Weave In Ends As You Knit

Learn to weave in ends as you work instead of using a yarn needle at the end.

This method isn’t meant to replace traditional weaving in or the more secure finishing techniques many of us know and love. It’s simply another option for certain projects where ease, speed, and reducing finishing time are the priority. Trapping the yarn as you knit can work really well for items like cowls and hats where the wrong side is hidden, and knits that won’t see heavy wear. As always, use what works best for you and your project — there’s no one right way to knit.

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To Begin

After joining new yarn and you have ends to weave in, insert your needle into your next stitch. Your tails should be under your working yarn at this point. Ends needing to be woven in are the two strands shown laying over the working yarn after coming from below.

Finish Laying Tails Over Working Yarn

Bring your tails over the working yarn and facing to the right of your needle.

Knit The Stitch

Finish knitting the stitch. The tails have now been caught once by this action.

Bring Tails Back Over Working Yarn

Pass the tails back over the working yarn and have them face left.

Here they are fully laying over the working yarn.

Knit the Next Stitch

After knitting the next stitch, you will have locked in the tails a second time.

Pass the Yarn Back and Forth In The Same Manner For Each Stitch

You will continue moving the yarn back and forth over the working yarn as you knit each stitch. Do this for however long you like to create the secure weave.

Tidy Up the Back

Take your tails and give them a slight tug to remove any slack. You can then cut the ends, or take a yarn needle and weave in the traditional way to create an even more secure join.

Notes for Different Stitch Patterns

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all knitting technique, and that’s important to know going in. Since this method traps the yarn on the wrong side while you knit, it won’t work well with every stitch pattern. Some knitting stitches hide carried yarn beautifully, while others make it more noticeable depending on your yarn, tension, and color changes. Before using this technique in a full project, I always recommend knitting a small swatch with your chosen stitch pattern to see how it looks and feels. A quick test like this can save you time and help you decide if this weaving-in-ends method is the right fit for your knitting project.

Now you know a new way to secure your tails. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

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