The Italian Tubular Bind-Off is a variation of a “standard” tubular bind-off that allows you to graft your stitches together without separating them onto two needles. It is quite neat and stretchy, and results in a very clean, rounded edge.
In this video tutorial we’ll work the bind off straight off the ribbing without any tubular rows. All you’ll need to work this bind off is a tapestry needle.
This bind-off works best with 1x1 ribbing, but if you have 2x2 ribbing you can rearrange your stitches to use this method.
This bind-off can be worked after knitting tubular rows or rounds (where every other stitch is slipped); it can also be used without working tubular rows beforehand. As always, follow your pattern’s instructions.
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Written Steps
This bind off involves four basic movements, or passes, through the stitches. Before beginning, we’ll work two setup passes.
To start, break your working yarn leaving a tail about 3 times as long as the width of the piece being bound off. Thread this tail onto your tapestry needle.
(Note that these instructions assume that the first stitch on your needle is a knit stitch, followed by a purl.)
To work the setup:
Insert the tapestry needle into the first (knit) stitch on your left needle as if to purl. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
Bring your tapestry needle to the back of the work and thread it through the front leg of the second (purl) stitch on the needle as if to knit. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
Repeat the following four movements until only two stitches remain:
“Knit off”: Thread the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the needle as if to knit, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through and snug it gently.
“Purl on”: From the front of the work, thread the tapestry needle through what is now the second stitch on the needle as if to purl. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
“Purl off”: Thread the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the needle as if to purl, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through and snug it gently.
“Knit on”: From the back of the work, thread the tapestry needle through what is now the second stitch on the needle as if to knit. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
(Once you get the hang of it, you can combine the first two passes together into one, as well as the third and fourth passes, to simplify your movements. Repeat the refrain “knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on” as a mnemonic device to remember what you’re doing as you go along.)
Once you reach the last two stitches on the needle:
Bring the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the needle as if to knit, then drop the stitch off the needle.
Bring the tapestry needle through the next stitch on the needle as if to purl, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through and fasten it off gently.
Featured Pattern
SKEPPA
Cluster Rib Pullover
Flitting from funnel neck to circular yoke, clustered columns of ribbing rhythmically weave and cross to hug your shoulders before continuing down the trim raglan sleeves. Skeppa’s seamless top-down construction and straight unisex fit will keep your needles buzzing from cast-on to bind-off. Knit Skeppa in a sunny shade of woolen-spun Tones for a light and lofty layer, or choose worsted-spun Imbue’s honey-rich hues for an extra-lush feel.
Practice this Technique
Rhyllis
Alcione
Cormel
Featured Yarn
TONES
Worsted Weight
American Columbia Wool
Tones is a versatile worsted weight, woolen-spun from fleece-dyed American Columbia wool into light and dark shades of round and bouncy 3-ply yarn that we overdye to create a harmonious palette of coordinated “tone pairs”.
Featured colors in this tutorial:
Hollyhock Overtone Boldly blossoming magenta-pink.
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