Crocheting Granny Squares
 

When you finish a square, how much of a "tail" do you leave? I have been leaving 4 to 5 inches, and then weaving them under the other crochet. I feel that it's a chore to do that part. Can I just put a knot and then cut them shorter? Or would this make them vulnerable to raveling?

Yes, they'd be vulnerable to raveling. Plus I don't like the look of knots. (Says the former needle arts judge for the Utah State Fair.)

I would leave a longer one for "sewing" the blocks together.

I have been doing granny squares for over 30 years. I leave a long tail and when I crochet the squares together, I make sure to align the tails together and tie them into a small tight knot. I then weave the tails in. This might not be the official way, but I have never had a blanket unravel. If there is a tail by itself, I will knot it in place with a tight knot and weave it in. I think if you don't knot it, even a tail can can loosen out and unravel with washing and wear and tear. When the blanket gets older with wear and tear, the yarn will thin and loosen anyway, lending itself to more unraveling. I have granny squares that still good 30 years later because I used a smaller hook, crocheted the squares tightly and knotted them tightly.

I always weave the tails back into the square, don't knot it and cut it off, it's ugly.

I was taught to leave a tail shorter than one of the sides of the crochet, then to lay them in the seam as you attach the individual motifs together. No knots, no weaving, and very secure. I also crochet over the tail of the color I am ending, and the new color I am adding with the first few stitches of the new color.

I was taught that way too, madamekelly.......never had a complaint!

I spent many,many hours this fall rechrocheting granny squares that my late sister did not knot securely. Please do weave the tails in so they will not ravel.