Follow these steps to darn or weave the loose ends left when you change colors or add a ball of yarn to your knitting. If you don't do it properly, those ends may show. If you cut the ends too short, they can unravel and leave you with a mess.
Thread your large-eyed darning needle with one of the loose ends. Fold the yarn tightly over the needle and slide it up to the eye, then push the fold through. If you still can't thread the needle, try using a needle threader.
2
Work on the purl side of stockinette stitch or the wrong side of any other stitch. Weave the needle down through at least 3 inches of knitting while picking up loops or stitches on every other row.
3
Pull the needle to pull the yarn through the loops. Trim the edge of the tail as close as possible to the knitting work using sharp scissors.
4
Weave the long tail through the selvage if your tail is near a seam on the inside of a garment. This will secure the tail and help keep the selvage from unraveling.
5
Sew the tail carefully through a line of stitches or a pattern stitch if your long end is in the middle of a large area. Try to work it through at least 6 inches to make sure it looks like part of the pattern.
Tips & Warnings
When you change yarn colors or add a new ball of yarn to your project, remember to secure the yarn and leave a long tail. You should have enough to be able to easily thread the needle, weave in the tail and trim any remaining length.
If you tie a knot in your yarn when you add a new ball and then cut the tail ends short, you won't be able to weave them in, and the first time you wear or wash the knit item, it's likely to fall apart. Keeping your tails long is critical for a good connection of the yarn.
Be careful not to unravel the end of the tail when you're threading the needle. That will shorten your working strand.
