How to Bind Off
You are on the home stretch!
After you have completed a piece of knitting, you finish the edge by binding off the stitches.
This way you can remove the knitting needles without the work unravelling. There are several bind off methods, but we will start with a basic knit bind off.
HOW TO BIND OFF :::
1) Knit 1 stitch
2) Knit a second stitch. There are now 2 stitches on the RH needle.
3) Use the LH needle point to lift the first of these two stitches up and over the second of these two stitches, letting it drop off the needle. This is 1 stitch bound off.z
Repeat steps 2-3, knitting a stitch (so there are two stitches the RH needle) then lifting the first up and over the second and off the needles. Continue until a single stitch remains on the RH needle. To prevent this final stitch from unravelling, snip the working yarn, and draw the tail through the final stitch, then pull tight.
But now that I’ve bound off, what do I do with the yarn ends? Check out this tutorial.
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Simple Collection Designs by Tin Can Knits:
Hi! I am currently working on my first sweater using the simple collection pattern (which is by the way great!). I have bind off and the body is done but somehow the bottom edge remains kind of rigid. It doesn’t stretch much. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Giulia – I would try a looser bind off. I usually use a slightly bigger needle to work my bind off to keep it a little looser.
Thank you ‘
How do I make the bind off stretchy? It is too tight for a sweater. I feel like the bottom should stretch. This is my first sweater project. Ty!
Hi Amanda – I would try going up a couple of needle sizes when you bind off
I’m going to knit the malt blanket. When it mentions using a marker, does the marker go on the needle or the stitch?
Hi Cath – check out our tutorial for the Wheat Scarf, all the principles are the same as the Malt blanket, just the stitch counts are different. It has helpful pictures.
I am currently knitting your Little Tern Blanket. What bind-off would you suggest? Thank you for your help.
Hi Nancy – for the final bind off I used just a regular knit bind off
Could you add some tutorials on other bind-off methods, and perhaps suggestions for the best type of bind off for the project you’re doing. I want a stretchy bind off for the bottom band of the Wind Swept sweater, and I’m having trouble with the tubular bind off.