How to Weave in Ends Knitting

How to Weave in Ends Knitting                 

Looking for an ideal guide on how to weave in ends knitting? Well, the truth is there are different ways of sewing those loose ends of your project. Weaving in ends knitting has two purposes; 

1. 1. To make your garment look seamless and smooth
   2. To prevent unraveling.

Image Source: NimbleNeedles

If you come across a loose end while knitting, this video on how to sew in loose ends knitting will help you know what to do.

Below is a guide on how to sew in ends knitting for your project.

How to Finish Ends in Knitting using Different Patterns

The type of yarn and the stitching pattern are the main determinants of the weaving design you will use.

Materials You’ll Need

• • A pair of sewing-scissors
  • A tapestry sewing-needle

A sharp tapestry needle works best and is recommended for most methods, while a blunt tapestry needle will work for some techniques. 

1. 1. How to Weave in Ends Knitting in Stockinette Stitch

Image source: Halcyonyarn

When casting, remember to leave a tail of at least 4 inches – shorter than this will be difficult to weave in. You can use a duplicate, diagonal or horizontal weaving pattern.

Step 1. Take your tail thread and put it in the tapestry needle. Push it through the purl bump following a diagonal pattern. Repeat this for the next 5-6 stitches.

Step 2. Rotate your tapestry needle at 1800, change direction and push the thread through another 5-6 stitches. You can either go to the right or in the same direction.

Step 3. Pull the thread slowly and loosely. You don’t want to tighten where you changed direction. To be safe, you can repeat this pattern  2-3 more times.

Step 4. Place the knit fabric on a flat space and stretch it to ensure no constriction around the bends.

Step 5. Once you have confirmed there are no creases on the fabric, you can now cut the remaining thread.

When learning the stockinette stitch, you will be unsure of the results, but the thread will not show on any side if you follow these steps. After washing your fabric following the care labels instructions, the tail will hide in the bumps, and the bond will become tighter.

This video will also come in handy in this method.

      2. How to Weave Ends Knitting in Ribbing Stitch

Image source: Gathered

The ribbing stitch doesn’t have many purl bumps; thus, you can’t use the diagonal method to weave in ends. Besides, the weaving pattern will make your project look stretched. If you want to learn how to weave in the end knitting scarf, rib stitch is the best knitting stitch to go for. Here are steps to follow on how to knit the rib.

Step 1. Place the fabric on the wrong side facing you. Thread the tail on a tapestry needle and push through horizontally on one rib. Use the right or left leg of the knit stitches to go through the rib.

Step 2. Rotate your needle and pull the tail through as you weave towards the opposite direction on the same rib. Remember to go through the other leg of the same knit stitches.

Step 3. You can now pull the tail softly as you stretch the rib to ensure it does not tighten too much. After the tail has settled in, cut off the remainder.

      3. Weave in Ends Knitting in Garter Stitch

Image Source: Modern Daily

The garter stitch is the most straightforward knitting pattern, but it’s not the simplest to weave in ends. You can sew using duplicate stitches on the wrong side, horizontal or diagonal stitches. Diagonal weaving will not go well with garter as the rows are far apart. Similarly, duplicate stitches are too visible.

Thus the best method for weaving ends in garter stitching is horizontal stitching, and this is how it’s done.

Step 1. Put your thread tail in your tapestry needle while pointing away from you go right through one of the nearest higher purl bumps. Rotate your needle and again go under the next slightly lower purl bump and continue for about seven more stitches.

Step 2. Once more, rotate the needle and weave in the opposite direction to ensure safety. You can also do more stitches on the same side. After you are sure the tail is tucked, straighten your fabric as you pull the hanging thread slowly before cutting off the ends.

You can also try weaving the ends along the fabric edge, although you risk tail thread hanging out after washing a few times.

      4. Weave in Ends Knitting in Lace Stitch

Image source: Knitting With Chopstick

Weave ends knitting in lace is not easy because the weaving thread is too light, and the tapestry needle is too big compared to the weight of the yarn. It’s also hard to bridge the big eyelets without leaving behind the visible weaving yarn.  

Some lace patterns have stockinette and garter stitch incorporated in the fabric. In such a case, you can use diagonal or horizontal methods to weave in the ends. Note that this is only possible if you are using a fuzzy yarn.

Alternatively, you can use a blunt tapestry needle to weave a duplicate stitch along the original path. This method is perfect for these laces, and to ensure the tail is hidden, here is how you do it.

Step 1. Using your blunt tapestry needle, go under the row and between a knitting stitch

Step 2. As you pull through the thread,  go under both legs of the rib and knit stitch directly above it.

Step 3. Proceed under the next rib between the knit stitches one row below

Step 4. Now repeat these steps more times until you are satisfied that the end is well grafted, then use scissors to cut the remaining tail

      5. Weave in Ends Knitting in Colorwork

Image source: Modern Daily Knitting

So how do you weave in ends in colorwork knitting? Knitting stripes or fair isles are the most common methods of displaying colorwork beauty. Know how to sew in ends by using the weaving in as you go technique if your yarn is of good quality.

If the yarn is flimsy, you can use other methods that we have discussed above together with these two additions:

• • • When weaving in the ends or loose ends, thread your tapestry needle and on the matching color and block, and go right through the purl bump. Don’t weave through a different color block, as it will always show when the fabric stretches. Here’s a video on how to weave in loose ends knitting.

• • • To add a new yarn color, you need a proper joining method. The problem with colorwork is that you might end up with several tails and risk creating eyelets as you weave in the ends. 

Depending on the type of knitting (intarsia, stripes, or Fairisle), different methods of creating joints are added when introducing a different yarn color for weaving in the ends. Here is the best way to weave in ends knitting;

• • • For Intarsia

Step 1. Make one stitch before adding a different yarn; place the new color between your main working thread and the needle. Continue stitching as you create a clean.

Step 2. To anchor your first stitch above, coil the two threads around before starting stitching the new color block. You will have created a firm joint that can’t be distorted as you weave in ends.

• • • How to weave in ends knitting Stripes or Fair. 

It’s simple to switch color blocks when knitting stripes or Fairisle because you join the new color when beginning a row. You can use the Fairisle knitting guide to sharpen your skills.

      6. Weave in Ends Knitting with Cotton Stitch

Watch this video to have a visual view of ends knitting.

Cotton is the most famous yarn of all types of fabric, although it’s tricky to weave-in-your-ends. It is slippery and stretches after the first wash, thus making it impossible to use the ordinary weaving in ends method.

So the best method to prevent unraveling in cotton is to tie knots. But doing knots in themselves will only risk undoing. Instead, combine with a different technique like below to avoid unraveling.

Step1.Weave in your tapestry needle for five stitches through the purl bump as you proceed.

Step 2. Divide the tail end into two equal parts

Step 3.Thread your needle with one part and push through under the next purl for another 5-6 stitches.

Step 4. Split the thread and tie a knot after stretching out your fabric. This prevents it from crumpling.

Step 5. After tying the knot, thread your needle with one end and push it through and under purl bump for about 3-4 stitches

Step 6. Pick the other end and weave it through another 5-6 stitches but in a different direction.

Step 7.Repeat this method with the second part of the original tail and weave in the ends more times (until satisfied), then cut off the ends.

Note: Alternatively, you can use the above method and combine it with other techniques like garter stitching, ribbing, etc. They will give the same results.

      7. Weave in ends Knitting  in the Seams

Image source: Dummies

Seams are the best for knitting projects; sweaters, gloves, leg warmers, caps, etc., are good examples of seamed fabric. When stitching seam, there is always enough space on the wrong side, left for weaving in the tail and yet invisible. Here is how to do it.

Step 1. As you knit, ensure all your yarn ends are positioned along the fabric edge. This will make it easy for you to weave them in the knitting as you move up.

Step 2. After you are done knitting, thread your tapestry needle and stitch all the ends along and inside the seam edges. You can repair a lost stitch or learn how to increase a stitch in knitting along the seam edges. 

      8. Weave in Ends as you Knit

Image Source: Pinterest

This is another simple way to weave in ends as you go. You won’t need your tapestry needle here, and if you master this technique, you may not like any other method.

You will also avoid plucking your fabric since you’re not using a needle. Here are two steps on how to knit it. 

Step 1. Knit one stitch when you add a new ball or a new color block, and then fold the end around your working yarn for another time. By now, the tail is hidden in the fabric and is invisible.

Step 2. Repeat the process for the next eight stitches as you fold in the tail around your knitting yarn. This will ensure the end is locked in the knitting yarn and can’t unravel even after thorough washing. When satisfied with the weaving, you can now tie off the ends. Here’s a video on how to tie off ends in knitting.

This method is not best for reversible (two-sided) knitting because the stitches are visible on the wrong side. Again, it works best for fuzzy yarns and is thus not suitable for slippery wool and cotton as these fabrics require other techniques besides weaving in as you knit. You can also use this method to permanently fix woven labels as you go.

      9. Weaving in Ends Knitting Using the Spit Join

Image source: Neulakinta

This method works best on most natural fibers like sheep wool yarn, and it’s invisible. It’s another alternative for weaving in ends without using a tapestry needle. Also best when adding a new yarn ball.

To make the so-called spit join (also known as felted join), You will need heat, friction, and water/spit (works best). Here is how you make the felt join

Step 1 . Take the two ends that require joining and are showing fibers

Step 2. Use some water or spit to wet them (spit is recommended as it works perfectly)

Step 3. Hold the two ends and stack them together in your palm

Step 4. Put your hands together and rub with pressure until they are attached. You can try how to finger knit to measure the strength of the joint.

This method doesn’t work for acrylic yarn or treated cotton yarn.

      10. Weave in Ends Knitting in the Cast Tail

Learning how to cast on knitting is another method to weave in the end while avoiding the needle. Although the technique is simple, you’ll require a lot of care to avoid stretching your project too much. This is how you do it;

Step 1. Use a long-tail cast-on as it will hang where you start your first stitch for the row or round. Pick the tail and combine it with your knitting yarn. Continue stitching the first row using the double yarn.

Step 2. Once you have finished your first row, cut the end. The tail will be irreplaceable.

This method is not safe for projects that require a stretchy edge. Again ensure that you combine the yarn strands smoothly as if they are one stitch.

Type of Stitch	Type of needle
Stockinette stitch	sharp tapestry needle
Garter stitch	Sharp tapestry needle
Ribbing stitch	Blunt tapestry needle
Spit/felt join	No needle required
Cotton stitch	Sharp tapestry needle
Seams stitch	Blunt tapestry needle

Pro Tips on How to Knit In Ends

Image source: Fibers and Design

1. 1. Understand Your Pattern

Before you start off stitching, analyze your preferred knitting pattern. Know how many ends you will have and how to start knitting them in. Choose between leaving them out, weaving them as you knit, or weaving them in after knitting.

      2. Know your Yarn Quality

Some patterns only work with specific yarn types and quality. Cotton yarn,  for example, is not recommended for intarsia patterns. When starting research on the best yarn quality for your specified pattern

      3. Use the Right Needle

When sewing in ends knitting, your yarn and needle type dictates how the results will be. And because you want to hide its visibility, use the right needle. Some patterns require blunt needles, while others like stockinette use sharp needles to help push through the SB.

Knitting pattern	Weaving direction
Stockinette	Diagonal
Garter	Horizontal
Ribbing	Horizontal
Lace	Duplicate
Cotton	Diagonal, Vertical

Conclusion

Learning to sew in ends knitting is exciting; you learn to sew different weaving patterns and techniques. While most people prefer one method in one design, you can incorporate different weaving techniques in one knitting pattern. This video will also help you become better at weaving in ends knitting.

All you need is a  guide, the right needle, and the right yarn quality to become a pro in sewing room ideas. Try these tips on your next knitting project!