Sunday, July 29, 2012

How to fasten off ends...

Have you ever heard that song with Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussy Cat Dolls singing "I hate this part right here..."??? Well, I hate this part right here - fastening off ends, weaving in, securing, finishing off! That is no secret. I drag it. And I have done short cuts in previous WiP's. And I have learned from my mistakes. And I am not taking any risks anymore. So I thought I would share my version of this terribly boring job that is a part of the joyful and wonderful creative art crochet.

"I hate this part right here..."

To do a rough securing of my ends while working on a project, I fasten off my ends with a slip stitch. I then cut off and leave about 5-6 inches/12-14 cm of yarn. I take my hook under the next stitch and bring the thread through and then I bring the thread back under the loops in the next stitch. Later when I join a new yarn I weave in the end with 2-3 stitches, trebles (UK) in this case as this is a granny square. And then I leave my end until I am ready to secure it for life!!!
I use a neat and small tapestry needle with a large oval shaped eye.

Sew in your ends under the stitches of the back of your work, preferably back and forth a few times.



Cut off the yarn close to your work.

Massage your cluster a bit to soften it up and - VOILA - you can't see anything at the front of your work.
I always use a small and neat tapestry needle with a large oval shaped eye. I simply sew in my end not just once but three times, back and forth like in the pictures above. And then I cut off the end. I massage the cluster* a little bit to make it soft and nice and - VOILA. Done! Your weaved in ends doesn't show at all from the front of your work. :D

Well, that is it. Thought it would be fun to share. You may do it in a different way and I am always interested to here your version as mine is a bit... Time consuming.

Another tips for you if you like me "Hate this part right here!" is to fasten off as I go. Not one square at the time but after lets say 10 or 15 squares I take an hour and fasten off all ends before continuing. It makes a huge difference. Especially on big granny square projects like blankets.

Now it is time for dinner making. Lamb skewers, cous-cous and tsatziki. Yum! Next post will be my Granny Stool Tutorial. Stay tuned!








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4 comments:

  1. I am SO with you on this. I don't why I can't stand weaving in ends, but I can't. I try to do a couple at a time, and then reward myself with more crochet. I think I go through the stitches more than 3 times, on the whole, especially if I'm making something for a baby, where I really want the ends to be secure. Maybe I'll cut down to 3 on other projects. Good idea, thanks!

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  2. Very well explained, Annette, especially with the explicit photos to see the details. This is so helpful as we can make or break a lovely crocheted item by the way we finish it off! Thanks!
    Looking forward to seeing the stool tutorial! You're such a busy bee!

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  3. Can I come for dinner?? :) Great little tutorial on weaving in ends, which I also DO NOT like to do! xoxo Debbie

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  4. This is perfect information, my ends tend to slip out.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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I truly enjoy reading your sweet messages! Thanks for leaving a trail.
Kärlek
Annette

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