Any time you cast on, bind off, change colors, or start a new ball of yarn you will have a little ‘tail’ of yarn. Once you are finished with your knitting you will want to get rid of these tails by weaving the ends into your knitting.
While tying a knot and snipping your yarn close is tempting, DON’T DO IT! Even if you tie a knot (which is a faux pas in knitting, but that’s a story for another day), simply snipping the yarn close will not keep your knitting from unraveling. You must weave your ends through your knitting, helping the ends to ‘mesh’ with the rest of your knitting. After a little bit of wear your ends will become part and parcel of your finished item, no chance of them slipping loose!
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When to weave: Weaving in ends and sewing on buttons are always the last things I do for my knitting. I weave in my ends after I have blocked my knitting and done any sewing that needs to be done. So let’s get finished!
Tools of the trade: For this task you will need a darning needle. There are many types, but I like the kind pictured below, with a sharp point and a little bend to it. To begin weaving in your ends make sure the wrong side, or inside, of your work is facing you (if your item is reversible just pick a side and stick with it)
4 Easy steps to weaving in ends
- Thread your darning needle with your loose end.
- Weave the yarn up and down through a ‘line’ of stitches, pulling your yarn through (but not too tightly) as you go. Do this for 3 or 4 stitches
- For the last couple of stitches, split the yarn. This allows for a maximum ‘meshing’ of your end and your knitting. Do this for another 2 or 3 stitches.
- Cut your end. Your weaved in stitches should look something like this
Repeat these 4 steps for all the ends in your work.
Learning to knit or teaching a friend? Check out The Simple Collection – a step-by-step learn to knit program with 8 excellent free patterns, and clear tutorials to guide you.
Free Patterns from The Simple Collection:
Barley Light
Rye Light
Maize
Wheat
Flax Light
Flax
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February 22, 2021 @ 5:43 am
Does this method work for acrylic yarn?
February 22, 2021 @ 12:45 pm
Hi Judi – It should work for all yarns.
Let’s Knit a Northward Hat | Tin Can Knits
November 5, 2020 @ 1:32 pm
[…] finishing, break yarn, draw through the remaining live stitches, and pull to close top of hat. Weave in the ends and wet-block your hat. Attach a fabulous pom pom if you like. Put on your beanie, and you are […]
September 24, 2020 @ 12:00 pm
I love your light flex sweater and your flex sweater however I’m actually going to start the flex sweater for a female friend as soon as I hear back from you. The question I have for you is ML mean medium ladies and or what does the M stand for? I’m thinking the M means medium size for men but I maybe wrong
Chris
September 25, 2020 @ 10:17 am
Hi Chris – It’s Medium-Large, as in between the medium and large size
Love Note Sweater: Finishing (6/6) | Tin Can Knits
June 18, 2020 @ 6:00 am
[…] round, and then decrease more or fewer stitches before working the neckline ribbing and bind-off. Weave in all the ends once any required fit adjustments have been […]
My Modified Marshland Sweater | Pattern and Branch
March 20, 2020 @ 5:05 am
[…] that, I just had to block it (which I did in the washing machine using this tutorial) and weave in my millions of ends. It was finished a few days later! And I love […]
Bounce Blanket – Knits from a Small Island
May 28, 2018 @ 2:13 am
[…] Knits Modifications – none! Sewing in the ends – use your favourite method, mine is this one from Tin Can Knits (obviously) Difficulty level – intermediate given it involves some lace […]
Hue Shift Afghan – Knits from a Small Island
May 5, 2018 @ 5:30 am
[…] having to do all the seaming at the end in my humble opinion. My favourite end weaving in method is this one from Tin Can […]
December 31, 2017 @ 5:01 am
You are wonderful!
Let’s Knit some super simple mittens | Tin Can Knits
December 1, 2016 @ 9:00 am
[…] Weave in your ends and block your mittens. You are ready to wear them out! […]
May 3, 2016 @ 3:00 pm
Your tutorials are very helpful! Thanks.
How to Bind Off | Tin Can Knits
November 17, 2015 @ 10:57 am
[…] But now that I’ve bound off, what do I do with the yarn ends? Check out this tutorial. […]
November 14, 2015 @ 8:35 am
The best tutorials. Thank you.
Joining a ball | Tin Can Knits
April 2, 2015 @ 1:56 am
[…] I sometimes tie the two tails together in a loose knot so they won’t unravel or get in my way. When I am finished with the item I can undo this knot to weave in the ends. […]
March 18, 2015 @ 1:34 pm
Question about step three . . . I am not quite sure I understand. Do I split the tail yarn and weave it in separately? Or do I go through the yarn that is in the project, going through the middle of it?
March 20, 2015 @ 2:31 pm
Right through the middle of the yarn that is in the project
Let’s Knit a Sweater | Tin Can Knits
September 7, 2014 @ 9:37 pm
[…] a sweater can be the most important part. Block your sweater and weave in your ends. There will be a small hole at the underarm, use your tail to sew that […]
Free pattern Friday: Oats | espacetricot
August 30, 2013 @ 7:58 am
[…] How to Knit (video), How to Purl (video), How to Bind Off (Video), How to Knit Your First Scarf, How to Weave in Ends, Basic […]
July 30, 2013 @ 12:35 am
Loved it, thank you, I keep learning.