Sewn Rib Bind Off

A clean finish for one-by-one ribbed edges.

Using ins-and-outs that will be easily understood by those familiar with Kitchener Stitch (but you don't have to be to do it), this bind off (also known as the Invisible Ribbed Bind Off, Kitchener Bind Off, or Grafted Bind Off) makes a beautiful, stretchy finish for the top of any one-by-one ribbed edging.

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Text: How to Work Sewn Rib Bind Off - A clean finish for 1x1 ribbed edges. Image: The top of a worsted-weight sock with a k1, p1 cuff and a beautiful edge finished in pattern. Logo: My Secret Wish Knitting
 

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 use a yarn needle to recreate the yarn pathway of normal alternating knit and purl stitches without creating a new row of loops for a beautiful finish.

 

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Close-up of the top of a 1x1 ribbed sock cuff with a beautiful finish in pattern.

Sewn Rib Bind Off

Check out this beautiful finished edge!

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step one

Step One:

Cut working yarn at a length about four or five times longer than your finished edge. Thread into a yarn (tapestry) needle.

If your first stitch to be worked is a knit stitch, insert yarn needle purlwise. Do not take the stitch off the knitting needle. Pull yarn needle through the stitch.

If your first stitch is a purl stitch, begin at Step Three.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step two

Step Two:

Take yarn needle around end of knitting needle and insert from back to front between first (knit) stitch and next (purl) stitch. Do not pull through.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step three

Step Three:

Insert yarn needle knitwise into purl stitch. Pull through.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step four

Step Four:

Bring yarn needle to front around end of knitting needle and insert knitwise into the first knit stitch. Do not pull yarn needle through.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step five

Step Five:

Use the yarn needle to pull the knit stitch off of the knitting needle. Pull yarn through.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step six

Step Six:

Insert yarn needle purlwise through next knit stitch and pull through.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step seven

Step Seven:

Insert yarn needle purlwise through the purl stitch, which is now at the end of the knitting needle.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step eight

Step Eight:

Use the yarn needle to pull stitch off of knitting needle and draw yarn through.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step nine

Step Nine:

Repeat steps two through eight. Steps four to six can be combined into a single step.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step ten

Step Ten:

Steps seven, eight, two, and three—in that order—can also be combined into a single pull of the yarn needle.

To finish a round (if working in the round), weave yarn from last stitches into the first and second bound-off stitches. Weave in ends on wrong side of work.

 
Sewn Rib Bind Off step eleven

Step Eleven:

You’re done! Nice work. :-)

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About My Secret Wish Knitting

Hi! I’m Talena Winters (a.k.a. the Yarn Mermaid).

I started My Secret Wish Knitting in 2010 to empower and delight knitting heroes like you who want to elevate your knitting and make magic with yarn. When I’m not concocting new yarn potion recipes, I’m creating story magic as a fantasy and romance author and fiction editor (at talenawinters.com). I live with my family and pets in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, where sweater weather lasts at least nine months a year and my closest neighbours are bears and wood nymphs.

This website is a labour of love by a team of one (me!). If you found value here, please support the effort by purchasing a pattern. If you want more knitting magic, check out my community events and newsletter in the Knitting Circle. We’d love to have you!