How to Fasten Off and Weave in Ends in Crochet

Finishing a crochet project has two small steps that decide how neat it looks and how long it lasts: fastening off, which locks the last stitch, and weaving in the ends, which hides the loose tails of yarn. If you skip them or do them badly, your work can come undone, and the tails will stick out. This guide shows both steps for flat work and for toys, and how to deal with slippery yarn.

What "fasten off" means

To fasten off is to finish your last stitch and close the loop on the hook, so the stitches cannot unravel. Patterns write it as "fasten off" or "FO". You also fasten off when you finish a color, a piece of a toy or a motif that will be joined to others.

How to fasten off, step by step

1. Finish the last stitch of your project or your piece.
2. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail. For a piece that you will only weave in, leave about 15 cm (6 in). If you will sew the piece to something, leave a longer tail, about 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in), as the pattern says.
3. With the loop still on the hook, yarn over (pull the cut end over the hook).
4. Pull the cut end all the way through the loop on the hook.
5. Pull gently on the tail to tighten the loop. The last stitch is now locked.

What you need to weave in ends

• A yarn needle (tapestry needle) with a blunt tip and an eye big enough for your yarn. A blunt tip goes between the strands without splitting them.
• Small, sharp scissors.
• Good light, so you can see the back of the stitches.

How to weave in ends in flat work

1. Thread the tail onto the yarn needle.
2. Turn the work so you can see the wrong side (the back).
3. Run the needle through the back of about 4 to 6 stitches in a straight line, keeping the needle inside the strands of the stitches so the yarn is hidden. Pull the yarn through gently without bunching the fabric.
4. Turn and run the needle back the other way along a different row of stitches, for another 3 to 4 stitches. Changing direction locks the yarn so it cannot slide out.
5. Stretch the work gently to relax the stitches. This hides the yarn and keeps the fabric flexible.
6. Trim the tail close to the fabric. Do not pull the yarn hard while you trim, or the tail may pull back into the work and the stitch may distort.

How to hide ends in amigurumi

In a stuffed toy, tails can be hidden inside the body, which is faster and neater. Thread the tail onto the needle, and push the needle in at the end of the piece, then bring it out several stitches away through the body. Pull the yarn gently, trim it close to the surface and let the fabric spring back so the end vanishes into the stuffing. For small pieces such as ears and limbs, use the long tail to sew the piece on, and then hide the end in the body. The finishing steps for toys are in our guide on how to stuff and assemble amigurumi.

Ends at a color change

When you change colors, you leave a tail on the old yarn and the new yarn. You can weave each in separately, or work over them for a few stitches as you go, to save time. Weave them in the same way as above, rather than tying them together. Our guide on how to change colors in crochet explains where to leave tails.

Slippery and fluffy yarns

• Slippery yarns, such as some cotton blends, bamboo and silk: weave in more stitches, about 8 to 10 in each direction, and change direction once more. You can add a small knot at the end, hidden inside the fabric.
• Fluffy and mohair yarns: the tail hides in the fuzz, but it is easy to pull out. Weave in two directions and keep the stitches loose.
• Very thin yarns: weave along several stitches, because a thin tail is easy to pull through.

Common mistakes

If you are new to crochet, start with how to crochet for beginners. When you are ready to finish a real toy, try one of our crochet patterns for beginners or a free crochet pattern.