When you finish knitting, weaving in ends is simply a way to get rid of the loose dangling yarn ends that are left over.
OK, weaving in ends is a nuisance! It's not my favorite knitting task to do but it needs to be done. Best advice here?
Plan a movie night, get cozy on the couch, grab that knitting project and get it done.
It is important after all because when you weave in ends it makes sure that:
All you'll need is a tapestry needle and a pair of scissors.
Thread your tapestry needle with your first yarn end and follow along.
What you want to try to do is follow the bumps as you're weaving in ends of yarn.
Note: Weaving in yarn ends on a garter stitch fabric can be done the same way because they have the bumps too.
Take your tapestry needle and push it up through a couple of the purl bumps as in photo.
Next, skip the very next purl bump and put needle into the one beside it. Push down through loop and down into the loop underneath it as well
It should look like the photo above
Next, there's an arrow pointing to next stitch. Skip that bump and put needle into stitch beside it.
Push up needle so it goes into same stitch as the yarn is in at the top. This way you are kind of making figure '8's.
This is what it should look like as you continue to weave ends in knitting
Next, skip next bump, go into loop beside it and push through and down to get the needle into the loop with the yarn already in it at the bottom.
Keep weaving in the end this way for about 1 - 1 1/2 inches
When you're done it'll look something like the photo above. Now that it's safely tucked away cut the end and start working on the next.
And when you turn your knitting over you will see that it's almost invisible and with the same color yarn it won't show at all.
First dangly yarn end done.
Weaving in ends for ribbing stitches is even easier.
Rib stitches look the same on both sides so here's a great way to tuck in those ends so no one will see whichever side you use.
Here's how to weave in ends for ribbing
Thread your tapestry needle with the yarn end. I am just using a contrasting color in order to show you how.
In the first photo I am just weaving through a stitch to line it up with the beginning of the rib stitches.
To get started (2nd photo on the right) push needle through the right leg of the 'V'
Keep catching the loops of stitches with your tapestry needle. It's almost like you're curling the needle around each loop to catch it. Just keep on weaving up all those right loops of the 'V'.
And there. I went all the way up. If this was the pink yarn end you wouldn't see it.
When you have gone up one side for about an inch you can hook your needle on the left loop going back down the other side just like in my photo (above left). Then do the same thing by curling you needle around the loops going down (right photo)
And there you have it. You can snip off the ends and you're all done.
See how it's barely noticeable? And it won't notice at all when you use the same yarn as you knit with.
I found a great video showing you how to weave in ends as well so if you are still uncertain have a look.
I hope this helps. Happy Knitting!