How to: weave in ends

Tidying away yarn ends not only helps to neaten up your finished project, it also helps to secure the yarn reducing the likelihood of it unravelling – it's well worth doing a good job here.

If you’re working with different coloured yarns, weave in ends to the same colour to minimise show through on the right side.

When you cut your working yarn to fasten off the last stitch, leave a good 10-15cm. Tapestry needles come in different sizes and sharpness, so choose one with an eye big enough for your yarn end to fit through comfortably. Take note where your pattern tells you to leave a long end for seaming, as is often the case for smaller items such as toys, where it’s more efficient to use this end than an extra strand. If you are making an item, such as a cardi, where the wrong side may be seen it can make more sense to weave in ends after the item has been pieced together, so you can hide ends completely by weaving them into seams. Smooth yarns may need a more thorough approach, especially if the item is likely to be washed occasionally, but strands with woollier fibres are less likely to unravel, due to the friction between them.