In modern Scandinavian knit design, “held together” (knitting with two or more strands at the same time) has become an extremely popular technique. Designers like PetiteKnit use it across a wide range of their best-known patterns, and there are several good technical reasons for that.
By combining multiple strands you can hit a thickness you do not have as a single yarn in your stash, blend colours to create a unique interplay of colours, pair a smooth plied yarn with a carry-along strand for a soft fibre halo, or use up smaller leftovers from your stash.
The technique is straightforward, but there are a few things worth knowing.
Yarn weight when holding two strands together
When you hold two strands together, they behave as one thicker strand. How much thicker depends on the actual yarns, and you cannot calculate the result by adding yarn weight categories together. Below are the combinations Purl Soho lists as approximate equivalents:
| Strand combination | Approximate equivalent |
|---|---|
| 2 × Lace | Fingering |
| 2 × Fingering | DK |
| 2 × Sport | Light worsted to worsted |
| 2 × DK | Worsted to aran |
| 2 × Worsted / aran | Bulky / chunky |
| 2 × Bulky / chunky | Super bulky / jumbo |
Many producers use their own classification systems. DROPS documents what combinations of their yarn groups equal. The numbers apply to DROPS’ own groups:
| DROPS combination | Equals |
|---|---|
| 2 × Group A | Group C |
| 3 × Group A | Group D |
| 4 × Group A | Group E |
| 8 × Group A | Group F |
| 2 × Group B | Group D |
| 2 × Group C | Group E |
| 4 × Group C | Group F |
| 2 × Group E | Group F |
CYC and DROPS use different yarn classification systems. WPI measures how many wraps of yarn fit into one inch. Always knit a swatch to check the gauge and assess whether the fabric suits your project. Each strand has to last through the whole project, so you need the required length of both. Two leftovers of the same weight are not necessarily the same length. A more detailed overview can be found in the Guide to yarn weights.
Combinations that work
Silk mohair paired with a smooth strand
This is the definitive classic in modern knitting. Fine silk mohair often sits in the lace category, while brushed alpaca comes in several thicknesses. When held together with a solid fingering or DK strand, it lays a dense, luxurious fibre halo across the fabric. This is the technique that defines the look of popular designs such as The September Sweater.
The combination has three clear advantages:
- The loose mohair fibres act as a visual “glue” that binds the stitches together.
- The fabric becomes airy and light.
- The colours blend together, making it easy to mask minor shade differences if you are using leftover yarn.
Two strands of fingering (can match DK)
If you have two smaller leftover skeins in fingering weight, held together they can suit a pattern designed for DK yarn, if your swatch gives the right gauge and the fabric you want. This is an excellent, stable solution for smaller projects like hats, cowls and mittens.
Three strands of lace (can approach DK)
Three strands of lace can in some cases approach DK, but it depends heavily on yardage and fibre. It gives you the opportunity to experiment with blending colour transitions, but always knit a gauge swatch first.
Two contrasting colours (marled effect)
Even if you are using two yarns with identical fibre content and weight, you can create a striking visual effect by choosing two different colours. The result is a lively, marled texture with fine colour shifts across the stitches.
What to watch out for
Yarn construction and twist
The yarn’s structure has a significant impact on how the two strands sit together on the needle. Plied yarn consists of several plies twisted together. If you combine two singles yarns (single ply), however, the fabric can in some cases begin to twist, because they lack the internal balance provided by opposing twist.
Fibre balance and elasticity
When you blend two different fibre types, you lock their properties together:
- Wool + Alpaca: You get wool’s spring combined with alpaca’s heavy, elegant drape. Be aware, though, that alpaca has little recovery, so a heavy fabric can stretch lengthwise over time.
- Wool + Cotton: Here you lose a significant portion of wool’s natural elasticity. Cotton has less recovery than wool, so ribbed edges can go slack over time. How much depends on the yarns and on how firmly the ribbing is knitted.
Needle adjustment and gauge swatch
The table says that two strands of fingering can match DK, but the swatch shows the gauge the combination actually gives. If you knit tightly, you get more stitches per 10 cm and a firmer fabric. Wash and dry the swatch the way you will treat the finished piece before you measure it.
Three classic combinations that often work well
If you want to experiment with the technique, these three pairings are well known and frequently used in Scandinavian knitting:
- Sandnes Sunday + Sandnes Tynn Silk Mohair: Gives an unmatched, soft and stable sweater structure.
- Filcolana Arwetta + Filcolana Tilia: The classic, durable Danish combination, available in a wealth of colourways.
- Knitting for Olive Merino + Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair: Two yarns from the same producer that are often knitted together.
Check that both yarns can take the same care, and follow the more delicate of the two. Filcolana Arwetta is machine washable, while Tilia has to be hand washed.
How Nysta handles multiple strands
If the pattern is written for two strands held together, Nysta finds pairs in your stash: a main yarn that matches the pattern’s main yarn and a carry-along strand that matches the pattern’s carry-along strand. Each strand gets its own assessment, and the pair gets one overall assessment.
We work out the amount of yarn for each strand separately, so you can see whether you have enough of each yarn for your size. On the pattern page you can see what we’ve assumed.
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Frequently asked questions
What does held together mean in knitting? Held together means that you knit with two or more strands held on the needle at the same time. The strands function as one combined yarn. Knit a swatch with the strands held together to measure your gauge.
Can you knit with two different yarns at the same time? Yes, that is the whole point of the technique. The most common combination is a smooth main yarn in fingering or DK held together with a fine silk mohair as a carry-along strand. Be aware that different fibre types can affect elasticity and drape.
Which yarns work well together as held together? A solid fingering or DK strand combined with silk mohair is the classic and most stable combination. Two strands of fingering can match DK weight. Two singles yarns held together can make the fabric bias, because they lack the balance that opposing twist provides.
Can Nysta find held-together combinations in my stash? Yes, for patterns written for two strands held together. Nysta finds a main yarn and a carry-along strand in your stash and shows how well they match the pattern’s two yarns.
Add your yarn, and we’ll find patterns you can knit, including with multiple strands held together.
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