That feeling of euphoria and accomplishment when a project is completed. Ahhhhh!
It’s okay to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done, and to post pictures of it on Facebook, and to want to hurry up and start another project. Don’t get too excited though knitters and crocheters, because you’ve still got all. those. ends. to weave in. Ugh.
The question every new knitter or crocheter asks themselves: “Do I really have to weave in all of these ends?!”
The answer: “Yup.”
I loathe weaving in ends. Loathe it. But it is a necessary evil when working with yarn.
The first time I crocheted a large blanket I was terrified to wash it. Scared that I hadn’t woven in the ends well enough, I slipped it into the washer, crossed my fingers (and downed a glass of wine) afraid that I’d take it out of the dryer (it was king size!) and find only large pieces instead of the finished project I had washed.
It came out perfect! I have never had an end work its way out (I’ve had the tiny little ends peek out after washing but that doesn’t count as completely unraveling, just snip it and call it good) using this technique.
How to Weave in Yarn Ends {So They Don’t Come Out}
The main things to remember when you weave in ends are to:
a.) leave yourself enough yarn to work with.
b.) crochet over the end for a few stitches/rows if possible while still working on the project.
c.) take multiple passes with your yarn needle with each end while weaving.
If possible when changing colors or starting a new skein of yarn, hold the tail flat on top of the previous row and crochet AROUND that strand, helping to “pin” the tail to the new row so that part of the weaving is already done. (see photo above)
Plus, this helps to move the yarn away from where you joined so that you can weave it in in another area of the project, helping it to not be so glaringly obvious where you joined.
I always go back and forth three times with each end. Once straight through, then I turn around and come straight back at it, but going THROUGH the fibers of the yarn. Then I turn around and go back through a third time (in the original direction).
Yarn can’t move in three directions at once.
I also go through the fibers of the yarn to help it stay put. This also helps to not make it so obvious if you pull the yarn too tight while weaving.
The needle you use to weave in ends is all up to personal preference. I like the pointy tip needles like these because I like to go through the fibers of the yarn. Some people prefer curved tip needles and some like the plastic needles like these.
One thing for sure is that by weaving each end three times in opposing directions and by going through the fibers of the yarn, that end ain’t goin’ nowhere, honey.
Happy creating, and happy weaving!
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