In these two gathered bind offs, one stitch is pulled over two or three stitches. In the standard bind off, one stitch is pulled over one stitch and off the right needle. By going over more than one stitch, these gathered bind offs pull stitches together, and are perfect for creating a gathered edge, or for tightening up stitch patterns that have a great deal of lateral spread.
1 Over 2 Stitch Gathered Bind Off
Requires a multiple of 3 stitches. Work 3 stitches in pattern. * Use the left needle to bring the first stitch on right needle over the second and third stitches and off the right needle. Work next stitch on left needle. Repeat from * until only 3 stitches remain on right needle. Use the left needle to bring the first stitch over the second and third stitches and off the right needle and repeat to last stitch.
Cut yarn and pull through last stitch.
1 Over 3 Stitch Gathered Bind Off
Requires a multiple of 4 stitches. Work 4 stitches in pattern. * Use the left needle to bring the first stitch on right needle over the second, third and fourth stitches and off the right needle. Work next stitch on left needle. Repeat from * until only 4 stitches remain on right needle. Use the left needle to bring the first stitch over the second, third, and fourth stitches and off the right needle and repeat to last stitch.
Cut yarn and pull through last stitch.
The two gathered bind offs shown here can be used as a jumping off place for larger stitch numbers. Remember these things when modifying:
- The number of stitches to work at the beginning and end is equal to the total number of stitches used in each bind off.
- Don’t pull a stitch over too large a number of stitches that will cause the fabric to collapse. The goal is gathers.
