How to Crochet Without Leaving Loose Ends

Adding different colors of yarn will be easier if you know how to hide the loose ends.

Nothing ruins a crochet project like loose ends. They are unsightly, and if you pull them the right way, you will unravel all of your hard work. Fortunately, getting rid of them is a lot easier than trying to decipher a crochet pattern. Essentially, all you need to do is weave in the loose ends with a tapestry needle, but the process becomes more complicated when you're doing a project that involves several pieces of yarn, particularly if you are adding different colors.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Instructions

1. 

   Use a tapestry needle to weave in the loose ends.

   Tie a slip knot several inches from the end of the yarn when you begin a project. While you leave this much yarn in the pattern itself, you'll need a reasonable length of yarn to weave this end of your project in. Most prefer to do this at the end of the project. At this point, you may also weave in the last piece of yarn. When you are done with the project, cut the yarn several inches away from the last stitch, pull the loose end through the stitch, and tighten.

2. Use your tapestry to weave in the end, then use the tapestry to weave in the yarn at the beginning. If your project is multicolored or uses variegated yarn, ensure that you weave the yarn into areas that match its color and always maintain the same tension you did throughout the project so the loose yarn simply looks like another stitch. Weave in about 2 inches of yarn, then cut off the excess as close to your finished piece as possible.

3. 

   The yarn ends should conceal themselves automatically.

   Add same-color yarn as close to the end of a row as possible. The easiest way to do this is to overlap the new yarn with the yarn you're already using, which should be fairly simple as long as you aren't crocheting too tightly. Overlap the yarn by about 4 or 5 inches, or more if you are new to the process. The ends of each piece of yarn should automatically conceal themselves in the stitches, but if they don't, just use a tapestry needle to weave in the loose ends.

4. Add yarn of a different color when you've reached the end of a row, or whenever the pattern specifies a new color is needed. Cut the original yarn several inches away from the project. Draw the new yarn through the previous loop and continue to crochet. Leave several inches of the new yarn to the side of the row. Weave the ends of the yarn into the appropriately colored area when you have enough stitches. Once they are secure, cut the yarn as close to the project as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• When in doubt, always cut the yarn on the interior of the project to ensure that it won't be seen from the outside.

References

• "I Taught Myself Crochet;" William Wright Company; Antioch, TN; 2008