Tutorial Thursday - Sashay Scarves (Starting and Finishing)

This month we are going back to Tutorial Thursday, and we are sharing almost everything you need to know about Sashay Scarves. This first post is how to start and finish them, next week we will be sharing how to make one style of Sashay Scarf and then the final week will be a completely different style. This month we are focusing on how to Crochet with the Sashay yarn, but we will look at how to knit with it later.

You really don't need to know how to crochet to do this. It does help for the second method but the first method is very easy and once a person gets the hang of pulling the hook through, it's a piece of cake. But also, you don't have to use the hook, you can simply push the loops off by hand (it will take longer, but whatever works for you.

Below, you can see what the yarn looks like. To work with it you need to stretch it out like the picture. There will always be one side that is finished and one side that has the loops. As you can see I have a pen pointing to the side you use to crochet.

The way to start any Sashay Scarf, no matter what method you use is by folding the end over itself about an inch or two. Dealing with the yarn is like dealing with stitches, the yarn has holes for you to work in. We start this way because you want a clean edge to show. Since we fold the yarn over, the first few loops are double, depending on the pattern you follow.

Finishing a Sashay Scarf

There are a few different ways to finished off a Sashay Scarf. So far I have come across two different methods. (I will update this post if I find more.)

Method #1: Just pull through

When you have decided your scarf is at the length you like (this will depend on the way you want to wear the scarf also), you should have one loop left on your hook. In this method you need to fold the end piece (or cut the yarn about two to three inches away from your work). Fold the end piece, like you would to start the scarf. Now you want to pick up the loop at the top end of the fold (where you would work) and then pick up the loop closes to the finished edge.

This is what it will look like once pulled through. As you can see the ruffles of the scarf will hide the end part and it won't be noticeable. If you feel like it is noticeable or hanging too low, you can cut the end slightly but be sure to leave enough so that the scarf doesn't unravel.

Method #2: Pull through and Knot

This one is just as simple however it involves a knot. Not all crocheters like having knots, some feel they are noticeable either way it's personal preference as to how you finish your work.

Again you start with the last loop of your work on your hook. This time you want to hook the yarn off the ball and pull it through the loop.