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I was messing around with a swatch the other day and decided I would practice the Invisible
Bind Off technique. During the process I took some pictures and thought I would share them,
hoping that maybe they would encourage someone to try the it. I am sure this has been aroudn
for eons, but I learned this method from a book entitled “Essential Techniques for Serious Knit-
ters,” by Peg Arnoldussen, a book that contains many wonderful tips and techniques. Check it
out!
First off, on the plus side, it looks very neat and professional, it stretches well, and it provides
my socks with a tube through which I can run elastic, if I choose.
On the minus side, it takes a bit of practice to get the tension right. It requires a bit more time
and planning. It also requires learning the Kitchener Stitch. Yikes!!!!!
I purposely did this tutorial using a small practice swatch. I also used different colored yarns
so that you could see the process better. At least, I hope you can.
I knitted lots of these practice swatches until I got one that pleased me. But, from that point
on I was never afraid to use the Kitchener Stitch closure. Once you get it, you get it!!!
Invisible Bind Off
Fig. #3
In Fig. #3 you can see the results of the two set
up rows.
Fig. #5
Fig. #6 In Fig. #6, you see the stitches aligned on their
separate needles, ready to be joined together at
the top.
I prefer the Russian join that has been trimmed back. There is a great tutorial on this join on
You Tube.
But first you have to learn a song!!! Put is to whatever tune you want. But memorize it.
It goes like this
When you are not working in the round, you would begin
by sticking your yarn needle in the first knit st. purlwise.
Pulling the yarn through, you then take it under the nee-
dle tips and to the back sticking the yarn needle through
the purl st. knitwise. The next step would then begin with
the KNIT OFF. BUT.. ... since my socks are knitted in
the round, I will want to be able to identify those stitches
Fig. #9 when I am done with the bind off, so that I can finish by
inserting my yarn needle into the first knit stitch as if to
purl, then insert it into the second stitch (purl) as if to
knit. This brings it all together nicely.
This means stick your yarn needle into the first stitch as
Fig. #10 if to knit it (Fig. #9). Pull the yarn through and drop the
stitch off the needle. Fig. #10
2. PURL-
Stitch Once you have dropped the knit stitch OFF the needle,
Dropped insert the yarn needle into the stitch to the left as if to
OFF PURL. Fig. #10
Fig. #13
5. KNIT – Bringing the yarn up between nee-
dles, Fig. #13
Fig. #14
..stick your yarn needle knitwise, into the next
stitch to the left of the stitch you just dropped
off. Fig. #14
Fig. #15
Pull the yarn through the stitch.
Bring yarn around underneath needles to the
Fig. #16
front. Now we are ready to start our song
again.
Fig. #17
Fig. #18
Fig. #20
Fig. # 20 Shows what a nice stretch this bind
off has.