How to Finish a Knitting Project
How you finish a knitting project depends on the type of project you are working on. For example, a kitchen cloth is easier to finish than a sweater. With a kitchen cloth, you only need to tie up loose ends—usually two ends, one at the beginning and one at the end. On the other hand, if you are working on a bigger project like me, such as a sweater for my ten-year-old son, you will need to consider several factors to finish it well. Below, I will share with you different techniques and some top tips for completing your knitting project. Hopefully, the pictures and text will help and inspire you to take those final steps!
Stretchy Bind-Off
When you are knitting the final stitches at the top of a sweater, it is very important to knit very loosely with your right needle. Believe me, you will need the bind-off to be very, very loose! I have made the mistake several times of knitting too tightly from the left needle (even when I thought it was loose) and have had to unravel my work to knit it even looser. How do you know if it’s too tight? You’ll notice when the owner’s head doesn’t fit through the neckline, which makes the sweater pretty useless for them.
Therefore, don’t rush during these final steps. Take your time to ensure everything comes together nicely and beautifully. Make sure all your hard work results in a knit project you’re proud of.
Before you knit the last stitch with your right-hand needle at the top of your sweater, check during the final round to ensure it is loose and stretchy. You can usually feel in the middle of the row whether it’s too tight or too loose. It is a good idea to stop for a moment and evaluate your finishing touch. If you are a beginner knitter, tutorials may complement this blog and help you. There are plenty of useful YouTube videos available.
Tying Up Loose Ends
After finishing your knitting project, which in my case is a sweater for my ten-year-old son, you will need to find all your loose ends and tie them up neatly. You’ll need the following:
- A darning needle
- Scissors
- If necessary: a new ball of yarn
This is something you will continually need for all your unfinished projects. Therefore, it’s a great idea to have a designated place for these tools and materials. When sewing the loose ends, it’s best to sew in a way that makes the holes where the ends meet less visible. Sew all the loose ends around the hole, and if you need more thread, use yarn of the same color so no new colors show through. Even though you sew on the back of your knitting work where the threads won’t be visible, it’s still good to match the original color in case any thread peeks through.
Sewing loose ends on purl stitches isn’t much different. Just make sure to sew the thread neatly into the knitted fabric, and that there will be no visible holes. Always sew on the wrong side of the work to keep your project looking clean and polished.
Fixing Underarm Holes
The next step is to sew the holes under the sleeves. When you knit a sweater, large holes often form under the arms. This is what you sew together after completing the knitting. There are different ways to do this. At first glance, this may seem overwhelming, but it’s simpler than it looks. Good lighting and a quiet workspace can make this task much easier.
What you’ll need to sew underarm holes:
- Good lighting
- A darning needle
- A yarn tail
- Knitting needles
- Scissors
- If necessary: a new ball of yarn
Before starting, have your knitting needles ready in your left hand. Use a darning needle with your right hand. Sew the yarn so it looks like part of the knitting. To do this, sew up and down from the lower loop to the upper one, sewing through each loop twice. Look at the accompanying pictures for guidance—it really helps!
If you use a tapestry needle, after your first stitch, ensure you know where to sew. I sometimes “break the rules” to make it look better. What I mean is that I sometimes sew in a random pattern, without following a specific design, to ensure the holes are securely sewn together and durable. Every project is unique and comes with its own challenges, even for me, and I’ve knitted many sweaters for children and adults. The key is to ensure the stitching looks beautiful and is durable enough to last, especially for kids. For example, sweaters I’ve made for my husband have lasted 5-10 years, depending on how often he wears them. I recommend, however, that you follow a pattern or use the most common method for sewing underarm holes. Knitting tutorials can also be helpful.
If fixing underarm holes feels daunting, do your best to ensure the work has no visible gaps. Since the area is under the arm, minor imperfections won’t show. The most important thing is to ensure the sweater is solid and durable.
Final Thoughts
Don’t get stuck on one problem for too long—it will only make you frustrated. Keep going, and if it’s not perfect, that’s okay! You’re going to complete more projects in the future, and with each one, your skills will improve. Learning is fun, and giving yourself time and grace to grow is essential. When you reach the end of your knitting project, take a moment to learn how to finish it properly and then give it a try. Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends with the knitting skills you need for guidance. I relied on this approach frequently in the early days of my knitting journey.
Otherwise, if you’d like to learn more about changing colors or adding stitches in knitting, be sure to check out my recent blog post on those topics! I truly hope you enjoy the process of working and learning, and I wish you happy knitting!
Proverbs 31:13
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
Proverbs 31:17
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
Proverbs 31:21
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
Proverbs 31:25
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
All Bible verses are quoted from the NKJV.
