We crocheters are always looking for ways to deal with those pesky ends as quickly and easily as possible. If you have a real aversion to sewing in those ends, this could be the method for you.
I personally find this using this technique a little fiddly, but I have to admit, no ends to sew in is a very attractive benefit and it might be just the thing you are looking for. It'll also be a life-saver to you if you really hate to get your yarn needle out, or for some reason you don't have one with you. You can deal with the ends using just your hook and your crochet stitches.
PART ONE: DEALING WITH THE END OF THE OLD COLOUR
If you are changing colour using this technique, you'll need a way of dealing with the end of the old colour first.
To do that without using a needle we're going to use our hook to thread the end through the loops of the crochet stitches. This job is much easier done from the back, so turn over your work.
Insert your hook into the back loop only (that'll be the one closest to you as we've turned the work over) and use your hook to grab the yarn end.
Pull the end of the yarn through the loop completely. Then flip the end from the front to the back of your work.
Repeat the process along the stitches, inserting your hook into the next back loop each time, grabbing and pulling the end through.
Once you've woven a nice length in you can turn the work back to the right side and the end will be nicely hidden.
PART TWO: WEAVING IN THE NEW END AS YOU GO (GRANNY CROCHET)
Join the new colour by just pulling a loop through with your hook. You'll want to make sure you leave a reasonably long end ( approx 6-8") to weave in as it'll make life easier for you. You can just cut off the excess when you are happy enough is woven in. Hold the yarn end to the front of your work.
Start by making your chain stitches and first trebles (doubles) for the corner in the normal way,
crocheting over the ends as you make the stitches. Once you get to the last treble (double) of the corner, stop before the stitch is completed. You want to be at the stage where you only need to wrap the yarn once more and pull through the remaining 2 loops on the hook.
(For more help with the square construction see my Granny Square tutorial)
At this point we need to move the end to the top of the stitch, so flip the end over to the back of the work , between the working yarn and the hook. This will 'trap' the yarn end into place and start the weaving in.
Then just complete the stitch in the normal way, by wrapping the yarn over the hook and pulling through the two remaining loops on the hook.
The next stage of the granny square is to make a chain, so now flip the yarn back to the front of the work, between the hook and working yarn again to trap it and then make a chain stitch as normal.
Next we need to bring the end down to the bottom of the stitches again, so wrap the working yarn around your hook ready to make a treble (double) stitch, but then also bring the end to the front of the work again by wrapping this over the hook in the same way.
Insert the hook into the work, wrap the yarn and pull through as you normally would. As you can see the yarn end is has been trapped in the stitch and is now at the bottom again.
Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through two loops on the hook
and the yarn end loop, leaving you with 2 loops on the hook. Then complete the rest of the treble (double) crochet in the normal way.
Now that the end is at the bottom of the stitches again we can simply crochet over it for the next stitch.
For the last stitch in this space we'll need to bring the end to the top of the stitch again, so start to make a treble (double) crochet but do not complete it yet. Fip the yarn to the back of the work as before and then complete the stitch.
Carry on working stitches and flipping the yarn end to the back and front of the work to bring it to the top or bottom of the stitches and trap it in the work.
Once you've woven in a good length or it's getting difficult to flip the yarn end backwards and forwards, you can trim off the excess.
PART THREE: WEAVING IN THE NEW END AS YOU GO (SOLID CROCHET)
The same technique can also be used on solid squares or rows of crochet. Start in the same way as above, by making a starting chain and crocheting the first stitch over the end. When you get to the next stitch, stop before the stitch is completed. You want to be at the stage where you only need to wrap the yarn once more and pull through the remaining 2 loops on the hook.
Now we need to move the end to the top of the stitch, so flip the end over to the back of the work, between the working yarn and the hook. This will 'trap' the yarn end into place and start the weaving in.
Next we need to bring the end down to the bottom of the stitches again, so wrap the working yarn around your hook ready to make a treble (double) stitch, but then also bring the end to the front of the work again by wrapping this over the hook in the same way.
Insert the hook into the work, wrap the yarn and pull through as you normally would. As you can see the yarn end is has been trapped in the stitch and is now at the bottom again.
Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through two loops on the hook
and the yarn end loop, leaving you with 2 loops on the hook.
Then complete the rest of the treble (double) crochet in the normal way.
Next we bring the end to the top of the stitches again by starting, but not completing a treble (double) crochet and then flipping the yarn to the back of the work. Then completing the stitch in the normal way.
Carry on working the stitches, alternating between bring the yarn down to the bottom of the stitches (by wrapping over the hook) and then back up again (by flipping to the back while making a stitch). This will weave the end into your work.
Once you've woven in a good length or it's getting difficult to flip the yarn end backwards and forwards, you can trim off the excess.
Next steps:
✽ Find out how to make
standing stitches
✽ Find out how to make
invisible endings
✽ Find out how to work
foundationless crochet rows
Join the new colour by just pulling a loop through with your hook. You'll want to make sure you leave a reasonably long end ( approx 6-8") to weave in as it'll make life easier for you. You can just cut off the excess when you are happy enough is woven in. Hold the yarn end to the front of your work.
Start by making your chain stitches and first trebles (doubles) for the corner in the normal way, crocheting over the ends as you make the stitches. Once you get to the last treble (double) of the corner, stop before the stitch is completed. You want to be at the stage where you only need to wrap the yarn once more and pull through the remaining 2 loops on the hook.
