Knitting · Beginner · 10 minutes

Bind Off

Binding off (also called casting off) locks your last row so it won't unravel. You knit stitches and lift one over the other, one at a time. Keep it loose so the edge can stretch.

You'll need

Your knitting
Scissors

Step by step

Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.

Knit twoKnit the first 2 stitches as usual.
Lift overUse the left needle tip to lift the first stitch on the right needle over the second one and off the needle. One stitch is left.
Knit one moreKnit the next stitch, so you again have 2 on the right needle.
RepeatLift the first over the second again. Keep going until 1 stitch is left.
Cut and pull throughCut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 6 inches. Pull the tail through the last loop and tug gently to close it.

Tips

If your bind-off edge is tight, use a bigger needle in your right hand just for this row.
On ribbing, bind off in pattern: knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches.

If something goes wrong

Problem	Fix
The edge pulls in and won't stretch.	Undo the bind-off and do it again more loosely, or with a larger needle.

See it in the old books

Pictures and lessons from sewing and knitting books published more than a hundred years ago, free at the Internet Archive.

Sources

These are free how-to guides for families. There's nothing to earn, pass or send in.