How would you tackle this? Lots of ends...

[DroolOverWool]

Hi all

This blanket (see small section of it below) has been a mammoth project which I've worked on for nearly a year and want to finish ASAP... but I hate working in ends and there's just so many of them! 44 colours, used every colour 3 times, two ends of yarn for every stripe... you do the maths. Lots and lots of ends!

I was thinking of cutting them all to the same length (about 2 inches) and leaving them like a fringe... do you think that would look OK? I've also thought about plaiting them (i.e. make 3 ends into a little plait), but I think some of the ends aren't long enough to get a decent-looking plait. Plus it would still be a lot of fiddly work. Wish I'd thought of it all before I started...

Any other ideas how to make it look neat without having to work in all the ends?

[Inis]

Fringing is a great idea. You could braid them or you could make a tassel type of fringe with them.

Edit to add: I try to crochet over ends -- sort of weaving in as I go. It prevents the ugh at the end

[sue in canada]

I made a similar small throw blanket years ago and I left the trimmed ends as a fringe.

[feministmama]

I'm with tassels. Nice work!

[Yarnlady]

I'd leave them as a fringe or braid....if you weave all those ends in on one side, that side would end up being very bulky.

[mathwizard]

Fringe or tassel both would be nice. You do do excellent work.
I find that when I am working with color changes I try to hid the end under my crochet as I go along. That way there are not too many ends to hide because I have crocheted over them.

[eladine]

Hmm... not sure how to explain this, but how about plaiting, or braiding the edges down the side of the blanket?

Don't know if you have heard, or know of a french braid in long hair - but that's what jumped to mind as soon as i saw all the ends!

Have a look here for a how to - see if it's any help.

[salos]

I would add more fringe so it would look thicker. Make the strands twice as long as you need (actually a little more than this), fold in half, and use a crochet hook to loop it through and then through the fold.

[DroolOverWool]

Thank you all so much for your help and your kind comments!

I'm not 100% sure yet but I'll probably go with the fringe. It's my mum's birthday next week and she lives a long way away, so I'd better get it mailed soon.

Thanks again.

[aprildavis99]

I'm with Salos....add more to bulk up the fringe and make it look like you did it on purpose.

Very beautiful by the way.