Bind Off Knitting Tips For A Nice Finished Edge

I've got a couple of bind off knitting tips to pass on to you today. I thought it would be a good idea to give you a few more knitting tips specifically concerning casting off stitches. Hopefully they'll help you finish knitting your project successfully.

One thing to keep in mind with bind off stitches is that they are not elastic to begin with, so even binding off with the regular tension you're used too, can still be too tight. Interesting isn't it? Knowing this part helped me understand why my bind offs still looked so tight.

Bind Off Knitting Tips # 1

For the bind off row, try using a knitting needle that is 1 or 2 times larger than you used for the body of your knitting. This can really help keep those stitches looser and the finished edge will look more even and all the stitches will nice.

Bind Off Knitting Tip #2

When you cast off in knit or purl whatever the case may be, knit the stitches very loose and sloppy like.  This is the one time that you can do this.  I know it sounds a little off the wall but give it a try.   After you cast off about half the stitches or so then stop and have a look at what it looks like.

You may be very surprised that they look perfectly fine. I couldn't believe it the first time I tried it. My bind off row actually looked really well done.

What I try to do when I am binding off is simply let the yarn flow through my fingers without applying any tension at all.  That way the stitches pretty much fall where they should and they won't curl.

Teeny Tiny Swatch Test

Cast on about 15 - 20 stitches and knit for about 1 - 2 inches at most. Then start to bind off stitches.  Try casting off with a bigger knitting needle for about half of the stitches and then try to bind off messy and sloppy.  Don't tension the yarn at all and just see how it goes.

Stop and have a look at the difference.  Then you can decide which way you like the best.

Bind Off Knitting Tips #3 - The Loopy Last Stitch

Sometimes that last stitch just doesn't seem to lie right and it always seems a little looser than the others.  Sometimes it just looks wonky. So give the instructions below a try.

Knitting instructions to fix the wonky loopy last stitch

You are down to the last two stitches on your needles with one stitch on the right and one on the left.

 With your right needle slip the last stitch from the left needle over to the right. 

There are 2 stitches on right needle.

I turned my needle around a bit so that you can see.  What you will do is stick you needle into one leg of the stitch below the stitch on the needle.

Lift that leg onto the right needle just like the photo.

Here's the stitch lifted onto the right needle

Next, slip those 2 stitches back onto the left needle

 Now all you do is knit them together.

Now you have 2 stitches left on your needle again.

Bind these two stitches off normally. So slip left needle into second stitch and pass it over the first stitch.

When you have the last stitch on your needle, cut your yarn and bring the yarn through the last stitch and pull snugly.

Ta Da.  Looks cool right?  Oh I know if you see on the right side I did make one stitch looser than the rest (by accident) but you get the point right?  It's even and it doesn't look loopy and wonky.  Ha, the fact that I actually have a loose bind off stitch is pretty cool for me. Yippee.

See how much better everything looks when the bind off is done loosely? It's really dramatic especially when you're working on a sweater or scarf. 

I hope these bind off knitting tips help you.

Happy Knitting! 

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