Tutorials in this collection show different ways to make beautiful cast-on and bind-off edges. Basic or decorative, sturdy or elastic, simple or challenging – you will find them all here.
When we bind off stitches in the middle of a row, as we do when we shape a neckline, we inevitably form a gap at the right-hand side of the bind off. This gap makes the shaping look sloppy, but more importantly, it often results in a hole when we pick up stitches from that […]
Some knitting methods are amazingly versatile. With or without minor adjustments, they can help us in many different ways. Tubular cast on (and its simplified variation – Italian cast on) is one of those methods. It is perfect for casting on stitches for regular 1×1 ribbing (here’s a tutorial that shows how exactly it happens),
There is one thing about the regular bind-off method that is quite annoying. It doesn’t form neat corners. The right corner has a bit of a slope, while the left corner is usually too sharp and tends to point upwards. While we know several ways to tame the left corner of the bind-off edge (some
To form a beautiful elastic edge when we bind off stitches, we’ll join stitches in pairs using a wool needle. To simplify the process, we’ll take advantage of the basic fact that the stitches that we see as purls on the right side of the fabric look like knits on the wrong side of the fabric. Instead
Just as the long-tail cast-on method is reliable in forming sturdy, moderately elastic edges, it works remarkably well for making edges with open stitches, similar to the edges created by the provisional cast on. When we use the long-tail cast on for that purpose, the open stitches are not just reserved for future use. They
There are several ways to add a double chain to the bind off edge. The method that creates an identical edge to the one formed by the double chain cast on involves an unusual way to purl stitches. This approach to purling is used in Eastern knitting, and it is a secret trick that makes
When we finish binding off stitches, the last stitch often sticks out bringing one side of the edge up. It is not a big deal when we make pieces that will be joined later on. The last stitch will be hidden inside the project after seaming. But when we make scarves, blankets and other projects
It’s not that the classic version of the Chinese waitress cast on is very difficult, but if we can make it easier, why not? It is a wonderful way to make an elegant fully-reversible edge, and when we simplify this method, we are more likely to use it when we start a project. As a
They say this method was demonstrated by a Chinese waitress to a knitter who happened to dine in a Beijing restaurant where that waitress was working. Whether it is true or not, the name stuck and now we know this technique as Chinese Waitress Cast On. If the story is true, we should be grateful
When we bind off stitches of a seamless project, we inevitably get a gap and a jog between the first and the last stitches. The gap happens because the first and the last stitches of the edge are not linked. The jog happens because when we knit in the round, we don’t actually knit in
