Tubular bind off - Learn knitting

'Cast off the stitches using the tubular bind off.' This or something similar is how many knitting pieces end in knitting instructions. How exactly do you make the 'tubular bind off' and why does this type of binding off/sewing make sense? I'll explain it to you:  

The Tubular bind off generates a round and elastic edge. It is especially suitable for ribbed cuffs, because the front and back look the same and therefore its a nice finish for your knitted piece. 

The difficulty with tubular bind offs arises from the ORDER, from which side you stitch into the stitches on your needle with your wool needle. I really have to look up every time how to hold my wool needle. That's why this blogpost focuses on it. So feel free to bookmark the URL and just check it out quickly if you can't remember it either. Today I'm going to show you how to sew a 1/1 rib cuff.

IN PRINCIPLE...

...Knit the knits and slip the purls with yarn in front in the last few rows. This creates a stable, stretchy end edge. The number of rows can be varied. The stitches of the last row/round are sewn off. 

You can do the bind off with one or two knitting needles. Today I will explain both versions. The simpler version is binding off with two knitting needles. 

TUBULAR BIND OFF WITH ONE KNITTING NEEDLE

 Cut the working thread with three times the length of your last row.

Step 1

Insert the wool needle into the first stitch on your main needle purlwise and pull all the way through. Drop the stitch from the main needle.

 

Step 2

Insert the wool needle into the next next purl stitch on your main needle knitwise and pull tight.

Step 3

Insert the wool needle into the previously dropped knit stitch, purlwise, and through the next knit stitch on your main needle. 

 More detailed description for the previously dropped stitch:

Step 4

Insert the wool needle into the purl stitch on your main needle purlwise and pull tight. Then let the last two stitches slide off the needle. 

Repeat steps 2 to 4 until you reach the end of the row. Slip into the last stitch once more and pull the thread completely through and tight. 

 

TUBULAR BIND OFF WITH TWO KNITTING NEEDLES

Cut the yarn with three times the length of your last row. Take a second knitting needle and place all purled stitches of your ribbed cuff on this second needle. Hold them parallel in your left hand throughout.

START

Insert the wool needle into the first stitch on your main needle purlwise...

 

... and slip into the first stitch on the back needle knitwise. Leave both stitches on the needle. 

Sewing front needle

Pick up the first stitch knitwise, slip the stitch, and...

...stitch into the second stitch purlwise. Pull the thread through and do not slip this stitch. 

Sewing back needle

Pick up the first stitch purlwise and...

 

...slip into the second stitch on the back needle knitwise. Pull the thread through and do not slip the stitch.

Sew the front and back needles alternately until you reach the end of the row. Stitch into the last stitch once again in the direction of knitting and pull the thread completely through and tighten. 

 

 

WHAT ELSE IS INTERESTING

About the prep rows

You can also omit the preparation rows. You then simply sew off the last row. However, the cuff is then less stable. 

2/2 rib cuffs

You can also tubular bind off a 2/2 rib cuff. Convert the 2/2 cuff to a 1/1 rib cuff by plaiting.. 

Patent pattern

Tubular bind off is super suitable for all kinds of patent patterns. The binding edge is virtually invisible. Feel free to try it out! 

Edge stitches

Edge stitches can simply be sewn off as well. If a purl stitch follows an edge stitch, the edge stitch is sewn off as a right stitch. If a right stitch follows an edge stitch, the first two stitches are knitted right together and then sewn off. The edge stitch at the end of the row is sewn off in the pattern. 

 

 

I hope this blogpost helps you! Here you can also find a video, which illustrates the sewing even better. 

I'm happy about comments or recommendations, if the blogpost helps you. There are many more blogposts under the category 'Knitorial' that explain a few tricks of the trade.. :)

Good luck and all the love, 

Tamara