We’ve all bound off in rib stitch only to find that the edge is not nearly as stretchy as the ribbing itself. Our Ribbed Sewn Bind Off Tutorial shows you a great way to finish off a 1×1 rib while maintaining its elasticity.

Overview

For this technique you’ll thread the bind-off tail onto a tapestry needle and pass it through the remaining live stitches in four easy-to-remember, repeating steps. A bit like sewing (hence, Ribbed Sewn Bind Off!), the result is super tidy and so nice and stretchy, you’ll want to finish off all your ribbed socks, neckbands, and top-down sleeves with a Ribbed Sewn Bind Off!

Ribbed Sewn Bind Off: Video Tutorial

Click To See Video Transcript

Hey, this is Laura from Purl Soho, and I’m going to demonstrate how to work a Ribbed Sewn Bind Off. It’s a great bind off for a 1 x 1 rib because it really helps maintain that elasticity of a ribbed fabric. Let’s get started.

So the first thing you’ll want to do is cut your working yarn from your ball of yarn and thread it onto a tapestry needle. I’ve kind of gone ahead, definitely gone ahead and done that step here. One thing to note is you’ll want a length of yarn that is approximately four times the width of what you’re going to be working across. So just kind of eyeball your fabric, cut it around four times that long. Okay, and now let’s jump into the two setup steps.

First, what I’m going to do is take my threaded tapestry needle here and I’m going to insert it purlwise, so from back to front, into this first stitch on my needle, and I’m going to pull that through, like so. Next, the next step seems like a two in one. So bear with me. I’m going to insert this tapestry needle between this first and second stitch from the back. So like this, you can kind of see it. So from the back, pull it through, and then insert your tapestry needle into this second stitch, knitwise from front to back and pull that through. That’s the second step. Now we’re ready to do what is a four step repeat. And you’re going to repeat these same four steps until there are only two stitches remaining on your needle.

Alright, so the first step, insert your tapestry needle knitwise into the first stitch and let that first stitch fall off of the needle. Next, step two, insert the tapestry needle purlwise into the second stitch on your needle. You can already see those bind off taking shape there. Step three, insert the tapestry needle purlwise into this first stitch on the needle and let it fall off that needle. Remember not to tug too tightly. You want to have a nice kind of even tension that matches the gauge of your fabric. And now we’re going to do that big step again. I’m going to take my needle between these two stitches from back to front. So just like this, let me get this working on out of the way here, just like this. Once again, here you go. You can see it from above. Pull that through, and we’re doing that step in order to insert the needle knitwise into that second stitch. Alright, so those are your four steps that we’re going to repeat.

So back to step one, insert knitwise into the first stitch, and let it fall off. Insert purlwise into the second stitch on the needle. Insert purlwise into the first stitch on the needle and let it fall off. And now for that fourth and big step, I’m going to insert my needle between these two stitches, the first and second stitch, pull it through, and then insert my needle knitwise into that second stitch. And once again, we have completed the four step repeat.

So again, you’re just going to keep doing that until you get to the last two stitches. So I’m going to insert my needle knitwise into this first stitch and have it come off. And then I’m going to insert my needle into the very last stitch, purlwise, and let that drop off. And so that’s it. That’s the end of the Sewn Rib Bind Off. You can see how it really melds into the fabric here, and it maintains that beautiful elasticity.

Ribbed Sewn Bind Off: Step-By-Step Tutorial

Prefer to read our Ribbed Sewn Bind Off Tutorial? Here you go!

Cut the working yarn 4 times longer than edge you are binding off. Thread tail into a tapestry needle.

Set-Up 1: Insert tapestry needle into first stitch purlwise and leave stitch on needle.

Set-Up 2: Bring tapestry needle between first and second stitches from back to front, then insert tapestry needle knitwise into second stitch and pull yarn through to back.

Step 1: Insert tapestry needle knitwise into first stitch and remove stitch from knitting needle.

Step 2: Insert tapestry needle purlwise into second stitch.

Step 3: Insert tapestry needle purlwise into first stitch and remove stitch from knitting needle.

Step 4: Bring tapestry needle between first and second stitches from back to front, then insert tapestry needle knitwise into second stitch and pull yarn through to back.

Repeat Steps 1-4 until 2 stitches remain.

Next Step: Repeat Step 1, then repeat Step 3. Done!

Now that you’ve conquered our Ribbed Sewn Bind Off Tutorial, do you need more knitting help and inspiration? Explore all our knitting tutorials and beautiful yarns and cast on!