Okay, so I'm going to admit something to you. I have a pet peeve... I can't stand it when I'm asked to tie knots while working on a crochet project. Different folks have different ideas about when it is or is not a good idea to tie knots in your yarn, but my opinion is that it should be avoided if at all possible. Why avoid tying knots? They just aren't as stable and lasting as they look.
Consider shoelaces. How may times have you worn a pair of shoes only to have them continually come untied throughout the day? Ditto for pajama pant cinches, sweatshirt hood pulls, and bathing suit ties. The knots seem so secure when you've just tugged on them, but they inevitably wiggle undone. The same principal applies in crochet. It may seem like your tied yarn ends will never come apart, but they will, especially if the item is going to end up going through the wash. Whether you're changing colors or adding a new skein to your project, don't just tie a knot. Take the time to do a Russian join or a proper color change on the last step of your last stitch with the old color. Then crochet over or weave in your ends appropriately. If you're not sure how to do something, remember you can always search online for tutorials. There are lots of people out there who can help!
If you really feel that you must tie a knot, here are a few occasions where the consequences will be less disastrous:
- You are crocheting an amigurumi and the knots will be on the inside of the animal
- You are making some kind of decorative item that will not be touched often, like an ornament or garland
- You are employing the cut-and-tie method of color changing to make a complex tapestry crochet wall hanging
Here's one final note on knots. If you're going to tie one, alternate which end you lead with. So if you start your first knot with the right strand over the left strand, start your second reinforcer-knot by putting the left strand over the right. That will make a tighter and more stable set of knots than simply tying with the same end leading over and over.
How do you feel about tying knots in crochet?
