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After you bind off a piece of knitting, you will almost always have one or more yarn tails to weave into your piece. There are two schools of thought on how to get rid of those loose yarn ends on knitting. Knitting purists say you should weave in your ends so there are no knots in your knitting. I say, go ahead and knot if that will anchor your yarn better. Here, I will show you a standard way to weave in your loose ends using a “duplicate stitch” pattern. Then, you can learn how to make a tiny knot, which will tie your loose end into the fabric.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to weave in your ends.

Video Guide: How to Weave in Loose Ends on Flat Knitting

Written Guide: How to Weave in Loose Ends on Flat Knitting

To be rid of your loose ends without ruining your work, you cannot just cut them off with scissors. Before snipping your ends off, you will need to sew or “weave” them into your project.  Anchoring your tails to the knitting by weaving them into the fabric in prevents your stitches from coming unraveled.

You will thread the loose end through a darning needle, which you can weave through your work to duplicate the pattern you have knit. This generally is referred to as “duplicate stitch” in knitting. The curving purple lines below represent possible routes you might follow when trying to replicate the snake-like weave of a knitting project.

Those who weave in their tails without tying a knot must sew the tail into the work for several rows before trimming it off; this ensures that if the tail comes loose, you will have enough yarn to weave it back in again.

If you choose to tie in your loose end with a knot, you will only need to duplicate a few stitches when you weave in. Then, you can tie a tiny knot to hold your tail in place before trimming away the extra yarn.

I have divided this lesson into three more parts, to make it easier for you to read (and for your computer to load). Choose the lesson you’d like to learn below, to be directed to more specific written instructions for each part.

How to Weave in the Tail on the Cast On Edge

Weave in the Cast-on Tail:

A long-tail cast on, like most other cast ons, will always leave a tail. Learn how I weave in then tie off this loose end on flat knitting projects.

Go to full tutorial.

How to Weave in the Tail on the Bind Off Edge

Weave in the Bind-off Tail:

The standard bind off will also leave a tail. This tail can be used to fix odd edges at the same time they are being woven in. Find out how to finish off your bind off edge with the loose end.

Go to full tutorial.

How to Tie In a Loose End with a Knot

Knot in Yarn Tails:

I always tie my yarn tail onto one of my knit stitches with a tiny, strong, and almost invisible knot. Learn how to knot in your yarn ends before you trim them away.

Go to full tutorial.

Practice With My Knitting Pattern

You can learn to knit along with me using my Free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern.

Up Next

The next step in learning to knit is to make the purl stitch to start adding texture and patterns to your knitting projects.

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Before you start learning the knit stitch, you’ll need to know how to hold your yarn. Getting a good grip on the working yarn creates tension in the string that will allow you to knit more evenly.

There are a number of ways to hold your yarn when you knit. In this post, I’ll shown you my favorite yarn hold, plus two alternate ways to hold your yarn when knitting. These are three ways you can work with the yarn held in your left hand (this is known as “Continental Style Knitting“).

Video Guide: How to Hold Yarn When Knitting

Written Guide: How to Hold Yarn When Knitting

Option 1:

Wrap a loop around your pointer finger using the working yarn that is coming from the needles.

Option 2:

Wrap the yarn coming from the needles around your last three fingers and then up and over your pointer finger.

Option 3:

Wrap the yarn coming from the needles around your last three fingers and then up and over your pointer finger.

Practice With My Free Knitting Pattern

If you want to follow along with me while I show you how to knit, use my Free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern.

Up Next

After you’ve chosen a comfortable way to hold your yarn, you will be ready to make the knit stitch.

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After you have cast on all your stitches (or finished a row) in a flat knitting project, your pattern will ask you to “turn your work.” This instruction is asking you to flip your needle over so that you can prepare to work the next row.

Whether you are working on circular needles or straight needles, turning your work is the same; the tip of the needle that is full of stitches will need to be turned 180 degrees and moved from your right hand into your left hand.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how turn your knitting and prepare to start the next row.

Video Guide: How to Turn Your Work When Knitting

Written Guide: How to Turn Your Work When Knitting

Turn Your Work, Step 1:

After you have cast on (or finished working a row), your stitches will be on the needle held in your right hand. The tip of the needle will be pointing toward the left.

Turn Your Work, Step 2:

To turn your work, flip your knitting needle over, so the tip points  toward the right, then place it in your left hand.

Practice With My Free Knitting Pattern

If you want to follow along with me while I show you how to knit, use my Free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern.

Up Next

After you’ve learned to turn your work when knitting, you will be ready to learn how to hold your yarn to make the knit stitch.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

The slipknot is frequently used in many types of fiber art, including knitting, crochet, and weaving. This knot loosens or tightens based on which side of the string you pull. Slipknots are useful because you can adjust the size of the knot to fit around the tool you are working with.

In knitting, a slipknot is used as the first step of a long tail cast on; it will create the first loop on your knitting needles. You will be able to adjust the size of your first loop by pulling on either tail of the slipknot. This helps your yarn loop fit onto your knitting needle with the correct “tension” or tightness. Your slipknot will always count as the first stitch in your knitting cast on.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to make a slipknot and place it onto your knitting needles.

Video Guide: How to Make a Slipknot

Written Guide: How to Make a Slipknot

Slipknot, Step 1:

Hold the yarn with the tail end in your right hand. Drape the working yarn over the palm of your left hand, from your pinkie up toward your pointer finger. Wrap the yarn up and over your left pointer finger, then bring the yarn down behind your left hand.

Slipknot, Step 2:

Loop the yarn around all four fingers by bringing it around your pinkie and up to your pointer finger.

Slipknot, Step 3:

Bring the tail of the yarn behind the loop you created on your left hand. Pinch the part of the yarn that is laying across your knuckles and lift it just slightly.

Slipknot, Step 4:

Begin to push the tail side of the yarn through the loop on the back of your left hand, but do not pull the tail completely through.

Slipknot, Step 5:

Form a loop around your right pointer finger with the part of the yarn you have just pushed through the loop on the back of your hand.

Slipknot, Step 6:

Gently remove your left hand from the loop.

Slipknot, Step 7:

Pinch both the working yarn and the yarn tail with your left hand and pull to begin tightening the slipknot around your right pointer finger.

Slipknot, Step 8:

Once the slipknot has formed, remove it from your finger and hold it in your left hand.

Slipknot, Step 9:

Pick up a knitting needle with your right hand. Move the slipknot onto your knitting needle, positioning it in the same way it came off your finger.

Slipknot, Step 10:

Pull the tail-side of the slipknot to gently tighten it onto your knitting needle.

Up Next

After you’ve mastered making a slipknot, you will be ready to learn the long tail cast on and start your first knitting project.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index