Kids' Knitting - Loose Ends

Lesson 7: Tie Up Loose Ends (On Flat Knits)

Weaving in loose ends is a way of tucking your ends into the knitted fabric before trimming the yarn so the ends do not show. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you will learn to weave in your loose ends so you can finish your first knitting project.

When you have finished following a knitting pattern, your project will almost always have extra strings. Knitters call these “loose ends” or “yarn tails.” At the end of a pattern, you will see an instruction that says, “weave in loose ends.”

Weaving in loose ends is the way knitters get rid of those extra strings without them looking messy or coming undone. There are different ways to weave in your loose ends, but all of them start with threading the loose end onto a darning needle. This lets you sew the ends into the fabric, where they’ll be hidden.

Here, we will match the design of the knitting when we sew the ends into the fabric. Then, we will anchor our ends to a knit stitch and tie a pair of small knots to lock the yarn in place before trimming the ends.

Finished beginner knit coaster showing loose ends woven into the fabric in a kids knitting lesson.

Your last step

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

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Weave in Loose Ends

Weave in Ends (Kids’ Knitting Lesson)

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Weave in Loose Ends

After you have finished binding off your project, you will have 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

Once you have taken all the stitches off the left hand needle, 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 a loose end onto the darning needle by poking the end through the eye of the darning needle.

Threading a loose yarn end through the eye of a darning needle to begin weaving in loose ends in beginner knitting.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 2: Sew In

Choose a stitch near the loose end in the next row up. (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.

Using a darning needle to sew a loose yarn end into nearby knit stitches to hide the tail in beginner knitting.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 3: Split Yarn

Take the yarn off the darning needle. Then, use the needle top to help you split the yarn end in half.

Splitting the yarn tail into two halves before anchoring the loose end in beginner knitting.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 4: Thread Half the Yarn

Thread half the yarn end through the eye of the darning needle.

Threading half of the split yarn tail onto a darning needle to secure the loose end in beginner knitting.

Weave in Loose Ends Step 5: Anchor

Sew that half of the yarn around the stitch you chose to anchor your yarn onto.

Sewing the split yarn tail around a knit stitch to anchor the loose end securely in beginner knitting.

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

How to Tie Up Loose Ends

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.

Laying the two split yarn ends in opposite directions before tying knots to secure the knitting project.

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).

Holding the two yarn halves in opposite hands to prepare for tying a securing knot in beginner knitting.

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.

Crossing yarn ends and tying a simple knot to lock the loose ends in place in beginner knitting.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 4: Tie Second Knot

Repeat steps one through three to tie a second knot.

Tying a second securing knot in the yarn ends to prevent unraveling in beginner knitting.

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.

Pulling the yarn knots tight so the loose ends stay secure in the finished knitting project.

Tie Up Loose Ends Step 6: Cut Extra Yarn

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

Cutting excess yarn near the secured knot after weaving in loose ends in beginner knitting.

Repeat the steps to weave in and tie up any other loose ends that are still hanging from your project. When your loose ends are all gone, stretch your project to shape it into a more even square.

Beginner knit coaster showing one loose yarn end woven into the fabric.

Completed beginner knit coaster with all loose ends woven in and trimmed.

Great job! You finished your first knit coaster. If your coaster doesn’t look “perfect,” don’t worry: it is perfect. Every first project will have a few wobbly stitches. The more you practice, the more even your stitching will get.

Your Next Project

Using everything you’ve covered in the Kids’ Knitting Lessons so far, you can now make a placemat and a scarf. These flat projects are made with the same skills as your coaster, but they’re just bigger. Making these next projects gives you a chance to practice your knit stitches. The more you practice, the better your stitches will look.

Beginner flat knitting projects including a placemat and scarf made using basic knit stitches.

Knit a Placemat

Knit a Scarf

Or, if you are ready to learn the next skill, you can move straight from knitting your coaster to knitting your very first wearable hat! Move to the next lesson (Kids’ Lesson 8) to start learning to knit in a circle (“knit in the round”) to make a seamless hat that will keep you cozy and warm.

Beginner knitting projects showing a finished coaster and a simple knit hat for kids.

Up Next

Learn to knit in a circle and start your very first hat. Go to Kids’ Lesson 8 to continue. (Coming soon.)

Start Lesson 8: Knit in a Circle (coming soon)

Joining knitting in the round to begin a seamless tube for a beginner knit hat.

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Kids’ Knitting – Loose Ends