Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off
Designed by Jeny Staiman in 2009, this bind off uses a yarn-over before each stitch to add elasticity to the bind-off edge. The result is significantly stretchier than the standard bind off without losing the chained-edge appearance.
Recommended A printable technique cheat-sheet for your knitting bag.
How it works
Before each knit stitch, work a backwards yarn-over (under the needle, then over). Knit the next stitch normally. Pass both the yarn-over and the previous bound-off stitch over the new stitch and off the needle. Repeat across.
When to use
Top-down sock cuffs, top-down hat brims, the top of toe-up sock cuffs, and any ribbed edge that needs to stretch over a head, foot, or hand. Also useful for shawls that need a bind-off edge that recovers when stretched in blocking.
In partnership Tools and supplies that make this technique easier.
Direction of yarn-over
For a knit stitch, the yarn-over goes from front to back over the needle. For a purl stitch, the yarn-over goes from back to front. Keeping these consistent is the difference between a smooth, even edge and a wonky, twisted one.
Comparison
Stretches roughly 50–100% more than the standard bind off. Less elastic than the sewn bind off but much faster and easier to keep even.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BO | bind off |
| yo | yarn over |
| k | knit |
Tips
- Practice on a small swatch — the yarn-over direction takes a few rows to internalise.
- Use the same needle size as the body; this bind off naturally adds enough elasticity without sizing up.
- Keep the yarn-overs slightly loose; tight yarn-overs negate the stretchiness.
In depth
Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off works by inserting a yarn-over loop into the chain that runs along the bind-off edge. Each yarn-over adds a tiny bit of slack to the chain, which collectively allows the edge to stretch without breaking the chain structure.