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August 8, 2017 4 Comments

Binding Off Within a Row

How can the instruction for binding off within a row be made clearer to the knitter?  I’ve found a way that works for me.  I need to have every stitch accounted for in the instruction, but when you are binding off within a row, some stitches have a dual role.

Why There is Confusion When Binding Off Within a Row

Here’s an example from  Jill Wolcott Knits® Silver Valley pattern, which is worked in one piece to the Divide for Armhole.  In this case, the center back is where the opening is.

Binding off within a row: text from Silver Valley

We started with 244 (268) (292) (316) (340) stitches.  There are 56 (61) (66) (71) (76) Back stitches, then 16 (18) (20) (22) (24) stitches are bound off at the underarm.  There are 100 (110) (120) (130) (140) Front stitches, and again 16 (18) (20) (22) (24) stitches are bound off, leaving 56 (61) (66) (71) (76) Back stitches.  All stitches are accounted for in the stitch counts.

The problem is that when binding off within a row, that you actually need to knit or work two more stitches to start your bind off.  Then, when you are at the end of your bind off, you need to knit or work one more stitch to take that final bind off stitch over.Binding off within a row: roadmap from Silver Valley

Binding Off Within a Row

This is specific to the situation above, but it can be generalized too.

To bind off, work 2 stitches following the Back stitches to leave the correct number of stitches for the Back.  Those 2 stitches are bound off, so they do not increase the number of Back stitches.  At the other end of the bind off number, an extra stitch needs to be worked, but that stitch is included in the total number of Front stitches since it remains after the last bind off stitch is lifted over it.

After working the number of Back stitches, count the number of stitches to be bound off, and place a removable marker there.  You have now marked off the stitches to be bound off.  Remember, you will have to work one stitch past the removable marker to complete the bind off.

You can mark the bind off at the other armhole by counting the stitches for the Back from the other end of the needle, then placing removable markers to mark off the number of bind off stitches.  At this second armhole, you will work to 2 stitches past the first removable marker then begin binding off.  Work to 1 stitch past the second removable marker to complete the total number of bind offs, leaving the correct stitches in each of your three garment segments.

Dual Stitch Role When Binding Off Within a Row

The first two stitches seem like they are worked before the bind off, which they are, but they are counted as part of the actual bind off, not the stitches knit for the Back.  The same for the stitch knit after the removable end bind off marker.  It is part of the Front, not the bind off, but it must be worked before the last stitch can be bound off.  I’ve taken some photos as I worked a sample.  I used a contrast color yarn for the bind off stitches.

Bind off Within Row: 1) K2 before binding off

Bind off Within Row: 2) first stitch bound off (after k2)

From left, then right (2 photos):  1) Work 2 sts after Back stitches; 2) bind off 1 stitch;

From Left (2 photos): 3) work bind off to removable marker; 4) work 1 stitch after markerBind off Within Row: 3) work BO to removable marker

Bind off Within Row: 4) work 1 st past removable marker

Next photos, from left (2 photos):  5) work to next marked bind off area; and 6) completed bind off from right side.

Bind off within row: 5) work to next bind off marker

Bind off within row: 6) all sts bound off

What I used:  US Size 7(4.5mm) Inox Turbo circular needles (may no longer be available)
Clover locking pin markers
Clover ring markers
Civility Worsted 3-ply from Elemental Affects, 70% US merino, 30% mulberry silk (main)
Rambouillet 2-ply Worsted from Local Color Fiber Studio, 100% US rambouillet merino (contrast)

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Technique Talk Tagged With: bind off, bind off within a row, binding off, how to count bind off stitches, stitches

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynn Somerstein says

    August 8, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    Thanks– does this mean I really CAN count and that I’m not crazy?

    Reply
  2. Jill says

    August 8, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    Lynn, I am so glad this was helpful! I look at these things when they cause problems for me–so I suspect you count very well and you just needed the right way to look at it. Thanks so much for letting me know it was useful to you.

    Reply
  3. Erin Shaw says

    August 17, 2017 at 3:22 pm

    Thank you thank you, I am a relatively new knitter always second guessing pattern instructions. Such a logical explanation
    Regards, Erin

    Reply
    • Jill says

      August 17, 2017 at 5:50 pm

      We all second guess–so having a method of checking ourselves is great.

      Reply

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