8 More Stretchy Bind-offs You've Probably Never Heard of
The stretchy bind-off comparison, published in July 2019, is one of the most popular posts on my blog. In the 13 months it's been out, it's been read over 4,000 times!
In the past year I've kept running into other stretchy bind-off methods I'd never even heard of at the time of writing that blog post. These bind-offs are so obscure I've rarely seen them referenced anywhere! Here are eight more stretchy bind-off methods you've probably never even heard of.
1. Latvian Bind-off
The first three bind-offs on the list are sewn bind-offs. Like with any sewn bind-off, you first need to break the yarn and leave a tail long enough for sewing.
The Latvian Bind-off is like an easier version of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn bind-off. And that, in my opinion, is a huge achievement! If you can top EZ in easiness, it's worth checking out. And this bind-off really couldn't be any simpler: insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch purlwise and drop it off the needle. Go into the second stitch on the needle knitwise and leave it on the needle. Then repeat those two steps until you're done!
2. Jeny's Interlock Bind-off
This bind-off method was invented by Jeny Staiman of Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off fame. But unlike the surprisingly stretchy bind-off, the interlock bind-off is a sewn bind-off done with a tapestry needle instead of knitting needles.
In Jeny's Interlock Bind-off you work in sets of two stitches, alternating going through them knitwise or purlwise and always dropping the first stitch of the pair off the needle. What creates the invisible, interlocking edge is that each time you change directions, you bring the tapestry needle in through the loop of working yarn. This creates a very neat edge for the bind-off, very similar to a tubular bind-off.
3. Invisible Ribbed Bind-off
This is yet another sewn bind-off as many of the stretchiest bind-offs tend to be. Think of the Invisible Ribbed Bind-off as doing Kitchener stitch, only in pattern and from one needle. This bind-off is sometimes also called the Tubular Bind-off for 1x1 ribbing.
4. Grandma's Favorite Loose Bind-off
The description for this bind-off says it's a simple and loose bind-off perfect for scarves, afghans, neck edges, and curved pieces. Grandma's Favorite Bind-off is a variation of the Lace Bind-off except you purl stitches together (instead of knitting) wrapping the yarn clockwise, that is, in the opposite direction you normally would, resulting in a reverse-mounted stitch.
Grandma's Favorite Bind-off creates a neat chained edge on the wrong side of the work. This is great for pieces that are to be joined together with right sides held together.
5. Sheena's Stretchy Sock Bind-off
This bind-off is advertised as being a great bind-off for toe-up socks because it's stretchy without flare.
Sheena's Stretchy Sock Bind-off is an off-shoot of the Yarnover Bind-off which was the number #1 stretchiest bind-off in my stretchy bind-off comparison. But here's how it differs from the yarnover bind-off: you add an extra yarnover to the bind-off only after every second stitch. This helps in reducing flare but still gives stretchiness to the bind-off edge.
6. Tillybuddy's Stretchy Swing Needle Bind-off
Tillybuddy's Stretchy Swing Needle Bind-off is a combination of Lori's Twisty Bind-off and the Lace Bind-off. No wonder it's stretchy because it uses not one but two methods for adding extra stretchiness to the bind-off edge.
The working needle is twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on the whether the next stitch to be worked is a knit or a purl stitch — just like in Lori's Twisty Bind-off. In addition to twisting (or "swinging") the needle, stretchiness is created by placing the stitch on the right needle back on the left and with knitting or purling it together with the next stitch, sort of like in Lace Bind-off but working in pattern.
7. HiyaHiya Grandma's Stretchy Bind-off for 1x1 Ribbing
The last two bind-off methods are close cousins of each other, the first worked in 1x1 ribbing and the second in 2x2 ribbing. In HiyaHiya Grandma’s Stretchy Bind-off you work the stitches the opposite as they appear, that is, purl the knits and knit the purls. But that's not all there is to it. Between each stitch you loop the working yarn around the last stitch worked, creating a very bumpy edge.
8. HiyaHiya Grandma's Stretchy Bind-off for 2x2 Ribbing
The 2x2 ribbing variant of HiyaHiya Grandma's Stretchy Bind-off is done just like the 1x1 ribbing version except the working yarn is looped around the last worked stitch only when switching from a knit stitch to a purl, or vice versa.
Both versions of HiyaHiya Grandma’s Stretchy Bind-off are a bit tedious to do and create a bumpy bind-off edge. But are they really worth it in terms of stretchiness? Check out my next post!
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