How to Bind Off a Hand Knit Project
A Knitting Lesson on Binding Off a Knit Scarf with Photos
Hand Knitting Instructions by Sharon Nani / The Knit Tree
Photos by David Nani
© 2008
Hand Knitting begins by making a Slip Knot and Casting On the required number of stitches for your project. Then you follow the instructions for knitting the body of the project which in this case is knitting the knit stitch for a Garter Stitch Scarf. The final part is Binding Off the hand knitted project and doing the finishing techniques required. This is part four of the Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Series which takes you through Photo Steps Instructions of how to Bind Off in Hand Knitting.
NOTE:Click on all images to see an enlargement of the photo!Steps for Binding Off Knitting with Photos
First Hand Knitting Project for our Little Knitters Program
Doctor Who Season 12 Striped Garter Stitch Scarf
Hand Knit Doctor Who Season 12 Garter Stitch Scarf in pure Wool by Brown Sheep Co
Our First Hand Knitting Project for our Little Knitters Program is the Fun and colorful Doctor Who Season 12 Striped Garter Stitch Scarf. We also offer Pure Wool Yarn Kits for this scarf which can be knit as the original Dr Who Scarf which is 15 feet long, or you can knit 2 scarves 7.5 feet long, or knit three great gifts of gentlemen scarves each 5 feet long, from this yarn kit
Read about the entire learning process of the Little Knitters, taking them through researching to find and buy the correct yarn and colors for this Fan Based Knitting Project, drafting the knit pattern, learning the knitting techniques, then knitting this scarf for their Knitting for Charity Challenge. Click here to read Doctor Who Season 12 Scarf Knit for Charity Challenge. You may even find a finished Doctor Who Scarf available for purchase with proceeds donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The Little Knitters Program.
We share these knitting instructions with you so you can also learn to knit with a fun and colorful knit project. Enjoy knitting with your own yarns or you can purchase the yarn kit with Spreadsheet Knitting Chart from our online Catalog
Print out the series of instructional articles from our web site to aid in your learning to knit process.
How to Bind Off in Hand Knitting
Our example is our Doctor Who Season 12 Garter Stitch Striped Scarf which consists of 7 didfferent pure wool colors in sport weight yarn and 53 stripes. It is 10 inches wide (60 stitches) and 15 feet long, it is a replica of the Dr Who Scarf worn by Tom Baker in the TV British Science Fiction Series “Doctor Who”. We had great fun knitting this colorful scarf and it is now time to BIND OFF – Binding off is the method of finishing your knit project so the stitches do not unravel and come apart on your knitting project.
Slip the first stitch on the row off the left knitting needle onto the right knitting needle without knitting it
Figure 1: The final stripe is in the Purple: Plum Line Color. Slip the first stitch on the row off the left knitting needle onto the right knitting needle without knitting it. To Slip a Stitch insert the right knitting needle in the stitch as if to knit it, and simply move it to the right needle. (see fig 3 of Part 3 of the Basic Hand Knitting Series: How to Knit the Knit Stitch)
Knit the 2nd stitch loosely, there are now 2 knit stitches on the right knitting needle
Figure 2: By now you know How to Knit the knit stitch which is illustrated with photos in Part 3 of the Basic Hand Knitting Series: How to Knit the Knit Stitch.
Knit the 2nd stitch loosely – do not snug it up as tight as you did the regular knit stitches in the body of your project. You want the Bind Off to have Give and be Elastic. There are now TWO stitches on the right hand needle.
Bring the first stitch forward over the second stitch and over the tip of the right hand knitting needle so that one stitch remains on the right hand knitting needle
Figure 3: Insert the left knitting needle through the left side of the first stitch on the right hand knitting needle. Keep the yarn in the right hand very loose so that the second stitch remains loose and does not get ‘snugged up’.
Bring the first stitch forward over the second stitch and over the tip of the right hand knitting needle so that one stitch remains on the right hand knitting needle.
Once again there is ONE stitch on the right hand knitting needle.
Figure 4: Once again there is ONE stitch on the right hand knitting needle.
Knit the next stitch loosely. There are now two stitches on the right hand knitting needle. Proceed binding off with Fig. 3, then repeat the process. Figs. 1-3 Until all stitches have been bound off.
When you reach the last stitch, cut your yarn leaving about 5 inches from the knitting needle, to be woven in and hidden in the Knit Finished Techniques. Bring the loose end of the yarn through the stitch remaining on the knitting needle and pull up tightly to LOCK the ending of the Bind Off.
See the Bind Off Stitches are elastic and look like a horizontal row of knit stitches or ‘Chain Stitches
Figure 5: See the Bind Off Stitches are elastic and look like a horizontal row of knit stitches or ‘Chain Stitches’. It makes a very neat finish to a great project.
TIP: Beginners have a tendency to bind off too tightly. To prevent this, many knitters use a needle two sizes larger in the right hand.
The bind off should be the same width as your knit project: in our case the scarf is 10 inches wide. It should not pull in or Fan out.
Knitting Lesson One ~ the Season 12 Doctor Who Garter Stitch Scarf Replica
Hand Knitting Techniques used in Knitting Lesson One: Doctor Who Season 12 Knit Garter Stitch Striped Scarf consists of Several Parts, all with Photo Instructions for each step: Continue on with Your Basic Hand Knitting Techniques for Lesson One
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 1: how to make a slip knot to begin,
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 2: then cast on the required number of stitches
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 3: how to knit the knit stitch; garter stitch just consists of two knit rows
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 3: how to change colors in knitting for different colors of stripes when knitting garter stitch
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 4: how to bind off.
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 5: Finish Knitting: how to weave in the ends of yarn colors at the changing points
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 5: Finish Knitting: how to attach tassels
- Basic Hand Knitting Techniques Part 5:Finish Knitting: how to steam lightly and hand press
Hand Knitting a Garter Stitch Stripe Scarf is a Great Beginner Knit Project. It is easy to Learn to Bind Off with These Photo Step by Step Knitting Instructions. Find the Pure Wool yarn Kit for this scarf in our online knitting catalog.
Click Here to Return to the Main Article : Learn To Knit by Hand or Machine ~ Doctor Who Season 12 Scarf Knit for Charity Challenge to follow the entire Little Knitter Experience of Researching and Developing a Knit Project!
Look for our Knit for Charity Challenge Doctor Who Season 12 Scarves ~ hand knit or hand loomed in Garter Stitch with Nature Spun pure Woolin The Knit Tree’s One of a Kind Showroom
If you do not find any available, contact customerservice for information and to get on our waiting list.
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