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 with visible edges, that stubborn last stitch becomes quite a nuisance. Of course, we can fix it when we weave in the yarn tail, but that will create an unnecessary bulk at the very corner of the project.
Let’s take a look at a simple solution that tames the last bound off stitch in any stitch pattern without much bulk and without any additional planning or preparation.
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No matter whether you bind off all stitches as knits or in pattern, work until you have one stitch on your right needle and one stitch on your left needle.
IF THE LAST STITCH IS A KNIT
STEP 1
With the working yarn at the back of the work, insert the tip of the right needle from the bottom up under the horizontal strand at the bottom of the last stitch. This strand is the top part of the stitch in the previous row, and it will be at the back of the stitch sitting on the left needle.
Place this strand on the left needle.
STEP 2
Knit the last stitch and the picked-up strand together.
STEP 3
Pass the second stitch from the tip of the right needle over the first one to bind off one stitch.
Cut the yarn, run the yarn tail through the loop, and pull tight to secure.
Some online sources state that the corner is neater when we pull the yarn tail out of the last stitch instead of passing it through the loop and pulling tight.
I tested both approaches, and I find that the knot formed when we pull the tail through the last loop gives the edge a better look. Of course, it is just a matter of personal preference, so try both ways and see which one you like more.
IF THE LAST STITCH IS A PURL
When we work in ribbing, seed stitch and other patterns built by knits and purls, the last stitch of the row could be a purl stitch. If we bind off stitches in pattern (knitting the knits and purling the purls), we need to bind off the last stitch as a purl. Here’s how we do it:
STEP 1
Bring the yarn to the front of the work and slip the last stitch from the left needle to the right needle. Do it purlwise to avoid twisting this stitch.
STEP 2
Insert the tip of the left needle from the bottom up under the horizontal strand at the bottom of the last stitch. This strand is the top part of the stitch from the previous row, and it will be at the front of the slipped stitch, that is now the first stitch from the tip of the right needle.
STEP 3
Return the slipped stitch back to the left needle.
STEP 4
Purl the last stitch together with the picked-up strand.
STEP 5
Pass the second stitch from the tip of the right needle over the first one to bind off the last stitch.
Cut the yarn and pull the yarn tail through the remaining loop. Pull tight to secure.
All these steps boil down to a simple concept of knitting or purling the last stitch together with the stitch from the row below. This concept works well for all stitch patterns and for all projects. No more last stitches that ruin the look of the bind off edge!
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This and 31 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #8.
