Finishing off, Slip stitch, Joining

 After all the stitches for your project have been crocheted, you need to tie a knot so your work won't unravel and cut off the extra yarn.

 I chain 2 and pull them tight....

 Cut the yarn and pull it through the last chain stitch.

 That 'tail' looks messy, so I use the hook to pull it through the loops of the last row.

 All the way across until there is no 'tail' left. Patterns call this working in loose ends.

 If I have 2 pieces I want to join (shoulder or side seams of a vest or sweater, put a sleeve in a sweater, or join 2 blocks of an afghan)....

Holding right sides together, insert the hook into the loops of stitches of both pieces (same as for sc), yarn over.

 Pull the yarn through the stitches and the loop already on the hook. Insert the hook in the next two stitches of your two pieces...

 yarn over,

 pull it through the work,

 and the stitch on your hook. This is a slip stitch.

 Repeat across.

 The contrasting color will show on one side, but this is the wrong side of your finished work, so it doesn't matter.

 From the front, your seam doesn't show. The 'tail' of blue is from starting the chain. Looks messy, doesn't it? That's why it's important to work in all ends. It's easier to catch all of them if you work them in as you go.

 Now, a slight variation on joining. Right sides together, insert the hook into the outer loops of both pieces.

 Yarn over.

 Pull it through. Repeat across.

 Seam still shows on one side of the back.

 Not on the other side.

 The difference shows on the front. You have a small ridge on both sides of the seam.