Tubular (Italian) bind-off

What is a tubular bind-off?

A tubular bind-off is the counterpart to a tubular cast-on. When binding off, it creates a beautiful, rounded edge where the ribbing appears to flow seamlessly from the right side to the wrong side. The edge looks just like a ready-to-wear, store-bought sweater. This technique goes by several names and is also known as the Italian bind-off.

A tubular bind-off is worked on ribbing. It can be used to bind off either 1x1 ribbing or 2x2 ribbing.

The technique is also used for button bands as a way to bind off a tubular hem, since it creates a beautiful finishing edge.

Below are instructions for different situations and needs.

 

Tubular bind-off for 1x1 ribbing

A tubular bind-off is worked with a tapestry needle, not knitting needles. Break your yarn before binding off, leaving a tail about 3 times the circumference of the edge you're binding off.

The technique repeats the same two actions throughout: the first stitch is sewn through and dropped off the needle. The second stitch is sewn through but left on the needle.

Stitches are sewn with the tapestry needle as though you were knitting or purling them. Sewing is otherwise easy, but sewing the second stitch knitwise can feel tricky, since the yarn is at the back and needs to come forward between the stitches before you can do the actual stitch. It isn't difficult though: pass the needle from back to front between the first and second stitch, then sew the second stitch knitwise.

Note: When binding off with this technique, always start sewing from a knit stitch. If it isn't the first stitch of the row, knit across to the first knit stitch before you begin.

Sew the first 2 set-up steps like this:

Set-up step 1: Sew through stitch 1 purlwise (i.e. pass the needle through the stitch from right to left), leave the stitch on the needle.

Set-up step 2: Sew through stitch 2 knitwise (i.e. pass the needle through the stitch from left to right), leave the stitch on the needle.

Then start repeating these 4 steps:

Step 1: Sew through stitch 1 knitwise, drop it off the needle. (The stitch you're working here is a knit stitch.)

Step 2: Sew through stitch 2 purlwise, leave it on the needle. (The stitch you're working here is a knit stitch.)

Step 3: Sew through stitch 1 purlwise, drop it off the needle. (The stitch you're working here is a purl stitch.)

Step 4: Sew through stitch 2 knitwise, leave it on the needle. (The stitch you're working here is a purl stitch. You'll need to bring the needle through from back to front between the first and second stitch before you can sew this one.)

When 2 stitches remain on the left needle, repeat steps 1–4, but for steps 2 and 4, sew the stitches into the finished edge instead.

When you use a tubular cast-on or bind-off, a small gap is left where the rows change over. This needs to be neatened invisibly with the tapestry needle at the end.

 

Tubular bind-off for a button band

The first stitch of a button band isn't a knit stitch but a purl stitch. Since binding off always starts from a knit stitch, the easiest way to find the right rhythm is to treat the first purl stitch and second knit stitch as a single combined stitch when working with the needle. Once you treat them as one stitch, you can follow the instructions above until you bind off the very last stitch.

 

Tubular bind-off for 2x2 ribbing

Once you've knit 2x2 ribbing, you'll need to convert it to 1x1 ribbing before binding off, so you can sew the edge as described above for 1x1 ribbing. To do this, you knit one set-up row before binding off.

Note: Always start the set-up row from two knit stitches. If they aren't the first stitches of the row, knit across to them first.

Set-up row: *K1. Cross the next 2 stitches: insert the right needle into the 2nd stitch (a purl stitch) from the back as if to purl, and lift it onto the right needle (the knit stitch drops off the needle to the front of the work for a moment). Return the dropped knit stitch to the left needle, slip the purl stitch you just lifted back onto the left needle, and purl it. K1, p1.* Repeat *-* to end.

Then sew the edge as described above for 1x1 ribbing.