THOSE PESKY ENDS

What to do with those pesky ends?
update c2004 Sandra Petit, http://www.crochetcabana.com

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I suddenly realized that there is one sort of "end" that I don't think I've covered anywhere. That is when you finish off a piece, particularly at the end of a granny square round. It seems there is always a little hump or small piece where you can tell that's the joining. Well, I have discovered a way to get rid of that and I am going to share. I call it the Invisible Finish Off or IFO and I now have a tutorial on the method, but here it is in brief.

I first read about this method in a wonderful book "200 Crochet Blocks" by Jan Eaton, though this my own explanation of the method. I have since seen it other places as well. I end nearly all my pieces in this manner now.

Figure A 1) after completing your last ch-1, with right side facing you, pull yarn through and cut at least 6" from end (I believe in long ends so more is better) extra note: If you are using this method for something other than a granny square, you won't need the ch-1, so you can just snip the yarn about 6" from the end and pull through, then continue with the rest of the steps

Figure B  2) thread a large eye needle with the strand you just cut, insert needle under top 2 strands of stitch to left of beginning ch-3, (some enter from front, some from back), pull yarn through

Figure C 3) Entering from front, insert needle into the middle (back loop) of the last stitch completed. In this case you will insert hook in your last ch-1, between the front and back loops.

Figure D 4) Pull through to back and weave ends in on the wrong side as normal. Remember not to pull too tightly or your piece will pucker

Moving on to the other kind of ends. You have finished that beautiful, beautiful afghan. You have crocheted the last row and finished off. Oh, it took soooo long but it really came out great! Dad (Mom, Hubby, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Brother, Sister, Friend, Boss...) are going to LOVE it! But wait, what's that? You didn't sew in the ends? Bummer. Then you are not finished and depending on your pattern, you may have just a few, or a whole lot of ends to sew in which may take an hour or two to a few days to take care of.  If you are working on a project with a deadline - don't forget to account for time to sew in the ends and do the border etc. This will sometimes take several days if you have limited time for crocheting.

About.com has one method of sewing in ends with a great pic.
http://crochet.about.com/library/bl_weave_ends.htm

Here are some generalities about taking care of those pesky ends.
First, when you are getting near the end of your project and you have not taken time to sew in your ends, start being really nice to everyone in the house who can hold a needle. Fill the house with cookies, their favorite dishes, sleepover guests, whatever makes them happy. Then look very sad and sigh a lot. They will want to know why you are doing this and you, of course, will note that you have all these ends to sew in. If only you were 2 people, or 3 or 4, it could be done so quickly. :-)  Okay, that probably won't work, but sometimes you might be able to get a child, usually a daughter, who might have pity on you and give you a hand. Don't count on it though. LOL

Seriously now - a few points
1) When you sew in your ends, please try to make it as invisible as you can. The invisibility factor may be a tough one - especially if you are using variegated yarn. Sometimes it is nigh on impossible. Just do the best you can.

Okay, a few hints:
1) Don't just sit your white yarn on top of your navy blue yarn and think no one will notice. THEY WILL! Take the time to go up a row or find some way to hide that yarn. Make sure it is SECURE. Wrap it around the top of a few stitches if you can (same color!) or go up and down a few stitches. If you are afraid your ends won't stay put, then wash the item. When it comes out of the dryer (yes, you can throw acrylics and cottons in the dryer, for sure - check the label for other materials) any ends sticking up can usually be clipped if you have left a super long end and sewn much of it in.

2) I am a believer in leaving super long ends (6" or longer) and sewing in as much of them as possible. I keep my afghans a long time and I want others to enjoy theirs for a long time as well. Remember that people who do not crochet will still wash their afghans and little pieces may stick out every now and then. If they clip the pieces and you only left a small strand, soon there will be little left and it may come apart.

3) Also, don't sew over two strands at once, because it gives a bulky look and ruins that pretty piece you just finished. If you want to sew over both ends, then you might sew over one of the strands and then bring the other one up to the next row or round, and sew over it there. You would thread the second end, weave it through the stitch above it and then lay it across the row or round you are currently working on.)

4) I usually try to sew ends in on the wrong side of the work.

5) When I talk about threading the needle here, I am talking about the long, rather thick needle one uses for plastic canvas and, obviously, crochet. I like the #16, 2" needles. I keep a pack in my crochet bag. The ones I have in there now say Susan Bates, 2", 5cm, No. 16. I find these are not too sharp and just long enough. That doesn't mean you can't like a different kind or size. That's just what I use.

6) Don't pull too tightly as you weave or your work may pucker.

Below are the different methods I have used to hide those ends. No one's complained, but maybe I run with a very polite group. :-) As always I love/hate suggestions and I will take/not take every one and I would love/hate to hear your thoughts. Ha! Just kidding. I do appreciate every comment that helps to make this site better, easier to use and more useful to you all. Please never hesitate to let me know if you know a different method, don't find the way I worded it is clear, think I need more pictures, find spelling errors (egads!) and such.

Why are there so many methods to do these things, you ask? It's because no one can agree on which is the right method so, in fairness. I feel I must allow you to see all those I know and make up your own mind.

Method 1
This is for those of you who want to get rid of some of those ends as you go.

Joining and ends go hand in hand so to speak. I noted in the previous section that you should sew over a couple of stitches, then thread a needle with the yarn and sew it into the front loop of a few stitches? What this means is that you take the yarn that matches the color of the row you are going to be working on (very important) and pull it up and to the left, laying it over the work between chain-1 and the first stitch.

Place your hook in your stitch, going under that strand you just pulled up. Sew over it for a few stitches (say 3) and then thread your needle as noted before. Insert your needle behind the front loop of the next stitch (be careful not to split the stitch) and come out the bottom. Continue in that manner for about 4". I like to do several stitches at once, inserting my needle over and under several front loops at a time and then pulling through. When I've gone far enough, then I clip the thread and stretch the piece just slightly so that the end goes into the fabric. (You may choose to go down and up each stitch individually, which is fine.) Then I go back and pick up my crochet hook and continue to work the pattern, going through both front and back loops and working over those woven in ends. The ends are invisible and tucked firmly into place - if it is done with same color strand.

Here are the steps in pictures:

 

Here is an example using same color yarn and single crochet stitches

Well, that is one method of taking care of those "pesky ends" if you want to do it as you go along instead of at the end, when you have finished your project and go, whoa. Well, even if you only do some of your strands as you go along, you'll have less of a challenge in front of you as you work to finish that project. Obviously when you join yarn there are going to be two strands - one will match the last row, and one will match the upcoming row. When you do that second strand you can weave it up and do the same with it.

Method 2:
Crocheting over ends as you go. Well, that's easy. Just lay your strands over the top of your stitches and continue crocheting. Remember that if you have two strands, do not crochet over both at one time as this will be too bulky. I know I've said that before but, well, it's true. Don't do that. :-) If you are careful to match your colors where possible the ends shouldn't be visible.

On to Methods 3 and 4...

08/12/2005


 

The buttons above were my first at the Cabana. I keep them for sentimental reasons. :-)

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