How to Work a Super Stretchy Bind Off

Most traditional types of bind off methods can be a little tight. This is especially the case for beginners who aren't quite as familiar with how tension can affect the stretch of knit fabric. For most beginner knitting patterns, this is not a huge problem; if your scarf if a little tighter on one end, no one is going to notice. However, this can cause serious fitting problems in more advanced knitting patterns, like the cuffs of socks, sweaters, and shawl edging, having the option to create a bind off that's a little stretchier is always great.

This bind off technique works by introducing reverse (or purlwise) yarn overs into the bind off, in between the stitches that you would pass over in a traditional bind off. By doing this, you're essentially doubling the amount of yarn in your bind off, which gives your stitches more room to stretch. Plus, this bind off will retain the same appearance of a typical bind off!

One thing to keep in mind about this bind off, however, is that the extra yarn in this edge gives the knit stitches more room to behave a little bit differently. If you use this bind off on a shawl, for example, you might find that the corners will curve slightly. It's not super noticeable, and many patterns use this as a design element.

Materials List

• Yarn
• Knitting needles