When we learned to knit, it was basically carved in stone that you need to weave in the ends on every project. Even if it makes us die a little inside, we try to follow the rule. Sometimes on a project with a lot of ends, we weave them in as we go to spread the misery across time.
Once I made the cutest striped sweater with all my leftover yarns from Wonder Woman projects. It used about 10 different yarns in red, yellow, blue, and white. I was so glad I wove the ends in as I went. There were too many to tie, it would have been lumpy. And with so many ends to do at once, I know I wouldn’t have done it. That cute striped sweater would have lived in my “to finish” pile forever.
If we hate weaving in ends so much, why don’t we just break that rule? I think we’re afraid that we aren’t “real” knitters if we don’t follow the rules. Or maybe we think that if we know and follow all the rules it proves that we are Good Knitters. But no one is giving out trophies for that.
We all know what will happen if we don’t do it. We’ll be strutting around showing off our gorgeous hand knit sweaters dotted with holes and have yarn tails streaming out behind us.
We could tie a knot instead of weaving the ends in. But it could come undone someday. It could migrate to the right side of the work. It’s tacky to tie knots in your knitting. At least, that’s what the Knitting Police say.
I say we can do what we want with our ends! I have a couple of smaller shawls that I wear around my neck bandana-style. I’ve worn them for years and still haven’t woven in the ends. If you look at the backside of them, you’ll see all the ends taped down with clear packing tape- I didn’t even tie knots!
I never weave in ends if they’re not going to show. I tie a bow and double knot it on the inside of a sweater, leaving the tails long. The double-knotted bow is less likely to migrate to the front of the work, and the long tails mean that if it ever comes undone I can tie it again. It works like a charm when I join a new ball of yarn, but too bulky for stripes. I understand all the whys and hows of weaving in the ends. That’s why I know exactly how to get around it.
I don’t always skip out on weaving in my ends. When I make a gift for someone, I finish it beautifully. And I’m happy to do it. A handmade gift is such an act of love, I want every detail to show it. I want the recipient to wear their new knit with pride, not ask me why it’s taped on the backside.
It is important to learn the Rules of Knitting. If you decide to knit an heirloom sweater or baby blanket, those rules for professional finishing are going to elevate the piece. And knowing the rules means you’ll recognize when you can get away with breaking them.
Kelly Spenhoff 