Learn to Crochet – How to Tidy Your Loose Ends

By Catherine Calder

Once you have finished crocheting your project you need to tidy all the loose ends.

This can take a while if you have a lot of ends to finish off.

Here are a few tips to help you get the best results.

Try for an invisible finish. Ideally you do not want to be able to see where you have sewn in the loose ends.

Sew/weave in a good length of the loose end. The length will depend on the type of yarn or crochet thread you are using.

I like to trim the loose end to about 8 inches (20 cm) and weave in a good length of this to finish it off.

When you wash the garment you may find some of the ends sticking up, if you have sewn in a good length of the loose end you will be able to just clip off the piece that is sticking up. However if you have only sewn in a short section you will need to make sure that there is enough to keep the garment together before you trim the end back.

I prefer to use a darning needle, with a large eye and a blunt end, to finish off the loose ends. Although for some crochet threads you may need to use a crochet hook.

Work on the wrong side to give a tidy result. Weave the end into the work and check the right side for any unwanted loops before you pull the needle through. This avoids any extra stitches showing on the right side of your project.

Do not pull the end too tightly which would pucker your work. Pull the end through and then gently stretch the work in all directions before trimming off the excess end for the best result.

Take your time and get a good result, the finishing touches can make a big difference to the final look of your crocheted garment.

Catherine Calder has produce the Learn to Crochet CD – A CD with 2 computer video files that show you how to crochet. It’s like having your own personal tutor! There are over 50 beautiful crochet patterns also included on the CD. Visit the Learn and Do website at http://www.LearnAndDo.com to find out more.
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