Magic Yarn Ball: Joining Scraps Without Knots

Magic balls are a fun way to use up yarn that was leftover from various crafting projects. You can turn multiple scraps of yarn into one beautiful cohesive ball. The yarn ends will be joined with a method known as the Russian Join.

It is easier to use thicker yarns, such as worsted-weight yarns, for this project. Do not let that deter you if you have something thinner. I have successfully make magic balls out of even slender sock-weight yarns.

The fibre content of your yarn does not matter for this project. It works with even acrylic yarns.

• multiple balls of yarn (minimum length of one metre/yard each)
• yarn needle
• scissors (or other cutting tool)

You can make a magic ball with a specific crafting project in mind, or you can put one together just for fun. If you wish to make a specific project, I recommend weighing your scraps before joining your yarn to make sure that you have enough yarn for your project.

The yarn you select should be similar in thickness. For a truly wild yarn, you can play around with various lengths and textures for your yarns. It is easier to use plied yarns for this project.

For my sample, I selected various colours of the same brand of yarn. I typically use one 100g ball to make a hat; 95g of yarn should be enough for my future crafting project.

Thread the end of one scrap of yarn. Create a loop of yarn by bending the yarn back on itself and inserting the needle into the center of the yarn. If the yarn is plied, you can gently untwist the yarns to help you find the core more easily. Pass the needle through at least two inches of yarn. The longer the pass, the more secure the join. Gently tug on the end of the yarn to make the loop smaller. Do Not Fully Close The Loop

Thread the end of another scrap of yarn. Pass the needle through the loop created in the previous step. Create a loop of yarn by bending the yarn back on itself and inserting the needle into the center of the yarn. Pass the needle through at least two inches of yarn. Gently tug on the end of the yarn to make the loop smaller

Gently pull on the ends of the yarn on both sides until the loops completely disappear. The yarn may bunch up on itself. Smooth out each side by holding the join in one hand and pulling the yarn away from the join. I like to use my thumb and forefinger to gently pull the excess yarn away from the join. Clip the tails.

Repeat Steps 3 and 4 as many times as necessary to join all of your scraps. I find it easier to start winding my yarn ball as I go. Otherwise I have found that the yarn is likely to tangle.

Whether your magic ball is made out of scraps of the same yarn or a brilliant medley, you now have wonderful ball of yarn that is ready for your crafting. I will be turning mine into a hat. What will you do with yours?