This is a great bind off – stretchy but not overly-stretchy. Be warned though – it takes longer to execute than the standard bind off. But, the results are worth it and all that hard work deserves something nice at the end.
The yarn will be threaded through a needle and be pulled through the stitches a bunch, so this isn’t good for a tender yarn. If you have concerns about your working yarn being up for the challenge, I recommend finding a different yarn to use instead. If your yarn is fingering weight, embroidery floss could be a good option. It comes in TONS of colors and the length is relatively short.
Special thanks to Sweet Paprika for providing their Andante yarn in the Azul colorway for these pictures.
How to work a Sewn Bind Off
Before you get started, you need to decide which way you want this to go. You have 2 options here – working it with the RS facing and also with the WS facing. Much like a cast on, it will somewhat depend on aesthetics and also your yarn and work, so things could differ from one project to another.
Setup Step 1: Cut your working yarn, leaving a tail about 3 times the length of your bind off. Thread your working yarn through the needle.
Step 2: Put the needle through the next 2 sts as if to purl. Leave the sts on the needle. Note – I should have tightened up that first stitch before starting. Don’t make the same mistake that I did.
Pull the yarn to make it average-tight. You want it loose-enough to stretch but tight-enough so it doesn’t look sloppy.
Step 3: Put the needle through just the first st as if to knit and…
PULL IT OFF THE NEEDLE. One stitch bound off.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you’re done.
Practice makes perfect
This is a great opportunity to practice on a small swatch to start. It’s going to seem odd to tension with a tapestry needle at first. But, don’t give up. It’s a great bind off and it’s worth getting it right.
I just used this on a throw (120 sts). Once I got a rhythm it didn’t feel like it took any longer than any other bind-off. Just a little stress about not having cut the trail long enough 😰 Wondering if you have any tips for varying for knits vs. purls?
I love hearing that! It’s a great bind off!
If you’re looking for another bind off that’s good for ribbing/knits and purls, I’d suggest Judy’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (JSSBO). We’ve written a tutorial on JSSBO as well!