Here's what my joined ends looked like. I was advised to crimp the ends of the staples in with pliers. I honestly wasn't TOO persistent about it. I did get most of them, but I missed a few too. Once I started weaving, I TOTALLY saw the point (literally) and wished I had paid more attention on that step. When you're sliding the woven pieces into their permanent home, there is a LOT of friction pressing them into the strands that you've joined together. If the staples aren't countersunk, the barbs dig into the piece that you're trying to slide into place and you have to back it off a little and bend the staple back into place and out of the way.