Standard Bind Off (Chain Bind Off)
The standard bind off — also called the chain bind off — is the cast-on's mirror twin. It is what most patterns mean when they simply say "bind off." The result is a clean chain along the top edge that matches stockinette in tension when worked at the same gauge as the body.
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Mechanics
Knit the first two stitches. Use the left needle tip to lift the first stitch over the second and off the right needle. One stitch remains. Knit one more, lift the previous over, and continue across the row.
Tension
The most common error is pulling each stitch tight after lifting the previous over, producing a tight, drawn-in edge that flares the body out below it. Knit each stitch slightly looser than usual, or use a needle one size up for the bind-off row.
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Variations
Bind off in pattern (working the bind-off stitches in the established knit/purl pattern) for visible borders. Bind off purlwise for a slightly different bumpy edge that matches reverse stockinette.
When to use something else
For ribbing, garter stitch, and edges that need stretch, the standard bind off can be too tight. Substitute Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, the sewn bind off, or a tubular bind off.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BO | bind off |
| k | knit |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Tips
- If your bind off pulls in, switch to a needle two sizes larger or use the suspended bind off.
- Bind off in pattern for any visible border — it disguises the bind-off chain in the established stitch pattern.
- Always block before judging whether the bind off is too tight; many "tight" bind offs relax dramatically with a wet block.
In depth
The standard bind off works by repeatedly passing one stitch over another, which mirrors the structure of a knitted cast on. This is why a project bound off in the standard method always looks like the cast on at the bottom — both are essentially chains.