Kids' Knitting - Finishing Hats

Lesson 10: Tie Up Loose Ends (On Hats)

Now that your hat is off the knitting needles, you will have just two loose ends that need to be removed. As you learned in your flat knitting projects, knitters don’t simply cut the yarn. That would cause the project to unravel. Instead, patterns will tell you to “weave in the loose ends.”

Weaving in the loose ends on hats is a way of hiding and securing the yarn tails before cutting them off. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you’ll learn how to weave in loose ends, so you can finish and start using your first knitted hat.

On hats, weaving in your loose ends means you will be sewing the yarn tails into the fabric so that they are hidden. With your darning needle, you will tuck these ends into the project and anchor them in place. To make them extra secure, we will tie two small knots that lock the yarn end to a knit stitch. Then, you can trim away the extra yarn with your scissors and start wearing your hat.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – finished knit hats worn outdoors after weaving in loose ends.

Your Last Step

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to weave in the loose ends. Working on the Kids’ Hat? You can check your pattern here.

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Weave in Loose Ends to Finish Hats

Loose Ends on Hats (Kids’ Knitting Lesson)

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Weave in Loose Ends to Finish Hats

After you have finished drawing the yarn through all the remaining stitches, your hat will be off the knitting needles. You’re almost finished: you have just two loose ends to remove. We will weave them into the fabric one at a time using a darning needle.

How to Weave in Loose Ends: Hat Tops

Once you have taken all the stitches off the knitting needles, it is time to cut the yarn that connects the knitting project to the ball.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 1: Thread Yarn onto Darning Needle

Thread the loose end onto the darning needle by poking the end through the eye of the darning needle.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – threading yarn onto a darning needle to weave in loose ends on a hat.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 2: Sew In

Point the darning needle down through the hole at the top of the hat.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – inserting a darning needle into the top of a knitted hat to begin weaving in the yarn tail.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 3: Turn Hat

Turn the hat inside-out then bring the needle and yarn the rest of the way through the hole. Then, pull the tail tightly to close the hole.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – turning a knitted hat inside out to pull the yarn tail through the top.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 4: Anchor

Choose a stitch near the hole at the top of the hat. (This will be the stitch you anchor the end onto.) Poke the darning needle under that stitch pointing away from the edge of the knitting project. Sew the yarn through.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – anchoring a yarn tail to a stitch near the top of a knitted hat.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 5: Split and Anchor

Split the yarn end in half, thread half the yarn onto the darning needle, and then sew that half of the yarn around the stitch you chose to anchor your yarn onto.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – splitting yarn and anchoring it to secure a loose end in a knitted hat.

Next, we will tie two little knots to make sure the end of the yarn stays in place.

How to Tie Up Loose Ends: Hat Top

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 1: Lay Halves in Opposite Directions

Lay the two halves of the yarn end in opposite directions, one pointing to the left and one to the right.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – laying split yarn ends in opposite directions to prepare for tying knots.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 2: Pick Up Yarn Halves

Pick up the two halves of the yarn with opposite hands (the right strand in the left hand and the left strand in the right hand).

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – holding yarn ends in opposite hands to begin tying a knot.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 3: Tie Knot

Tie the two ends in a simple knot: Cross the strands to make a loop, then tuck one end through the loop, and pull it through. Tighten just to the surface of the knitting, but don’t pull too tightly.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – tying the first knot to secure a yarn tail in a knitted hat.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 4: Tie Second Knot

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – tying a second knot to secure the yarn tail in place.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 5: Pull Tight

Pull the second knot tightly. If it does not move, go to step six. If it slips when you pull, make one more knot (repeat steps one through three) before going to step six.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – pulling knots tight to secure loose ends in a knitted hat.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 6: Cut Extra Yarn

Use your scissors to trim the two yarn halves near the knot.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – trimming excess yarn after securing loose ends in a knitted hat.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 7: Turn Hat

Turn your hat to bring right-side out again.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – turning a knitted hat right side out after finishing the top.

Now, you only have one loose end left before your hat is finished.

Lesson 10, Kids' Knitting Guide – preparing to weave in the remaining loose end at the bottom of a knitted hat.