Super-Stretchy Bind Off

A very stretchy finish for one-by-one ribbed edges

This bind off, created by Jeny Staiman as the Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, matches the Super-Stretchy Cast On, and works great on ribbed edges to maintain stretch without fluttering.

 
Text: Super-Stretchy Bind Off - A very stretchy finish for 1x1 ribbed edges. READ MORE. Image: A bound-off ribbed swatch being stretched to thirty percent more than unstretched. The edges look like stretched chain stitch. Logo: My Secret Wish Knittin
 

How to do it:

Text included in the images is written out below each step to make this Low Vision Accessible. Instructions on the images are for right-handed people. Instructions in the written text is non-hand specific.

 

Basic Principle:

You will be using yarn-overs to create extra yarn to allow for extra stretch in this bind off.

 
 
 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step one

Step One:

Work one stitch in the pattern. (Knit the knits, purl the purls.)

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step two

Step Two:

If your next stitch is a knit: Reverse Yarn Over (YO) by bringing yarn back to front over the working knitting needle.

If your next stitch is a purl: Normal Yarn Over (YO) by passing yarn front to back over working knitting needle.

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step three

Step Three:

Work the next stitch in the pattern. (Knit the knits, purl the purls.)

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step four

Step Four:

Use needle holding the work (in your non-dominant hand) to pull the YO you worked in Step Two over second stitch and over the end of the working knitting needle.

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step five

Step Five:

Use the stitch-holding needle to pull the first stitch over the second stitch and off the end of the working needle.

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step six

Step Six:

You have now bound off one stitch.

The extra yarn created by the YO is what makes this bind-off so stretchy.

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step seven

Step Seven:

Repeat Steps One through Five as many times as necessary until you have a single stitch left. Pull the yarn tail through the last stitch and tighten into a knot to finish.

Once you have several bound-off stitches, you’ll see how the result is stretchy, but firm.

 
Super-Stretchy Bind Off step eight

Step Eight:

This is what the results look like stretched out. From the side, the top stretched edge looks a little like a single crochet chain.