Italian cast off

Videos: 6
15:52
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.

6:26
How to do an Italian bind off / Knit 1 (twisted) / Purl 1

In this DROPS video we show how to do an Italian bind off to a rib with knit 1, purl 1 but in the bind off the knit 1 becomes knit 1 twisted. With this technique we get an elastic bind off that is perfect for example on toe up socks, edge around neck, a shawl edge or sleeve edges when working top down. Cut yarn long enough for your bind off, approx 4 times the length of the edge you are binding off. Start by locking the first stitch like this: Insert the needle into the 1st stitch as if to purl and tighten. Do not slip the stitch of needle. Insert the needle from the back between the 1st and 2nd stitches so that the thread comes to the front, then insert the needle into the purl stitch. Then insert the needle into the 1st stitch as if to knit, lift the stitch off the needle. Now the bind off starts: 1) When there is a purl stitch to sew off, sew as follows: Insert needle into 2nd stitch (knit stitch) as if to purl, insert needle into 1st stitch (purl stitch) as if to knit, lift the stitch off (the thread is now at the back of the work). 2) When there is a knit stitch to sew off, sew as follows: From the back, insert the needle between 1st and 2nd stitches. From the front, insert the needle into the purl stitch (2nd stitch), also from the right side, insert the needle into the 1st stitch as if to knit and slip the stitch of needle. Repeat explanation 1) and 2) until the binding off is completed. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video. You can find patterns where this technique can be used by clicking the pictures below.