Who likes weaving in ends? Not me! I don’t think anyone does — and it only gets worse when we have to change colours all the time… But since there’s no way around it, the best thing we can do is simplify. So here’s my way of doing it — my go-to method whenever it works — using a small circle and a small granny square as examples.
In both cases, I finish the first round with the traditional slip stitch, cut the yarn, and don’t do anything else.
I start the second round with a different colour. I like to begin more or less opposite the point where I ended the first round.
And while I’m at it, let me show you how I start a new round in this situation. For the first chain, I use the tail — not the working yarn. That makes the first chain more stable.
Then I go ahead and make my stitches (in this case, double crochets), weaving in the tail as I go… when I don’t forget, that is… (laughs).. Eventually, I reach the slip stitch and make the stitch that’s supposed to go there.
The slip stitch might loosen up — that’s totally normal, since it’s not secured yet. No problem: just pull the tail tight, keep crocheting while weaving it in, and after a few stitches, you can let it go and continue to the end of the round.
At the end, skip one stitch and pass the tail back in the opposite direction, through the stitches where it was first hidden. If the tail is long enough, the result is secure — I honestly think not even a nuclear bomb could undo it!
Visually, it looks perfect!
Sometimes, after the slip stitch, there’s no room for another stitch according to the pattern. I still use the same method — I just have to find a different path for the tail and make sure it’s well secured by weaving it through as many stitches as needed.
I hope this little tip is helpful to you.
See you in the next stitch!
— TeresaM