Long Tail Bind Off

Most often in knitting, it’s not a big deal if your cast-on edge doesn’t perfectly match your bind-off edge. For most projects, we simply pair our go-to Long Tail Cast On with a Basic Bind Off, and although the resulting edges don’t precisely mirror each other, we generally accept this little knitting quirk. But sometimes when you’re feeling nitty-gritty, you may really want the satisfaction of identical edges. That’s where the Long Tail Bind Off comes in! It’s a few more steps than the Basic Bind Off but hardly any more difficult, and it’s the perfect match for the Long Tail Cast On, both in appearance and in the amount it stretches. Let’s learn how it’s done!

Long Tail Bind Off Tutorial: Step-By-Step Instructions

Start by cutting the working yarn approximately 4 times longer than edge you’re binding off. Then thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, and you’re ready to go!

First, insert your tapestry needle knitwise into the second stitch on your needle…

… and pull the yarn all the way through to the back. Your tension here should be snug but not tight.

Next, insert the tapestry needle purlwise into the first stitch on your needle.

Pull the yarn all the way through and allow the stitch to fall off your knitting needle.

That’s really all there is to it! Just repeat those steps to bind off all your stitches until just one stitch remains on your needle.

For the last remaining stitch, insert your tapestry needle knitwise into the stitch, pull the yarn through, and allow the stitch to fall off the needle. And you’re done!

The result looks just like a basic Long Tail Cast On and has about the same amount of ease… Perfect!

Practice The Long Tail Bind Off

Give the Long Tail Bind Off a try! You’ll find it used in Océane LM’s Tidemark Pullover pattern, which is knit side-to-side from one cuff to the other. Having the cast-on edge of one cuff perfectly match the bind-off edge of the other is undeniably satisfying and just one of the elevated details that makes it such a beautiful and special garment!

Tutorial written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.

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