Hairpin Lace Part 4 of 4: Finishing Your Project

NOTE: Since the original posting of Part 4 - Finishing Your Project, my mom reminded me of an easier way to finish off the project. It totally gets rid of my stage 3... weaving in the ends. Thank you, Mom! The directions found below have been updated and reflect the change. Changes made within the remaining directions will be denoted in red. I left in the stage 3... weaving in the ends. Some people may still want to finish off their project in this manner. In order to eliminate stage 3, your yarn tails must be the same color as the tassels you are adding, otherwise you would have an odd colored yarn in your tassel. So, If you are using tassels that are a different color than the yarn tails, DO NOT incorporate the yarn tails in the tassel, and use stage 3 to weave in ends. (3-8-10) 

You have now finished crocheting and joining all your strips. Time to finish it up. We will do this in 2 or 3 stages: Finishing the outside edges, adding tassels and (optionally... weaving in ends).

Finish Outside Edges:
1] To finish off an edge, work on the right side of your project, and begin at the bottom. Place the first 6 loops on your crochet hook. (6 loops on hook)

2] Slide the 3 loops closest to the end of crochet hook (end loops) over the other 3 loops closest to the hook (front loops), allowing the 3 end loops to come off the hook. (3 loops on hook)

3] Pick up the next 3 loose loops. (6 loops on hook)

4] Continue taking the ends loops off the crochet hook by sliding them over front loops, then picking up the next 3 loops.

5] When you get to the last 3 loops, pull a yarn tail through the 3 loops and loosely tie.

6] Do the other edge in the same manner.

Add Tassels: 

NOTE: If your yarn tail are a different color than the tassels you are adding next to it, DO NOT incorporate the yarn tail in the tassel. Follow the remainder of the tassel instructions leaving the yarn tails alone. After the tassels have been added, proceed to Stage 3... weaving in the ends, and finish your afghan.

1] The yarn tails from each strip can be incorporated into the same colored tassel next to it. To prepare a yarn tail, begin by sliding your crochet hook from the front to the back, sliding the hook between the first three loops of one strip and the first three loops of the other strip.

2] Grab a yarn tail from either strip and pull it through the 6 loops. Let it stay there until you are ready to add your tassel. (Note: You want the yarn tail to be the same color as the tassel. If you have crocheted different colored strips, you may want to add different colored tassels. Do it in a manner that is pleasing to you. You can incorporate a yarn tail from either side for the tassel, you can even incorporate both, as long as they are the same color as the tassel you are adding.)

3] To make a tassel, find a "board" you can wrap yarn around that is approximately 8" long. I used the top of a container. You can also use a book or cut a piece of cardboard to the desired length.

4] Loosely wrap yarn around your board 8 times and cut yarn.

5] Slide the loops off the board, holding the top of the loops in your left hand.

6] When adding tassels on the bottom edge; slide your crochet hook from the back to the front, sliding the hook between the first three loops of one strip and the first three loops of the other strip.

7] Grab the top of the tassel you are holding in your left hand, and pull the tassel through the 2 sets of loops about 3".

8] Slide your yarn tail over and hold it with the other ends of the tassel.

9] Take the bottom of the tassel and feed through the top loop of the tassel.

10] Gently pull on the bottom until the knot formed in step 6 is secure. Do not pull it too tightly. You do not want to misshape the loops on your strips.
11] Cut the bottom loops of your tassel, so there are now 16 individual pieces of yarn. If necessary, even the bottom of the tassel by cutting off long pieces.

12] When adding tassels to the top edge; untie the knot holding two strips together. Repeat steps 6 - 12.

NOTE: You will only need to weave in the ends if you did not incorporate your yarn tail into your tassel as described in Stage 2 - Adding Tassels.

Weave in Ends:
1] Turn project over so back is showing. Each yarn tail will need to be woven into the back.

2] Thread a yarn tail into a yarn needle.

3] Weave the yarn tail through the center crochet of each strip, making sure not to poke through the front of your piece. 

4] Weave each piece in 1" - 1 1/2". Clip the thread close to the piece.

You are now done! Easy, right? BTW... The examples used in this tutorial are for an afghan I'm making. I am not done with it yet so I can't give you the "finished picture". When I am done, I will include the pic, in these instructions.

Part 1 - The Loom

Part 2 - Crocheting the Strips

Part 3 - Joining the Strips

Part 4 - Finishing the Project

 
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