Tips for Hiding Chain Stitches
- Always make sure your chain stitches are long enough and that you don’t cut the thread too short before you start finishing up. If they’re too short before you begin finishing, you might not be able to neatly hide them in your craft project, causing them to stick out or come loose. Of course, we don’t want that!
- Always weave in chain stitches on the wrong side of your project (inside/back). By weaving in the ends on the wrong side, they decrease in visibility on the right side. It’s also a good idea to weave in your ends in inconspicuous places in your knitting. For example, with socks, do it in the toes, or with a sweater, in the side seam or under the arm—no one will notice!
- Always weave the ends back and forth a few times between rows. For knitting, it’s best to weave your ends into the stitches. To do this, use a tapestry needle that your yarn fits through and follow the loops in your knitting (on the inside/back, of course!). Once you’ve woven about five centimeters, you can cut the yarn, and it will be neatly hidden.
- Stretch the work out a little after you've cut off the ends. That way, you can see if there are any loose ends sticking out here and there. If you don't see the mistakes, you obviously can't fix them. So be sure to check!
- Use the magic button to attach a new color. When you’re switching to a new color, it’s best if the transition is barely noticeable—or not at all—and flows as smoothly as possible. You can see how to use this magic button to attach your new color on our TikTok page.
- Use the right tools: choose the right needle for your yarn. Use Wool Needles for thick yarn and crochet hooks for thinner yarns. Also, make sure to check whether you need a sharp or blunt tip for your finishing touches—it can make a big difference. Use sharp (embroidery) scissors to cut the threads precisely.
- Do you have a project with a lot of loose ends? Then start tucking them away as you go, rather than waiting until the last minute. That way, you can knit or crochet the loose ends into the work as you continue, which will save you time later on.
Give your project shape by stretching it out neatly
Sometimes you might finish a craft project, only to find it has waves, bumps, and unevenness! Terr-i-ble. If a project is supposed to be a neat square or rectangle, it’s naturally frustrating when the edges aren’t even in length and there are bumps in it. You can easily fix this by blocking your project! This is a technique where you stretch out your piece, spray it with water, and use that to stretch it into the desired shape and dimensions. For this, you’ll need a few things: knit blockers, blocking/linking mats, a tape measure, and a plant sprayer. Check out one of our previous blog posts that explains exactly how to block your project! Do you have a large project you want to block? Then you can wash it in cold water in the washing machine and spin it on the lowest setting. If the project isn’t too big, you can also put it in a pillowcase or laundry bag first before placing it in the washing machine.
Does your project consist of several separate pieces, such as Granny Squares? If so, block the individual pieces first before assembling them. In this blog post, we’ll also explain how to make Granny Squares!
Here's how to finish an Amigurumi or Cuddly Toy
If you enjoy crocheting Amigurumi, you’ve probably wondered at some point about how to stuff your cute little cuddly toy. Exactly how much stuffing should you use? What kind of stuffing? And how do I make sure the stuffing is distributed evenly? We explain this in detail in a previous blog post, so be sure to check it out here for the best tips on stuffing your Amigurumi! We also have a few tips for assembling your Amigurumi:
- Use pins to secure loose pieces. It can sometimes be tricky to secure all your loose pieces while also keeping them in place as you sew. That’s why it’s a good idea to use pins! Place the pins so that your loose pieces are held securely in place, then you can sew them down.
- Use a sharp needle for sewing. When you need to sew on the arms, legs, fins, or other parts of your Amigurumi, it helps if you can glide through the stitches as smoothly as possible. That’s why it’s important to use a sharp needle.
- First, sew the individual pieces together partially, and only then add the last bit of stuffing. If you use too much stuffing while crocheting, it may become harder to make tight stitches, or the stuffing may get caught in the yarn as you crochet.
Have you made a woolen garment?
Once you’ve knitted a beautiful wool sweater, it’s naturally a wonderful feeling to be able to wear it after all those hours of hard work. But once you’ve worn it, it will need to be washed at some point. In general, hand-washing your garment is best for the wool, but if you do want to put it in the washing machine, be sure to carefully check the Care Instructions on the yarn.
Another big problem you run into with clothes (especially wool) is that they start to fuzz and pill. It’s bound to happen eventually, but there are a few things you can do to delay it and get rid of it! One tip for delaying pilling is to (yes, really!) put it in the freezer overnight! First, place your knitted item in a plastic bag, then put it in the freezer overnight. The cold will decrease the pilling process. There are also various tools, such as our wool comb, to remove fuzz and pills. Read a previous blog post here about fuzz and pills and how to deal with them.
And, of course, the most important tip of all: Take your time! It’s better to invest a little extra time in finishing your crochet and knitting projects well and taking good care of them than to end up dissatisfied with your project down the road. Have fun crafting!
