Edging Bind Off
Create a perpendicular border while binding off.
Some projects require a special finishing touch. Create a decorative edge while you bind off with this lovely and unusual technique.
How to Do It
Basic Principle:
You’ll be knitting back and forth on a decorative edging and binding off stitches from the main garment on one edge three out of four rows worked.
Steps
This tutorial is in progress. The key points are:
- When you’re ready to bind off, cast on the number of stitches required for your edging pattern. If you’re working in the round, I recommend using Provisional Cast On.
- Work your edging, working the last stitch of each Right Side row together with a stitch that needs to be bound off. On the Wrong Side, work the first stitch of each edging row together with a stitch to bind off every other time. This means you’ll be binding off three stitches from the project for every four rows you complete of your edging, which creates an approximately flat transition. If you want your edging to draw the edge of your project tighter, then you can bind off a stitch with every row of edging.
- If you’re working in the round, once you get to the last row, place your cast-on stitches on a needle and graft your working stitches together with the first row. This may result in one additional row of your edging design, which may or may not be a problem for your design. Use your judgement about whether to graft your last row of edging stitches or the second-to-last. Weave in ends to close any gaps.
- Congratulations! You’ve completed your bind-off!
Twisted Rope Fingerless Mittens
On Sale
CAD9.00
CA$9.00
Fingerless mittens… but with an edgy twist!
An elegant cabled border trims the top and bottom of these worsted-weight fingerless mittens. Work the cuff band flat, then pick up the hand stitches and continue in the round. Work the top band while binding off the hand stitches using the edging bind-off technique for seamless construction. Pairs wonderfully with the Twisted Rope Hat.
Pattern includes instructions for left- and right-handed knitters.
PROJECT LEVEL: Intermediate
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Digital download includes:
- PDF (standard) - best for printing or for sighted knitters
Refer to “Accessibility” below for more information about file types.
About Collection
Twisted Rope Collection
Classic designs with a single foundation: a single-twist cable band from which the rest of the garment seamlessly springs.
About Design
Construction
Cast on the cabled wristband with a provisional cast on, then work the wristband flat. Graft into a circle. Pick up stitches to work the hand, then finish with edging bind off for the second cable. Work the thumb last.
Sizes
The following measurements are for the hand circumference, not the glove’s finished dimensions. The ages given are approximations only.
- Child Small: 6.0 inches (or 15.0 cm)
- Child Large: 6.5 inches (or 16.3 cm)
- Youth & Ladies’ Small: 7.0 inches (or 17.5 cm)
- Youth & Ladies’ Medium: 7.5 inches (or 18.8 cm)
- Youth & Ladies’ Large: 8.0 inches (or 20.0 cm)
- Ladies’ Extra Large: 8.5 inches (or 21.3 cm)
Supplies
Yarn
1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) balls worsted-weight yarn with 101 metres in 50 grams (or 110 yards in 1.76 ounces).
Approximate yardages: 106 (117, 130, 145, 168, 187) yards [or 97 (108, 119, 133, 154, 171) metres].
Needles
- 4.0 mm (US 6) double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Optional: circular needles with at least 24-inch (or 60-cm) cables in the same size instead (see Notes).
- Small cable needle
- Crochet hook, approximately 4.0 mm (Size G-6) for Provisional Cast on and picking up stitches.
Notions
- Yarn needle
- Four stitch markers
- Scrap of yarn for stitch holder (for thumb stitches).
Gauge
24 stitches and 32 rounds = 4 inches (or 10 cm) over stockinette stitch in the round.
About Samples
Yellow Sample:
Knit Picks Swish Worsted, a plied 100% merino Superwash wool with 101 metres in 50 grams (or 110 yards in 1.76 ounces) that works up to 18 to 20 stitches over 4 inches (or 10 cm) on 4.0 to 5.5 mm (US 6 to 9) needles.
- Colourway: Honey
- Size 5 (Ladies’ Large)
Orange Sample:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tonal, a plied 50% merino and 50% Corriedale wool worsted-weight yarn with 201 metres in 100 grams (or 220 yards in 3.53 ounces) that works up to 18 to 20 stitches over 4 inches (or 10 cm) on 4.0 to 5.5 mm (US 6 to 9) needles.
- Colourway: Foliage
- Size: 2 (Child Large)
Techniques & Resources
Skills you will need:
- Knit
- Purl
- Make a gauge swatch in Stockinette Stitch in the round. (Tutorial here.)
All other techniques are explained.
Techniques used:
- Provisional Cast On
- Knit Cast On
- Kitchener Stitch (Grafting)
- Edging bind-off
- Picking up stitches with a crochet hook
- Simple twisted cables
- Knitting in the round (can use double-pointed needles or you can swap out one or two circular needles instead).
- Simple chart-reading (but written instructions also provided).
- Thumb gusset
- Knitting a thumb without gaps
Included resources:
- A comprehensive list of links to online tutorials on my website for necessary skills. Tutorials are screen-reader accessible, with instructions relayed fully in text, and also include videos and downloadable photo tutorials.
- Full glossary
- Written and charted instructions for the cuff band, finger band, and thumb edging.
Publishing Information
Release Date: September 2022
Most Recent Revision: May 2023
Publisher: My Secret Wish Publishing
Knitting pattern type: Single Design Option
Project type: Fingerless Mittens, Typing Mittens
Page Count: 8
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING NOTICE:
This pattern is copyright My Secret Wish by Talena. Your purchase of this pattern gives you the right to use it for personal, non-profit use only. To license the pattern to use for profit, please e-mail me for permission. You do NOT have the right to print the pattern for other people (unless they reside in your household) or to transfer the digital file to any other person. This pattern may not be sold, copied, or distributed in any way.
Update History
May 18, 2023: Updated URLs for new store and social links.
About My Secret Wish Knitting
Hi! I’m Talena Winters (a.k.a. the Yarn Mermaid).
I started My Secret Wish Knitting in 2010 to empower and delight knitting heroes like you who want to elevate your knitting and make magic with yarn. When I’m not concocting new yarn potion recipes, I’m creating story magic as a fantasy and romance author and fiction editor (at talenawinters.com). I live with my family and pets in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, where sweater weather lasts at least nine months a year and my closest neighbours are bears and wood nymphs.
This website is a labour of love by a team of one (me!). If you found value here, please support the effort by purchasing a pattern. If you want more knitting magic, check out my community events and newsletter in the Knitting Circle. We’d love to have you!