Italian bind off as sewn into a provional cast on

The Italian bind off, also known as knit1-purl1 bind off or Kitchener bind off is a sewn bind off technique that yields beautiful, professional-looking results. It's excellent for binding off a traditional knit 1 purl 1 rib, and also lovely for shaker rib and other slip-stitch ribs.



See this photo tutorial for working it at the end of a piece


Getting the same result at the beginning of a piece is easy. Begin with a provisional cast on leaving a tail 3-4 times as long as the length of the fabric to be bound off. After finishing the piece, work the Italian bind-off into the live stitches from that cast on as follows:

With provisionally cast-on stitches returned to needle, and with stitches placed right shoulders forward, thread yarn onto tapestry needle.



Draw threaded tapestry needle knitwise through 1st st,



*bring needle in front of 1st st,
draw yarn knitwise through 1st st removing st



then purlwise through 2nd st,



bring needle to the right of new 1st st,
draw yarn purlwise through 1st st removing st,



then knitwise through 2nd st;



Repeat from * until all stitches have been bound off.

I hope you will enjoy both the process and the results of this technique!