Comments on: Save Time by Doing Finishing Work as You Knit or Crochet!

By: jjhugs

jjhugs — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I had the same challenge until I realized that the I wasn’t leaving my yarn ends long enough. By leaving an extra two-three inches, the ends are less likely to work their way out over time. When I feel like the yarn type is more likely to “wiggle”, I’ll still work over the ends as I go but leave about 1 1/2 inches to weave back in the other direction for extra security.

By: Sandy Privetts-Black

Sandy Privetts-Black — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:01:00 +0000

I find that if I don’t try to do my finishing as I’m knitting or crocheting, but wait till I’m done, it becomes a UFO with only the finishing left to do. When I moved last year and had to pack up or sell my craft room items, I was shocked at the number of items (dishcloths especially) that were almost done except for getting rid of the ends. I try to make it more of a habit of finishing them when I finish then I used to. Can’t use it or give it if it is not finished. Thanks for the great tip.

By: Sownsew

Sownsew — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:31:00 +0000

Wish I had seen this 6 month ago!!! I am very nearly to the end of a Tumbling Blocks knitted afghan…and am REALLY put off by the task of weaving in the ends. If I can learn it, I will use it from now on.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 02:11:00 +0000

I’ve used all three of these methods with success. But I also often use this method when joining two strands of the same color (which sounds similar to what the “guest” above me is suggesting):

- leave a decent-sized tail of the old yarn
- pick up the new yarn on the next stitch just how you normally would, also leaving a decent tail
- on the subsequent three stitches, instead of working with one strand of yarn, work with BOTH strands of the new yarn (the working strand and the tail held together)
- on the next row across, when you get to the OLD yarn’s tail, work three stitches with that tail held together with the new working yarn
- on the next two rows, when you get to the relevant tails, again work them with the working yarn

I use this method when the yarn or the type of stitches can hide the double-strands. If I’m doing straight stitches in knitting with a uniform acrylic yarn, I’ll generally use a different method! But if there’s already texture in the piece, it can generally handle the bulk.

By: guest

guest — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:39:00 +0000

I have recently started doing more work with different colors, and find that weaving my ends in before I start the new color allows me to know without doubt that I am weaving into the correct color now that I am blind. When I start a new yarn, I hold the new tail in my left hand for the first stitch. Then, I bring the tail back and hold it with the working yarn while I work five or ten more stitches. I also leave the rest of the end until after I wash it. Once it is washed, I can snip the ends very close because the machine has already been working the item and the stitches have been given that little bit of stretch so that when the item is used or worn, the ends stay where they belong and are hidden.

By: Joni

Joni — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 01:08:00 +0000

I just used the braided join on a 2 ply Linen Tweed. Perfect! The join disappears into the garment.

By: Robin Brzozowski

Robin Brzozowski — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:09:00 +0000

I’ve heard of the Russian and Felted join, but haven’t used them yet. I really need to take the time to learn. Weaving in ends in my least favorite part. I always crochet over the ends, but feel like I need to give them a bit more security so I end up weaving them back in the other direction for a few stitches. Thanks for the tips!

By: Mackenzie

Mackenzie — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:26:00 +0000

I just learned about the braided join a few weeks ago.

By: Christine Cheverall

Christine Cheverall — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Alternatives to the Russian Join are: the Braided Join and Double Knot.
Neither of them need sewing needles – both joins are pretty much invisible in a finished piece. The Braided Join only works on plied yarns, though. You can find videos on YouTube for both.

By: Vmoniz06

Vmoniz06 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:59:00 +0000

I have been disappointed with crocheting over my ends…the first wash they start working their way back out. I am going to start trying the Russian and felted joins.