How to Handle a Messy Last Stitch When You Bind Off

First off, thank you to everyone who offered suggestions for things they want to learn about knitting that I can help with (if you didn’t see that post last week, you can weigh in here). I’ll be getting to those really soon, but in the meantime I wanted to share this great tip from Patty Lyons via Mason Dixon Knitting.

We all know the pain of having that last stitch of a bind off come out super huge and ugly. I usually do the thing she mentions where you pull the tail through the last stitch, but it doesn’t totally help.

She has lots of great ideas for how to make that last stitch neater, as well as an explanation for why that stitch comes out so funky in the first place.

I often do a knit two together through the back loop bind off, which is one of the methods she suggests for making that last stitch a little tighter. I like it for other reasons, too, but it does make the finish a little better.

Have you ever tried any of these methods or something else to prevent that ugly last stitch? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo: Patty Lyons via Mason Dixon Knitting.]

Next Pattern:

Some knitters have trouble coming up with projects they can both knit and wear when it’s warm outside. Especially if you’re not ready for garments (thought tank tops and summer tops are great first garment projects!) it might seem like there’s nothing to do when it’s hot outside.

One way to remedy this situation is by knitting headbands. Headbands are great any time of year to keep hair out of your face and make you look a little more pulled together without any effort. Wider headbands double as ear warmers when it gets colder, but skinnier ones are great throughout the year.

A couple of great examples are from designer Elly Donner, who has a set of headband knitting patterns on Ravelry you can buy individually or as an ebook. Homebody, shown here, is worked in garter stitch (the ties are crocheted but you could also use I-cord), while Slipstream uses slipped stitches and garter ridges, and Sounds of Spring has little cables. The patterns use DK weight yarn and are a great way to use a little leftover yarn from another project.

I also recently came across the lovely Plush Braided Headband by Yevgeniya Li. A free pattern on Ravelry, this wider design is covered in lush cables for a sleek and fancy look. It uses worsted weight yarn and you can customize the length for a perfect fit.

Celeste Knitwear’s Spikelet is a simple twisted headband with columns of eyelet lace to keep it from being too heavy. It’s worked flat and sewn together to make the twist, and uses DK weight yarn. It has three sizes available.

This skinny lace headband from Lusi Knits is another cute choice. It calls for fine weight cotton yarn, but you could use heavier yarn if you have it on hand to make a wider headband (or use any fine yarn you have available). It uses ties to customize the fit.

And if you want to go super basic but still really cute, try the easy ring headband from Lulu Pattern. The sample is knit pretty wide, but you could make a narrower version if you want, and the little ring turns it from a plain loop into a bow with very little extra work. It calls for worsted weight yarn but you could also use whatever weight you like for this one to change up the look and size.

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