Sloped Bind Off for Shoulder Shaping
A modification of the standard bind off that smooths the "stair-step" effect when binding off stitches in groups across multiple rows — for example, when shaping a sweater shoulder.
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The stair-step problem
Binding off stitches in groups (5, 5, 4 stitches across three rows) creates a visible stair-step at each transition. The sloped bind off hides this transition with a small modification.
Method
On the row before each bind-off group, slip the last stitch of the previous row's bind-off rather than knitting it. On the next bind-off row, knit two stitches and pass the slipped stitch over both. The bind off proceeds normally from there.
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Visual effect
The transition between bind-off groups becomes a smooth diagonal rather than a stair-step. From the right side, the shoulder edge looks continuously sloped rather than blocky.
When to use
Sweater shoulders worked flat. Diagonal armhole shaping. Any place a pattern says "bind off X stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows" repeatedly.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BO | bind off |
| sl | slip purlwise |
Tips
- Mark the slipped stitch with a removable marker to keep your place.
- Practice on a small swatch first — the technique is small but easy to forget mid-row.
- Pair with three-needle bind off for a fully smooth shoulder seam.
In depth
The sloped bind off works by carrying the bind-off chain smoothly across the transition between bind-off groups, rather than ending each group with a hard step. The result is a diagonal shoulder edge that mattress-stitches together more cleanly than a stair-stepped edge.