Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Weave as You Work - crochet tip

I have yet to meet a hooker who enjoys weaving ends of a crochet project. 
That is the most dreadful thing if you ask me. I would rather work several rows in a difficult stitch than weave those tails. But in all these years of crocheting, I've urged myself to weave them in - or more accurately - to work those tails over as I go. 
And the difference has been more than rewarding. I now finish a project with scarcely any tails at all. 
 
So this is how I do it. The project in the pictures is a granny triangle, so it involves insertion of several colors, which means many yarn additions, hence more tails. 
I am no friend of short tails, so my beginning and ending tails are always long. That way I can ensure I have the tail nicely tucked in and covered. This being said, I can assure you that I have never had a tail become loose and ruin my project. 

When I join foundation chains to make a ring, and because I am working in the round, I always place the tail on the left (1) - behind the crochet work, and I immediately start working the tail over as I go (2-4). If I use the same color of yarn in the second round, I continue working it over until there is no tail left.

 
 
I end previous round with a long tail. When inserting new color of yarn, I never do it in the stitch where I ended. I usually go a stitch or two back and insert the yarn there (5-6). That way I can get a good and strong hold over (now) 2 tails. After a couple of stitches working these tails, I tie both in a knot (7), and continue working them over for a couple of stitches more (8). Then I either cut the first tail or it runs off (9). In pictures 10 (back) and 11 (front) you can see that it was worth working those tails because there are none except for the last one.
 
 


I use a tapestry needle to work the last tail (12). I insert the threaded needle through the middle of the stitch that comes first (13), then guide the needle downwards at the back of the work,  slide it through several stitches (14), I tie it into 2 knots at this point, then I slide it through several stitches more (15) and then I cut off the excess. Very easy, clean and neat job, if you ask me.


                                    Back                                                                Front
 
What about you? How do you work your tails? Will you share in the comments please?
 

10 comments:

Teresa B said...

Thank you for the reminder! I try to do this as much as possible because - yes - I hate to weave in ends...

Maya Kuzman said...

Thank you for stopping by Teresa! I used to leave all for when I was finished with the project, but got so exhausted in the end with tattered nerves, so now I take that extra effort and it's been blissful!

Alhana said...

I wish I had known this back when I was making my granny blankets, it would have saved me much time and a headache! I just weaved all the tails with a needle after finished and assembling the blanket. Hopefully your post will help other crocheters as well.

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Thanks for sharing how to weave as you work crochet tip Maya!

EL INVENTARIO DE MJ said...

Lo hago como tú, no me gusta después tener que rematar las hebras, eso se aprende con experiencia.

Gracias por compartir!

BESOS

Maya Kuzman said...

Thank you for sharing MJ! And yes. It takes just a tiny bit of time to get used to working the tail. Hugs!

Maya Kuzman said...

That's exactly what I did, until I had enough, Alhana!

Maya Kuzman said...

Welcome Julie! How do you deal with tails?

Sum of their Stories said...

I work over the end like this for a few stitches but I still like to get a needle and sew it back in the opposite direction too. My nan was very relaxed about weaving the ends and her blankets often needed a repair after a few washes! I think it depends what it is though, something decorative that won't be washed much I would do as you say here and call it a day. If it's going through the washing machine at all then I'm probably still going to sew those ends too. Whatever method I think dealing with ends as you go is essential, nothing ruins the joy of being nearly finished with a project like having to stop and sew all those pesky ends!!

Maya Kuzman said...

So well said Julie! When I began selling crochet,I had a custom order for a blanket and just weaved the ends (back and forth) and while prepping it to be packed, a tail wiggled and unreveled threating to ruin the whole thing. I stayed up to 3 o'clock in the morning to fix it as it was to be delivered the next day. Since that incident, I always tie the tails, sometimes twice, so the little buggers stay put. A lesson well-learned.