I keep coming across instructions which say to either fray stop the cut edges of overlocking/serging, or to weaving it back in with a needle. I am not a fan of either method so would like to propose a third method, which is nothing new, but I thought it might be useful to do a mini tutorial.
This all happens on the overlocker and it is useful to practice on scraps because you will become adept very quickly. Before I begin let me mention that it is really difficult to show the method in photographs but I’m going to give it a go.
You will have a tail at the beginning of the seam and you want to overlock this tail into the seam: Do a couple of stitches into the seam with the tail at the back as normal (use your handwheel if you need more control), leave the needles down to anchor the fabric and raise the presser foot. Bring the tail to the left side, smooth it out, and pull it underneath the presser foot. Drop the presser foot (how useful would a knee lift be?) and continue overlocking, letting the blade slice through the tail after a couple of centimetres. This end of the overlocking is now anchored into your sewing.
At the end of the seam, overlock one stitch off the end of your fabric. Raise the presser foot and needles, pull the fabric out so that the thread comes off the stitch fingers – I’ve tried to show this here, but it’s a bit unclear. If you don’t know what the stitch fingers are, either check your manual, or just look to see that they help form the overlock stitches. They are fairly obvious when you look.
Now flip the fabric over and reposition it under the presser foot. You are going to overlock back over your previous overlocking. I am careful not to cut my previous stitches, but if in doubt, disengage your blade so there can be no danger. 
Overlock a few centimetres and then off to the side. You can now trim the overlocking – it’s not going anywhere. Can you see the beginning and end of my overlocking on each seam? If you want it to be a bit neater where you chain off the end just pivot the fabric more. 
I also overlock around the corners by stopping a stitch after the end, lift the presser foot, lift the needles, pull the thread off the fingers, turn the fabric 90°, gently pull up any threads to remove slack, and then keep going. This is another skill to get practiced at.
I made a bundle of these little bags recently to give away with soaps in them, and each one took literally a minute including cutting out. Had I been fray stopping or sewing the tails back in I think it might have taken me a fair bit longer.
What method do you use? Anything to add?
Yes, I remember this way now. I think it was described in my manual but if you don’t do something regularly you can certainly forget about it! Thanks for the reminder!
Yes, I always forget things unless I practice them.
this looks wonderful.
Good to try!
Definitely going to try this! Great explanation- Live your little bags! Lucky recipient!
Thank you! These are the quickest bags to make up and I think it’s a really nice (and easy) way to wrap a present.
Thanks for that. It will certainly be much quicker than threading the ends back through.
Yes, so much faster!
This mehtod is in my Overlocker/Serger book and was the way I was taught to finish ends. Quite easy to do.
Yes, I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t do it.
I will try this method, thank you for the tip Sue. I used to knot the overlocker thread 💕
Oh yes, I’ve done that too. This is a neater way if you can do it.
I will try this Sue as I usually weave the tails in. Thank you for sharing your method with us. 🙂
I find it so much easier than weaving. x
You’re probably going to laugh at me, but I just cut the tails off and say the heck with it. My clothes have not fallen apart (yet)!
Haha, I find that if I do that (and I have!), I finish up with threads hanging down, so I do try to do this finish. It’s almost as quick as cutting the threads off!
I use all of these methods! Sometimes I zigzag my tails down to the seam too…! Stupid really, but it all depends what I’m making, where I’m sat and what’s in front of me! 😅 Thanks for the reminder 👍 … one-minute-bags, that must have been satisfying! 👍🙏😄👏
zigzagging is a good idea too, but I understand the variation in methods depending on where you are!
Thanks for this. I’m new to serging – Aldi special a couple of months ago. At half the regular Janome price the main thing it is missing is detailed instructions. I’ve been weaving ends in, where seams don’t cross, but this is much better.
So glad I could help!
Very good. Otherwise one does rather lose the speed ones gained!
That’s so true!