How to Invisibly Fasten Off

The invisible fasten off (sometimes called the invisible join) is a finishing technique that makes the end of a round look seamless. Instead of the little bump you get from a regular slip stitch join and fasten off, this method mimics the look of a regular stitch so the join disappears.

It's especially useful for amigurumi, hats, and anything worked in the round where you want a polished, professional finish.

How to do it

When you've finished your last stitch in the round, cut your yarn leaving about a 6-inch tail. Pull the tail all the way through the loop on your hook.

Thread the tail onto a yarn needle. Insert the needle under the front loop only of the next stitch (the one you would have worked into if you were continuing).

Then insert the needle back through the back loop of the last stitch you made (the one you just fastened off from). Pull gently to match the tension of your other stitches.

Weave in the tail on the inside of your work. The join should now look like just another stitch in the round — no bump, no gap.

Tip: Don't pull too tight or too loose. The fake stitch should match the size of the surrounding stitches for the best invisible result.