Cast On, Bind Off (63 page)

CHARACTERISTICS

• Decorative edge

• Elastic edge

• Uses more yarn than most other bind offs

GOOD FOR

• Edges of lace shawls, cuffs, and hats

• Baby garments

Knit the first 2 stitches and then bind off 1 using the Traditional Bind Off (
page 148
).

Turn your work and use the Knitted Cast On (
page 31
) to cast on 3 more stitches. (You now have 4 stitches on this needle.)

Turn your work again and use the left-hand needle to pull the second, third, and fourth stitches over the first stitch.

Bind off 2 stitches using the Traditional Bind Off.

Repeat steps 2–4 until one stitch remains. Cut the yarn and pull it through the last stitch.

These types of bind offs
are accomplished by sewing the edge with a piece of yarn threaded through a blunt tapestry needle. In general, many of these bind offs create very elastic edges. There are, however, a few drawbacks to working a sewn bind off. Because the seaming yarn is being pulled through every stitch, often multiple times, the yarn can become frayed and tangled, especially over long edges. You also need to be careful not to split the yarn with the tapestry needle. And if you ever need to undo the edge, say to add length, it is slow and laborious. Maintaining consistent tension may also prove challenging. The added flexibility of these edges, however, may make sewn bind offs worth these challenges.

Kitchener Stitch
page 192

Sewn
page 195