Italian bind off
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 brioche rib, shaker rib and other slip-stitch ribs.
Here's what it looks like worked with a contrasting color yarn. And here's how to work it flat:
At the end of the last row worked, cut yarn leaving a tail 2-3 times as long as the length of fabric to be bound off; thread yarn onto tapestry needle.
Draw threaded tapestry needle purlwise through 1st st,
pass needle from the front, around the right of the fabric to the back, then behind 1st st, insert from the back between 1st and 2nd sts,
insert from the front and draw knitwise through 2nd st;
*pass needle from the back around right side of 1st st to the front, insert knitwise into 1st st, remove 1st st (if working in the round, this very first knit stitch may be slipped to right needle to be worked with the last stitches of the round);
passing in front of 1st st on left needle, draw purlwise through 2nd st;
pass needle from the front around right side of 1st st to the back, insert purlwise into 1st st, remove st (if working in the round, this very first purl stitch may be slipped to the right needle to be worked with the last stitches of the round). Note: although the needle tip is shown in the front here to illustrate that it's going through the stitch, one should keep the needle tip to the back at this point.
Passing behind new 1st st insert tip between 1st st and 2nd st, insert and draw 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!
|