Monday, December 13, 2010

The Invisible Fasten Off (one of my favorite crochet techniques)



Lately I have been doing a lot of crocheting in the round, and have been exploring techniques to make the pieces look their best.  I wanted the join of the end to the beginning of the round to be seamless.  The regular method of fastening off  leaves an unsightly bump.

(Example illustrating the bump resulting from a regular fasten off)

After searching and experimenting, I began using the method that I call "the invisible fasten off".

Since I have been using it in several of my patterns lately, namely "Piper's Chain Scarf" and "Genevieve's Belt" from Interweave Crochet Accessories 2010,  I thought it might be helpful to offer a tutorial here.

Step 1:  Complete the last stitch in the round.



Step 2:  Cut the yarn, leaving a 3" tail.  Insert hook into the BACK LOOP ONLY of the first stitch in the round, yo, and pull all the way through as if to fasten off in the usual way.



Step 3:  Insert hook into BOTH LOOPS of the second stitch in the round, yo, and pull all the way through again.



Step 4:  Insert hook into the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the last stitch in the round, yo and pull down through.



Step 5:  Weave in the tail end, and admire your invisible fasten off!
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97 comments:

  1. this is very nice - thank you for sharing! i will try it! :)

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  2. Will definitely be giving this a go, thank you Shelby. The colours in your tutorial look fabulous :)

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  3. Very ingenious. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing! It would be wonderful if you coul do a video as I'm the type that will go left when I'm told to go right.

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  5. wohooooo just did it and am SO THRILLED! Your instructions are terrific thank you Shelby.

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  6. Just followed it again as I couldn't remember it - this is SO good, thank you.

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  7. So happy to have found you! :) And what a great technique! :) Will def give it a shot! Tks!

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  8. Clever! We like!

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  9. Grazie! Molto bene!

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  10. Great technique! thanx for sharing!

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  11. Thank you so much for this!!! I have been trying for YEARS to achieve an invisible finish to crochet 'in the round' projects...
    Dorothy M.

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  12. I am so glad you found it useful Dorothy!

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  13. Did this on a baby hat I just finished and it works great, no crookedy bump at the end. Thank you for sharing your technique!

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  14. I am glad you found it useful, Ronni!

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  15. I just found your patterns on Ravelry and your blog, and then I saw this. Thank you. This is a really, really nice technique.

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  16. Thank you very much for these instructions! I will ever use it since now!!
    Laura

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  17. Thanks! this is very helpful and makes a huge difference in the finished product!

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  18. I use this all the time! Thank you so much for this tutorial!!!

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  19. Thank you for this great tutorial. This makes all the difference in finishing a circular crochet piece.

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  20. It really does, Laura, I am so glad you like the tutorial!

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  21. BIG thank you for sharing ♡ Just tried this, and it works so beautifully.
    With love,
    Martina
    (a beginner)

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  22. That is wonderful! Will always use it from now on, thank you :)

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  23. Love this. I've used it on two coasters already, and will continue to use it for other projects. This works really well. Thanks for sharing, and making the instructions really clear.

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  24. I tried this and it works. Thank you for sharing! I like this way to fasten off much better. Its neater, and less bulky, looks better.

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  25. Thank you for solving a long term problem for me. This creates a much better finish!

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  26. Thankyou very much for posting this! I'm very new to crochet, and the obvious "end" was bugging me - just tried this on a beanie I just finished making for my husband, and it works a treat!

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  27. You are so clever! This makes the finished piece look so much better.

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  28. My crochet item always look odd when I fastened them off. I used your technique today and my project looks great. Thanks!

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  29. Works beautifully! I've been trying to figure this one out on my own (I'm a new crocheter). I gave up and found your suggestion. Thank you!!

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  30. Inginius! Thank you!

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  32. Gracias. Es un consejo fantástico. Una sonrisa desde España (Sorry. No sé inglés) ^_______^

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  33. This is awesome! I made a bunch of hats and boot cuffs back in December and I wish I had found your tutorial back then lol...I can't wait to try this out!

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  34. Brilliant tutorial! This makes me so happy. Thank you!

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  35. Thank you so much for this quick tutorial - I, too, have been finding a nicer, 'cleaner' way of fastening off and I really like what you have done here - I will definitely give it a try !!

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  36. Thank you from a newbie! I have been making tons of the circles for a project, and I could not stand that bump!! So NICE of you to share it will everyone! Awesome job!!

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  37. wow!!! amazing!!! thanks a lot for sharing :)

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  38. Thanks so much for this! I featured this post today as one of a few that everyone learning how to crochet should read.

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  39. Thanks for sharing, so much neater!!

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  40. What if you are continuing on round and are not ready to change colors or fasten off?

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  41. Hi Dena k, then you just slip stitch in the top chain of what you began the round with, or in the first stitch in the round. If you slip stitch in the first stitch in the round you should make another stitch in the same stitch before continuing around.

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  42. Thanks, Shelby! I bookmarked your tutorial so I would always have it handy. I tried it on a project that was not "in the round", but it worked great! I just slip stitched in the first stitch of the previous row, and proceeded with your instructions! You're a genius.....and thanks so much for sharing with us!

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  43. Thank you so much for sharing this. Such a clever idea and it worked perfectly - I couldn't believe how neat it looked Thank you!!

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  44. Oh man this will be a life saver! Thank you so much!

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  45. Easy peasy and so doable! I wonder, would you do this at the end of each row, even when not changing colors?

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  46. Excellent tutorial! This join makes such a huge difference. :)

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  47. I am crocheting spots for a giraffe amigurumi and this method worked out great for making perfect circles. Thank you for figuring this out and the easy-to-follow instructions!

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  48. I am crocheting spots for a giraffe amigurumi and this method worked out great for making perfect circles. Thank you for figuring this out and the easy-to-follow instructions!

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  49. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  50. Thank you for this tutorial as well as the comment to Deena K on 4-22-14: "if you slip stitch in the first stitch in the round, you should make another stitch in the same stitch before continuing". I have been making this mistake for quite a while. On your tutorial, after step 2, I now thread the yarn on my needle and finish that way. Thanks again!

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  51. Thank you for this tutorial. I have tried & got nice result. Thank you for sharing this idea & your experience. Today is last but one day of this year. Wish you Happy & prosperous New year.

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  52. Hello and thank you for sharing this technique with us! I will be using it from now on.

    Please know that I almost never post a response. So, on this New Year's Eve, know I really appreciate this. Thanks

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  53. Hello and thank you for sharing this technique with us! I will be using it from now on.

    Please know that I almost never post a response. So, on this New Year's Eve, know I really appreciate this. Thanks

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  54. Thanks for sharing! Your explanation are very clear, just did it and worked the first time!

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  55. Oh, my goodness, thank you! I don't do a lot of crochet in the round, but will definitely use your method whenever I do. Will also share with my crafting group at church. Thank you, again! Have a blessed day~

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  56. I've been roaming around Pinterest for a very long time now and I have to say your designs are wonderful; you have a real "instinct" for colour choices and I like very much that I don't have to jump hoops to get a "free" design; the PDF is easily found. Very professional presentation. Thank you!

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  57. Love this - thank you! Do you have any tips for "invisibly" weaving in yarn changes at the end of rows? I battle with trying to make sense of hiding my threads without knots, etc. ~ heather

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  58. Hi aussiebushgirl, no need to tie a knot, just leave a tail and weave it into your work with a yarn needle!

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  59. I hope I never lose the link to this page. Thank you! :)

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  60. Could you tell me how to do this when you are crocheting into the BLO?

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  61. Wonderful! Works well...woo hoo. Great instructions on this technique.

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  62. I thank you very much for this method of invisible join. I think it’s much neater and more solid than the popular method doing the rounds of crochet media.

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  63. Thank you so much. Best finish I've tried. Instructions really clear.

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