In this tutorial, I want to share with you a bind off that I discovered recently in a Verena knitting magazine. It was used to finish off sleeves of a top-down sweater. The edging looked quite intriguing in the photo, so I made a swatch to test it out.
I’m happy I did because now I know a simple way to make a bind-off edge that is fully reversible, quite stretchy and has a lovely braid on each of its three sides.
This bind off is a version of i-cord bind off, but it is much more elegant and can be made on any needles (not necessarily double-pointed ones).
Let’s see how we can make it.
If you are a visual learner, you can watch every step explained below in this video tutorial:
STEP 1
At the beginning of the bind off row or round, cast on two stitches using the knitted cast on (insert the right needle into the stitch, wrap the tip of the needle with the yarn, pull the wrap through creating a new stitch, and return this stitch back to the left needle).
STEP 2
Knit one stitch (it will be the last stitch you cast on in the previous step).
STEP 3
Insert the tip of the right needle from right to left into the next two stitches (one “extra” stitch and one stitch of the project), and knit these two stitches together through the back loop.
STEP 4
Slip both stitches back to the left needle. To do that, insert the tip of the left needle from left to right into the stitch, and take the tip of the right needle out, leaving the stitch on the left needle. This way we avoid twisting the stitches.
These are the steps that we are going to repeat – knit one stitch, knit two stitches together through the back loop, then slip both stitches back to the left needle. Easy as pie.
Work until you have only two stitches left. Slip these stitches to the left needle, just as we did in step 4.
Then cut the yarn leaving a tail that is about 15cm / 6″ long. Thread the tail into a wool needle.
IF THE PROJECT IS WORKED IN THE ROUND
Finish off the edge by grafting the last two stitches of the bind off edge to the first two stitches of the bind off edge. Here’s how to do it step by step:
1. Insert the wool needle from right to left into the first stitch on the left needle.
Pull the yarn through and take the stitch off the left needle.
2. Now insert the wool needle from right to left under both legs of the first stitch at the beginning of the bind off edge.
Pull the yarn through, but don’t pull it too tight – the strand should be about as long as other stitches of the bind off edge.
3. Insert the wool needle from front to back into the first stitch at the end of the bind off edge (the same stitch we slipped off the needle in step 1), and from right to left into the last stitch on the left needle.
Pull the yarn through and take the stitch off the left needle.
4. Insert the wool needle under both legs of the second stitch at the beginning of the bind off edge.
Pull the yarn through.
5. Finally, insert the wool needle top-down into the second stitch at the end of the bind off edge (the stitch we slipped off the needle in step 3), and transfer the needle to the wrong side of the work.
Pull the yarn through, forming a stitch that looks similar to the rest of the stitches of the bind off edge. Secure the yarn and weave in the tail.
IF THE PROJECT IS WORKED FLAT
In this case, finishing off the project is much easier. Simply run the wool needle through the last two stitches.
Slip the stitches off the left needle, pull the tail to tighten the last stitches, and then weave in the tail.
As you see, the edge looks exactly the same on both sides of the work, with a beautiful braid on top – perfect for necklines, bottom and sleeve edges of a top-down sweater, or any other edges that you decide to decorate.
SAVE IT FOR LATER:
This and 41 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #6.
