I showed you a really great cast-on for toe-up socks on Monday...but what do you do when you get to the cuff and need to bind off? Lots of folks, myself included, get a little tight-fisted when it comes to binding off, and it's a bit demoralizing to knit a beautiful sock that fits you perfectly... that is, it would fit you perfectly if you could get the cuff edge on over your heel!
There are a couple of bind-offs you can use to loosen things up a bit. One of them, the sewn bind-off, is described in Gila Shoshany's Beyond the Basics in the new Fall Knits. (You can sign up to become a subscriber here.)
Today, I thought I'd show you another one of my favorite flexible bind-offs, one that I've used for neck edges, sleeve edges, and even sock cuffs. This bind-off is so flexible that many people use it when binding off lace projects, as regular bind-offs, being a tighter than the lacy stuff surrounding them, can distort the edges of the lace. This bind-off is thus often referred to as the lace bind-off, but many people also call it the decrease bind-off.
Step-By-Step Instructions for the Decrease (or Lace) Bind-off
Version A: Knitting through the back loops
This version gives a bind-off edge that looks just like a standard bind-off, but it is much stretchier. |
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Step 1: Knit together the first two stitches on the left needle THROUGH THE BACK LOOP. (Figure 1) |
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Step 2: Slip the new stitch on the right needle back to the left needle. (Figure 2)
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Step 3: Repeat 1 and 2 until all stitches are bound off.
Notice how the bind-off edge is nearly indistiguishable from your normal bind-off, but give it a tug and you'll see how much more flexible it is. (Figure 3) |
Version B: Knitting through the front loops
The finished edge of this version looks slightly different but is just as stretchy as the other version.
Which to use when? I'd say it's a matter of personal taste. |
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Step 1: Knit together the first two stitches on the left needle. (Figure 4) |
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Step 2: Slip the new stitch on the right needle back to the left needle.
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Step 3: Repeat these two steps until all stitches are bound off.
Notice that I show two samples in (Figure 5); the stitches are worked exactly the same way in both, but in the sample on the right, I used bright green yarn for the bind-off row so that you could see the finished effect more clearly. |
Note that you can also use a variation of this bind-off on the purl side of a garment: Either *P2tog, slip new stitch to left needle; repeat to end--OR *P2tog tbl, slip new stitch to left needle; repeat to end.
All right then: Go forth and bind off--or, if you use the British nomenclature: Cast off!
Editor's Picks
A reprint of Ann Budd's classic technical article on bind-offs is included in the book The Best of Interweave Knits (buy the book here), along with ten other must-have techniques from our Beyond the Basics series in Interweave Knits. Subscribe to Interweave Knits to receive dozens of great patterns in addition to technique articles by some of the top names in the business.
One of my favorite all-time knitting "helpers" is The Knitter's Companion, a book filled with step-by-step illustrated instructions on everything from cast-ons to bind-offs and everything knitting inbetween! Need a reminder on how to graft a sock toe, or how to sew a shoulder seam without it looking all lumpy-bumpy? Then The Knitter's Companion is going to be your new best friend. Add the Knitter's Companion to your library today!
Of course you can buy these books online, but don't forget to give your local yarn shop some love--and your business!
Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily. I'm working on the front panel of the Camisa, worked in String of Pearls yarn from Muench (prettypretty not to mention sparklysparkly!). I just finished adding a couple of darts to the front in the belly area. I really hope I can wear this for you before I leave for Canada, but packing is stealing my knitting time.
Posted
Jul 30 2008, 02:12 PM
by
KD Sandi
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