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If you’re an absolute beginner when it comes to crochet, learn how to fasten off crochet at the end of your project in this step-by-step tutorial.

Following on with my Crochet Basics tutorial posts, for any brand new crocheters out there this is a simple tutorial on how to fasten off your crochet project.

While there are more advanced ways to fasten off your work such as the invisible finish, this post will show you the most common (and the easiest way!) to finish off your crochet project. You know, that part when you cut the yarn and you don’t want all of your hard work to unravel…

If you’re at this stage of your crochet journey, this is the post for you.

Honestly, fastening off in crochet is super simple.

How to fasten off crochet tutorial. Pin this for later.

How to fasten off crochet in 3 steps

The steps you need to take to fasten off your crochet project are:

  • Step 1: Cut your yarn.
  • Step 2: Fasten off – yarn over, pull yarn tail through the loop on your hook.
  • Step 3: Weave in your yarn ends.

I do have more detailed steps and tips for you below on each of these steps, so please do keep reading if you’re brand new to crochet.

Before you cut your yarn to fasten off

The first step to fasten off your crochet project is to cut your yarn. But before you do, there is something you should check.

Before you cut your yarn, make sure you read the crochet pattern you’re using to see if you need to leave a longer yarn tail for sewing or not. 

Sometimes when we fasten off amigurumi pieces for example, the yarn tail at the end of our work is used for sewing the Amigurumi pieces together at the end. This is also often the case for garments/crocheted clothing too. So if this is the case, you want to make sure you don’t cut your yarn too close to your crocheted piece. 

Even if the crochet pattern you’re using doesn’t need a longer yarn tail for sewing, you will still need a little bit of length in your yarn so you can fasten off and weave in your yarn ends so they are hidden nicely and won’t come undone.

But how much yarn should you leave at the end?

It really does depend on the crochet pattern you’re using, and there is no one answer. However, remember that it is much easier to cut the yarn again, than to try and make the yarn longer by attaching more… 

If you don’t need to leave a longer yarn tail for sewing, simply leave approximately 4 inches (approximately 10 cm) of yarn before your cut.

Cutting a long yarn tail at the end of a rectangular crocheted piece. This shows cutting the yarn away from the project to give you enough length in the tail to be able to fasten off and sew the ends into the project to hide them.

Fastening off your crochet piece

Once your yarn has been cut, you are ready to fasten off.

The basic technique for fastening off is to simply yarn over with your crochet hook, and pull the entire yarn tail through the loop that’s currently on your hook. 

This image shows 'yarn over' with the final stitch of a crochet project. This is the beginning of fastening off crochet.
Yarn Over
Crochet hook pulling yarn tail all the way through the final loop on your crochet hook to fasten off. This will create a little knot in the yarn which will secure your crochet project and stop it from coming undone.
Pull the yarn tail all the way through the loop on your crochet hook to fasten off.

This basically creates a little knot at the end of your work so it doesn’t come undone.

The little knot that is created by yarning over and pulling the yarn tail all the way through the final loop on your hook is called 'fastening off'. This image shows the little knot that is created in your work once you have fastened off your crochet project.

Weaving in your yarn ends

No matter what kind of crochet project you’re working on, you will have some yarn ends to weave in. 

How this is done varies depending on the type of crochet project you’re working on.

Weaving in yarn ends for amigurumi

If you’re working on an amigurumi (a 3D crochet shape), you will most likely use some of your yarn ends for sewing the amigurumi pieces together.

To hide final yarn tails, simply thread the yarn tail onto a tapestry needle. Insert the needle into a stitch right next to where your yarn is coming out from. Then pull your needle out through any other stitch away from the stitch you inserted your needle into. Once this is done, pull the yarn tail as tight as you can and cut the yarn tail close to where the yarn tail is coming out from.

Tapestry needle is inserted into one stitch of an amigurumi egg and is coming out of another stitch in a different location of the project. The tapestry needle is threaded with the yarn tail of the project that has already been fastened off.
Pull yarn tail tight and cut close to the amigurumi piece so the yarn tail is hidden inside the amigurumi.

Weaving in yarn ends for flat crochet projects

If you’re crocheting a flat piece (i.e. have been crocheting back and forth in rows), you will need to weave your yarn tail into your stitches.

To do this, simply thread your yarn tail onto a tapestry needle and weave the tapestry needle through the middle of your last row of stitches. You don’t need to weave through all of the stitches, just a few. For example I’ve weaved through approximately 5 stitches in the image below.

Tapestry needle inserted through the back loops only of a flat crochet project's last row. The tapestry needle has the yarn tail from the end of the project that has already been fastened off on it.

Be careful not to pull the yarn tail too tightly, as you don’t want to change the shape of your work.

Once you’ve done this, you need to go back the other way to ensure the yarn tail is secured. To do this simply skip one stitch and weave your needle back through the middle of the same stitches going back in the direction of where you started.

Tapestry needle pointing to the right going through the back loops only of a project. This is demostrating the sewing steps required to hide your fastened off yarn tail into a flat crochet project.

For extra security, I also do this for a third time – skip one stitch, go back through a few stitches in the same direction you went the first time around.

Tapestry needle with yarn tail going towards the left through the back loops only of the crochet project.

At this stage, once my needle is out through the stitches, you then cut the yarn tail as close as possible to the finished crochet piece. This then hides the yarn tail completely within your crochet project.

Scissors cutting the long yarn tail that has just been sewn into the back loops of the flat crochet project. The scissors are very close to the project so the yarn tail will be hidden inside the stitches of the project once cut.

Don’t forget you’ll also need to weave in your starting yarn tail too. Simply repeat the steps so all yarn tails are completely hidden.

Small rectangular crochet piece.

I hope this tutorial helps you finish your crochet projects, and I can’t wait to see your progress!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Cilla x

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