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Work a Simple Stretchy Bind Off on Your Next Project

March 30, 2017 by Sarah White

Learn how to bind off in a way that's stretchy and not too tight!
I have been knitting for a long time, but I still sometimes have problems with binding off too tightly. I think it’s because I’m in a rush to finish, so I don’t take the time to do it perfectly. But then my project doesn’t look as good as it could because that edge isn’t as nice as it could be.

One easy way to bind off more loosely is to use this bind off technique where you work the stitches together through the back loop.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3SrXmiUDjU&w=560&h=315]

This works to make the bind off less tight because you aren’t pulling one stitch over the other like you usually do in a standard bind off, which is the part of the bind off where your stitches can get tight.

This method is super easy to learn and just as fast, if not faster, than the standard bind off method. It looks great and has a good amount of stretch for shawls, the cuffs of socks, or anything else. I especially like using this method when I have a really long bind off, like the edge of a blanket, because it ensures the tension will be even throughout the bind off.

Do you use this technique? If not I hope you’ll give it a try!

Read more: Three-needle bind off | Knit cast on | Ridged Ribbon Eyelet dishcloth

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Comments

  1. Judith (from Israel) says

    March 30, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Thank you.

  2. Cindy S says

    April 2, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Thanks for sharing that. I was recently looking for a good way to do this. I learned after binding off a sock I can barely get over my heel.

  3. Joy says

    April 6, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    It was a little hard to see what you were doing in the video, but it looks like you were knitting two together through the back loop. I first learned this technique when I did a shawl pattern years ago, and have used it ever since for things that need a stretchy edge. It is a very useful thing to know.

Have you read?

Bucket Hat Knitting Patterns

As I was starting to write this post I thought that it was true that I’d never done a roundup of bucket hat knitting patterns before. But then I looked, and I actually did one last year (which you can find here) but there are plenty of cute bucket hats to do another post about, right? 

The one that made me want to write about this (again) is the Red Heart Knit Fanfare Bucket Hat from Yarnspirations. This cute striped hat can be worked in team colors, and while I might prefer a non-acrylic yarn for a summer hat, it would be fine when it’s not too hot outside (or try a cotton yarn instead). 

Claire Slade’s Sunlit Bucket Hat has an angled brim to help keep the sun out of your eyes. It’s worked from the bottom up using worsted weight cotton yarn, and comes in three sizes. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Get a little air flow in your bucket hat with the Shady Bucket Hat from Wool & Beyond. This one uses DK weight yarn and an eyelet pattern throughout the body to keep it cool. It comes in sizes ranging from newborn to adult large, and is worked in one piece from the top down. You can grab the pattern (in English or Swedish) on Ravelry. 

If you’re looking for a fun, floppy sun hat for kids or adults, this pattern from Muki Crafts is a little more slouchy than a traditional bucket hat but it’s super cute. It comes in baby, toddler and bigger kid sizes and adult. I uses worsted weight yarn and is worked from the bottom up. 

Another variation on the classic bucket is this one that’s more of a cloche style. Made by branda, it uses bulky yarn so it’s more of a winter bucket hat, but now’s a fine time to knit it if you live somewhere that’s warm right now (or even more so if you live somewhere that’s cold right now). 

Another one to get you ready for colder weather is Tirmety, a two-layer bucket hat from ViTalina Craft, which has a textured stitch pattern on one side and stockinette on the other. You can wear either side out or even make them different colors if you want. The pattern is sized for toddlers, kids and adults. 

And if you want to add some extra cuteness to your bucket hat, I love this (of course totally optional but also totally adorable) embroidered deatila on the New York Bucket Hat from Pauline Fanguin. It uses two strands of DK weight yarn held together for extra sturdiness, and uses changes in needle size to shape the hat. Of course you could also knit stripes or use different textures of yarn to change up the look. This pattern is made to fit your head and is available in French and English. 

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