Glossary / Fasten off
FOFasten off
Cutting the yarn and securing the last loop so the work cannot unravel.
How to work it
Cut the working yarn a few inches from your hook, yarn over, and pull the tail all the way through the loop on the hook. Draw it snug and the stitch locks. Then thread the tail on a yarn needle and weave it into the fabric, following the direction of the stitches and reversing once so it cannot work loose. For an invisible join in the round, thread the tail under the top of the first stitch before weaving it in.
Common confusions
What does FO mean?
In crochet patterns, FO means Fasten off. Cutting the yarn and securing the last loop so the work cannot unravel.
Does FO mean fasten off or finished object?
Both, depending on where you read it. Inside a pattern FO is always the instruction to fasten off. In a forum, a shop, or a project name, FO usually means finished object, the opposite of a WIP or work in progress. Context settles it every time.
Do I need to knot the tail?
No, and it is better not to. Pulling the tail through the last loop already locks the stitch, and weaving the end back through the fabric in two directions holds it permanently. A knot makes a hard lump that can be felt through the work and eventually pushes to the front.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fasten off | FO |
| Español | Rematar | no standard code |
| Deutsch | Faden abschneiden und vernähen | no standard code |
| Français | Arrêter le fil | no standard code |
| Italiano | Chiudere il filo | no standard code |
| 日本語 | 糸始末（引き抜いて留める） | no standard code |
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
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