Answers to your questions about finishing knits-weaving in ends, washing, blocking. Join the community on Ravelry or email us: twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com or contact us on our website.
This episode's topics come from questions in our community on Ravelry:
Finishing Knit and Crochet Projects
Marsha: Two quick stories.
1. In the 80/90’s when Kaffe Fassett’s colorwork was the rage, he wrote that he didn’t bother weaving in any ends because they were on the inside.
2. Bought a Shetland wool hat on Orkney and the woman who knit it just knotted the ends and left them. No weaving. She said after a good wash the ends stayed put. I’ll report back after wearing the hat.
I always wash my finished project and lay it out on a towel on the spare bed in the shape of the pattern schematic. I then pin it in that share with T pins. If it is lace I block “aggressively” often beyond the size of the schematic.
Linen goes in dryer.
Here are some good videos by Suzanne Bryan. I met her at Stitches West two years ago. She is a master knitter and very informative. Here is her YouTube Channel
Here are some of her videos on this topic:
Blocking a Sweater (knit in the round)
Blocking a Sweater (in pieces)
Weaving in Ends in Garter Stitch
Weaving in Ends in Stockinette
On stockinette and garter stitch I weave in the end following the stitch on the wrong side. If it’s very fine yarn I may un-ply the yarn and weave in the singles separately.
Kelly:
Russian Join Staci Perry, Very Pink Knits video
Clasped Weft Join Louise Tilbrooke video
On cotton and linen garments I have the best luck if I weave a little and then leave a tail hanging on the inside.
Duplicate stitch is the way I weave in ends if I don't want them to show on front or back. If you don't want to do duplicate stitch after the fact this technique is like doing duplicate stitch weaving in as you knit: Knit with two strands together for 4-5 stitches or more for very slippery yarns. This is good for lace and other patterns where duplicate stitch is difficult. Cut the tails on each end.
Another way to secure ends is to use a sharp needle while weaving in ends and and split the yarn so the end is traveling inside of another yarn strand.
Another tip: Don’t cut yarn cleanly--pull a little and rip the scissors blade across making a rough edge. Even with nonfelting yarn the fibers will be able to grip each other a little when this end is woven in.
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