Bobbin and Lace and Tatting

What is the Best Way to Finish Off a Pattern? Glue? Weave In? Tie?

Hello crocheters,

Haven’t we all wondered if what we are doing is right or not? Though the question is appropriate to crochet as well as our others areas of our life, right now I’m specifically talking about innumerous items we love to crochet. No matter what the level of our expertise, there’s always that little doubt at the back of our minds. How to best finish a crochet pattern is probably one such query everyone has.

Different people finish their crochet projects differently. Some tie a knot, others weave in, some others weave in and then knot, while few just glue the loose ends in. Some crocheters follow a particular technique out of habit, whereas others experiment and do what is required.

One thing is for sure. Whatever you do, the primary objective is to prevent unraveling of the loose tail ends of the yarn. With this aim to be accomplished, consider the following when finishing a pattern:

•    For worsted chunky rough yarns, it’s okay to just weave in the ends and crochet on them. They rarely unravel. Instead, with regular use and wash they become well adjusted in the surrounding stitches. To be on the safe side however, weave in a longer length of yarn especially when changing colors. I myself have been doing so for quite a long time and haven’t heard any complaints till now about any of my crocheted products.
Use either your crochet hook or yarn needle to weave in ends.

•    For smooth fine yarns especially those made from silk, you may want to knot the ends so they do not slip out of the pattern causing it to completely unravel. Some crocheters first knot, then weave in and then tie the two ends together again. Sticking the tiny ends with waterproof fabric glue further prevents the yarn from fraying and sliding out.
Before making a knot, pay attention to the type of knot you make. A bulky uneven knot is sure to standout in delicate and simple patterns including those of doilies and laces.

•    If you are making a scarf or a blanket, you may want to add a fringe or edging to finish the project, another way of finishing a crochet pattern. Many patterns for fringes and edgings are available online. Most crochet books too have a section on fringes and edgings.

•    Some finishing techniques are described at:
http://www.wrights.com/wrights/class/needlework/finishing/finishing.htm

•    If you want, hone your skills from the book, Interweave’s Compendium of Finishing Techniques: Crochet, Embroidery, Knitting, Knotting, Weaving by Naomi McEneely. The book is available at:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-1079339-0857748?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Crochet+Embroidery+Knitting+Knotting+Weaving+Finishing+Techniques
You can also look for it on eBay to get a good deal.

Finally, try various finishing techniques, see what works for you and do what is required.

Happy finishing your crochet projects!

About the Author

Amber Green, the author of this article has been a writer in a craft magazine for over 10 years. Now she keeps a blog and writes crochet related books and articles. Go to her blog to find out more free tips and techniques to liven up your crochet.

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