crochetHow to finish and join crochet
Secure the last loop, hide the tails and match two motifs without pulling their edges out of shape.
In this guide
Fasten off without cutting too closeWeave through stitches, then change directionWhipstitch two equal granny-square edgesBlock to compare, then finish the joined pieceFasten off without cutting too close
Finish the last stitch. Cut the working yarn leaving about 15–20 cm, or enough to thread a yarn needle and weave through several stitches in more than one direction. Draw the free tail completely through the active loop and tighten gently. The tail is now separate from the ball.
If the tail is too short to thread and weave securely, undo the last few stitches and reserve more yarn before finishing again. A knot at the edge does not replace weaving, especially on a washable object.
Weave through stitches, then change direction
Thread a blunt yarn needle suitable for the yarn. On the back of the fabric, pass through the backs of several stitch posts so the tail follows existing yarn rather than bridging across an open gap. Leave the fabric relaxed. Change direction, catching a different part of a stitch so the return pass does not simply retrace an open tunnel. Work another short pass in a different direction if the yarn is slippery.
Gently stretch the fabric as it will be used. The tail should stay hidden and the edge should not pucker. Keep enough tail for any correction, then wash and dry by the yarn label before trimming the remaining tip close to the fabric. Do not cut into the stitches or melt yarn ends.
An adjustable-ring tail needs particular care: closing the center is only the first step. Weave that tail through the backs of the first-round stitches, change direction and check the center again after gentle handling. Keep all tails out of the seam until each is secured.
Whipstitch two equal granny-square edges
This sewn join is easy to inspect and makes a wrapped sewn seam on the wrong side. Match two squares of the same round count and finished dimensions. Lay them together with right sides facing each other, so the wrong sides face outward. Align the two corners at each end and use removable markers to pair corresponding edge stitches.
Thread a yarn needle with a separate length of yarn, leaving a tail to weave later. Start at the paired corner chain spaces, passing through both spaces. For each following matched pair of dc stitches, pass the needle under both top loops of the front square’s stitch and both top loops of the back square’s stitch, from front to back. Bring the yarn over the edge toward you, then enter the next pair from front to back again.
At corresponding side chain-1 spaces, make one wrap through both spaces. Keep advancing along one edge only; finish through the paired corner spaces at its far end. On our three-round squares, that edge has nine dc on each square and two intervening side spaces. Pair all nine dc and both side spaces; do not skip the three dc of a corner group because they belong to a corner.
Open the pieces periodically. The seam should hold the edges together without shortening them. If the corners cannot line up, recount and compare gauge rather than easing away a whole extra stitch. At the end, weave the sewing tail through the backs of stitches in more than one direction. Remove every temporary marker.
2 · Back square: wrong side faces away.Exploded edge view: the two squares sit together in your hands, with their right sides touching. The needle crosses a matched pair from front to back; the return wraps over the edge. The red line shows successive sewing passes, not crochet stitches. Keep the wraps relaxed.
Block to compare, then finish the joined piece
If blocking is appropriate for the yarn, finish the individual squares to consistent dimensions before joining. Do not stretch a small square aggressively to match a larger one with a different stitch count or gauge. After joining, a light label-permitted wash and reshaping can settle the seam.
For a flat washcloth, no join or border is needed. Check the edges, secure both ends, and wash and dry as the exact yarn label permits. Include that care information when giving the object to someone else.