Ribbed Sewn Bind Off: 1×1
We’ve all bound off in rib stitch only to find that the edge is not nearly as stretchy as the ribbing itself. The Ribbed Sewn Bind Off is a great way to finish off a 1×1 rib while maintaining its elasticity.
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. The result is super tidy and so nice and stretchy, you’ll want to finish off all your ribbed socks, necklines, and top-down sleeves with a Ribbed Sewn Bind Off!
Prefer to read all about it? 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!
I am ribbing in 2×2. Can I do this bind off for it? Please tell me any changes I might need to make.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately this cast off cannot be adapted for 2×2 rib – I’m so sorry about that! I would recommend using a standard cast off worked in pattern.
Best,
Julianna
How do you finish it in the round?
Hi and thanks for reaching out! After binding off in the round, you will have a small gap left, which you can close up by mimicking the first step of the Ribbed Sewn Bind Off with the yarn tail that’s left from the bind off. You can further disguise any holes or gaps when weaving in this end.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi. You don’t say if you are starting the setup on a knit or a purl stitch. I imagine it matters?
Thanks for the great tutorial.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out with this question! In the video tutorial above, Laura is starting her Ribbed Sewn Bind Off on a knit stitch. I hope this is helpful!
Gaby
I am a little confused about which bind off to use, and when. This looks much like the “Kitchener Stitch”, and “Tubular Bind Off”. I am making a top down cardigan, with sleeves in the round. Directions are, “Bind off in tubular bind off”. Did I really need to do all of those “set up rows” for the tubular bind offs on those sleeves? Could I just have done this type of bind off instead? And what about my button bands? Which do you think is most appropriate? I have always used the old, basic bind off method, and I realize now this look it so much better! I just want to do it right,
Hi Linda,
Great questions! The Ribbed Sewn Bind Off and Long Tail Tubular Bind Off are indeed variations of the same technique, sometimes also called a Kitchener Bind Off. The setup rows for the Tubular Bind Off serve to separate the knits and purls a bit, making it easier to move them onto separate needles in order to work kitchener stitch. The resulting edge is exactly the same, so you could have substituted this method for your sweater sleeves! In the future, you might prefer this method since it can be worked without the setup rows or separating your stitches onto two needles, but I find it a tiny bit trickier to keep my tension even due to the extra steps required to work the Ribbed Sewn Bind Off. If you’re up for a bit of experimentation, I would suggest trying out both bind-offs on swatches so you can compare them side by side and see which one you prefer!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi Linda,
I’ve wondered the same thing and here I’ve found a very useful video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5CB95qtV_I
Hope that helps!
Salomé
Hi, Thank you for your excellent tutorial, as ever. Would you please let me know what to do if I have slipped the first stick to each row, do I still follow the steps as shown?
Warmest, Tania
Hi Tania,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! Yes that is correct, even if you slipped the first stitch of the row you will work the bind off the same way as shown!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi, I used this bind off for a hat in the round. My work did not end on step 4. Should there be a certain numbers of stitches to use these instructions?
There was a loop on the last stitch that was too loose.
What should be done for the last 2 stitches?
I love your tutorials & can’t wait to visit the shop again❣️
Hi Toni,
Thanks for reaching out! This bind-off will work with any number of stitches, as long as it is a 1×1 rib pattern! Once you finish step 4 you will continue to repeat 1-4 until you have 2 stitches left, from there, with the two stitches, you will repeat step 1, and then repeat step 3, then you will be done!
I hope this clears things up and we can’t wait to have you back in the shop!
Gianna
Hello! Do I work it the same way if my pattern starts with a purl stitch?
Thanks
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, that is correct, you can follow the same instructions even if your pattern starts with a purl stitch!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi, thank you so much for your time…
My first stitch is purl, I have followed the same instructions, as suggested, but it looks different…
Help!!
Warmest, Tania
Hi Tania,
Apologies for the conflicting information, but I think it would be best to get back in a k1, p1 pattern before beginning this type of bind off, rather than starting on a purl stitch.
What I would recommend in this case is simply to treat the first purl and knit stitches as one stitch! I believe this will be the easiest and neatest option. So during your first go-around through the Set-Up Steps and Steps 1-4, you’ll need to think of “first stitch” as “first two stitches.”
Alternatively, you could work two more rows of ribbing, and decrease away that extra purl stitch so that you begin on a k1! Then you can work the ribbed sewn bind-off as normal.
All the best,
Lili
I’m binding off in 1×1 rib, but the first two & last two stitches of the row are knit. Do I need to modify this pattern?
Hi Kristy,
Thanks for reaching out. What I would recommend in this case is simply to treat those first 2 and last 2 knit stitches as one stitch! I believe this will be the easiest and neatest option. So during your first go-around through the Set-Up Steps and Steps 1-4, you’ll need to think of “first stitch” as “first two stitches.”
Alternatively, you could work two more rows of ribbing, and decrease away those extra two stitches so that you have complete 1×1 ribbing across the entire row! Then you can work the ribbed sewn bind-off as normal.
All the best,
Lili
Show me how to do short rows. Thank you
Hi Katherine,
Thanks for reaching out. You can find our tutorials on short rows right here and here. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I’m having trouble keeping track of what step I’m on, so it would be really helpful on the tutorial to see the front of the knitting so I could tell where each step begins knit or purl-wise. For example, on step 1, you are removing a knit, so you know that on step 2, the first stitch is a purl and the second a knit. On step three, you remove the first stitch, a purl, leaving you on the fourth step with a knit as the first stich and a purl the second. This may sound really simplistic, but it helps me keep track of what step I’m on.
Thanks for this!
The tutorial, like all PurlSoho tutorials, was amazing. Really, really well done. This cast off, however, for the project I was doing—the bottom edge of a vest—was very nearly a disaster. I was using two strands of yarn: Purlsoho line weight and Brume, and man, it was a bear. Tangles, knots, broken yarn. I completed it and it looks great, but be conscious of the type of yarn you are using. I should have done a regular cast off. This is where I miss being able to run over to the yarn shop for advice!
Hi Nancie,
We’re so sorry to hear that you have a difficult time doing this cast on with the yarns you chose! You’re absolutely right–some types of yarn are easier to do this with than others.
One trick that we have found to be helpful when working with Brume (or any mohair yarn) is putting it in the freezer. This actually relaxes the fibers, making the yarn less “sticky” and easier to work with! If you run into a problem like this in the future, I’d recommend putting the project into a ziploc freezer bag and leaving it in the freezer. After a few hours, you can take it out, and it should be significantly easier to work with!
I hope this helps, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions in the future! While we don’t have the shop anymore, we’re always happy to give advice through other means, like website comments!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! I want to use this to cast off my top down sweater in the round. Should I cast off moving backwards ( counterclockwise) or should I cast off moving forward, meanining that I cast off joining the yarn to my beginning of the last row?
Thank you very much
Hi Carlotta,
Thanks for writing in! I’d recommend continuing in the same direction that you’ve been knitting in as you bind off. That’ll be the easiest way to do it, although I think it’ll look basically the same either way!
All the best,
Lili
How do I find my place after I’ve put down my knitting. I’ve really confused myself.
Hi Diane,
Oh no I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your place! Would you be able to send a photo of your work to customerservice@purlsoho.com? That way we’ll be able to better visualize where you are in your pattern!
All the best,
Lili