How to do an Italian bind off in the round

In this DROPS video we show how to bind off by sewing an Italian bind off to a rib with 1Knit 1Purl in the round. Before we start binding off, we work 4 rounds where the knit stitches and the purl stitches are worked separately. In the 1st and 3rd round, work the knit stitches, while the purl stitches are loosely lifted off as if they are to be worked purl with the thread in front. In the 2nd and 4th round work the purl stitches and lift the knit stitches loosely off as if they are to be purl. We use a stitch marker to show the beginning of the round, but when we start binding off, we put a stitch marker in the 1st knit stitch and in the 1st purl stitch. Cut the thread, the thread end to be sewn with must be at least 4 times as long as the piece to be bind off. Now the binding off part start. * Insert the needle into the 1st knit stitch as if to knit, pull the thread through and lift the stitch off the needle. Insert the needle into the 2nd knit stitch as if to purl and pull the thread through, let this stitch sit on the needle. Insert the needle from the right in the 1st purl stitch and towards you, pull the thread through and remove the stitch from needle. Insert the needle from the back between the next 2 stitches, turn the needle and insert the needle back, but then in the purl stitch as if to knit and pull the thread through. Repeat from * around until there are 2 stitches left, put the first 2 stitches (stitches with markers), on needle and continue binding off. Since the thread has already been through the first 2 stitches at the beginning of the round 1 time, sew these stitches only 1 time through at the end. Fasten the thread to the back. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video. You’ll find patterns where you can use this technique by clicking on one off the pictures below.