3 Needle Bind Off – Knitting Technique

Two needle bind offs are a technique used to bind off stitches when finishing a knitting project. There are two types of two needle bind offs: the three needle bind off and Elizabeth Zimmermann’s easy bind off.

Three needle bind off is a technique used to bind off shoulder seams, as it is not very elastic and will keep the shoulder from growing and stretching. To do this, you will need two pieces of knitting with live stitches on their needles and the same amount of stitches on each needle. With the right sides facing, hold the two pieces with their needles in your left hand and take a third needle. Insert the tip of the third needle knit-wise into the first stitch of each left hand needle, wrap the yarn around the right hand needle and pull through both stitches, leaving the resulting stitch on the right hand needle. Insert the third needle into the next stitch on each of the left hand needles, wrap the yarn again and pull through, leaving the resulting stitch on the right hand needle. Repeat this process until only one stitch remains on the right needle and no more stitches are on the left needle. Cut the yarn and pull it through the loop on the right needle to lock the stitches and weave in the end.

Elizabeth Zimmermann’s easy bind off is another technique that mimics the cast on edge created by the long tail cast on almost exactly. Cut the end of the yarn about 4 times as long as the edge you are binding off and thread the end onto a tapestry or other blunt needle. Starting on the left, gently slip the first two stitches off the needle and take your tapestry needle and insert it into the two stitches that are loose, the stitch closest to the needle first and then the end stitch. Pull the yarn through loosely, but not too loose. Slip one more stitch off the knitting needle and thread the tapestry needle through it and the stitch closest to it that is already off the needle. Continue across the row until there are no more stitches on the needle. Cut the yarn about 4 inches or 10 centimeters back, and pull it through the loop on the right needle, locking the stitches and then weave in the end.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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