Finished Edge

Crocheters can create a finished edge on their work that makes their projects more professional and finished looking. Additionally, finishing the edge of an crocheted piece that will be appliqued onto another, as in the case of Amigurumi faces, will help to hide the thread and stitches used to applique those pieces.

The technique is quite simple and once you see it, you will wonder why you hadn't thought of it.

When your crochet piece is completed, rather than simply pulling the end through the loop remaining on the hook; make a slip stitch into the first stitch of the next row (circular piece) and pull the end through or turn, make a single crochet and slip stitch into the first stitch of the next row (rectangular piece). Either way, you will be pulling the end through this loop.

Cut the yarn to leave a tail about 1 and 1/2 times the length of the edge you wish to finish. (This will be too long, but better too long than too short. You can also use the extra tail to 'sew' on the finished piece onto your Amigurumi or other crocheted item.)

Insert your crochet hook into the first stitch after the slip stitch. Pull the tail from the back side, out and through the stitch. Pull tight enough to bring the slip stitch into the gap between your stitches, but not so tight as to pucker your crocheted piece.

Insert you crochet hook into the next stitch. Loop the yarn over the edge and pull the tail from the back side, out and through the stitch. Pull the loop you created until it fits snugly. Pull tight enough so that there is no gap between the tail and the loops of the last row, but not so tight as to distort the shape.

Continue working around the edge of your crochet piece in this manner - always working from the same side in the same direction.

For a circular piece, work several stitches past the beginning of your edge to hide the slip stitch even more. Done right, it will be almost impossible for anyone to find where the last row of crochet work ended.