *, K5
- Row 9: Knit All
- Row 10: * K5, P5 *, K5
- Row 11: Knit All
- Row 12: * K5, P5 *, K5
CHANGE TO YARN COLOR A (OR C, if adding multiple colors)(optional)
- Row 13: Knit All
- Row 14: * K5, P5 *, K5
Repeat: Rows 1 through 14 in pattern until your work is the length you desire.
EXTRA YARN TAIL WARNING: This pattern has us change yarn colors once on the wrong side of the work and then again on the right side. That said, it means you will have to cut your yarn and begin it again on the opposite side of your work and will not be carrying it up the side like most of our knitted stripe patterns.
AFTER WE REMOVE PURL DASH LINES IN THE GARTER CHECKERBOARD STITCH PATTERN
Looking closely at the pattern, changing one yarn color all the way across the row doesn’t make the checkerboard effect look as perfect as it possibly could. To do that, we would be carrying both colors across the yarn color change row, which is a little trickier. However, this is a nice little hack to easily change yarn colors as needed.
RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF THE GARTER CHECKERBOARD STRIPES
THANK YOU FOR VISITING STUDIO KNIT
I hope you are inspired to change yarn colors and knit stripes with confidence in your next knitting project.
