Draft
Bind-OffsBind Offs for Garment Finishing
Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Sewn Bind Off
A bind off sewn with a tapestry needle. Stretchy, and a match for the long tail cast on.
4 min videoGood for sock cuffs, matching edges
Elizabeth Zimmermann’s sewn bind off is worked with a tapestry needle instead of knitting needles. You thread the tail and sew through the stitches two at a time, dropping one off the needle with every pass.
The edge it makes does not look like a knitted bind off. It looks almost exactly like a long tail cast on, which makes it the bind off to use when you want the top of a piece to match the bottom. It is simple to do and leaves a neat, plain edge.
You need a long tail to work it, at least three or four times the width of the edge, so cut the yarn before you start.
1 Thread the tapestry needle
Cut the yarn, leaving a tail at least three or four times the length of the edge you are binding off, and thread it through a blunt tapestry needle.
2 Through two stitches purlwise
Put the tapestry needle into the first two stitches on the knitting needle purlwise, from right to left, and pull the yarn all the way through and tight.
3 Through the first stitch knitwise
Now put the tapestry needle into the first stitch only, knitwise, and pull through and tight again.
4 Drop the first stitch off
Slide that first stitch off the end of the knitting needle and let it drop. It is bound off.
5 Then keep going
Repeat those three moves across the row: through the first two purlwise, through the first one knitwise, pull tight both times, drop the first stitch off. Every so often stretch the edge out a little so it is not too loose. The finished edge mirrors a long tail cast on.