How to Knit: Italian Tubular Bind Off | Brooklyn Tweed

The Italian Tubular Bind Off is a variation of a “standard” tubular bind off that allows you to graft your stitches together without separating them onto two needles. It is quite neat and stretchy, and results in a very clean, rounded edge.
This bind-off works best with 1x1 ribbing, but if you have 2x2 ribbing you can rearrange your stitches to use this method. This bind-off can be worked after knitting tubular rows or rounds (where every other stitch is slipped); it can also be used without working tubular rows beforehand. As always, follow your pattern’s instructions.
In this tutorial we’ll work the bind off straight off the ribbing without any tubular rows. All you’ll need to work this bind off is a tapestry needle.
STEPS:
This bind off involves four basic movements, or passes, through the stitches. Before beginning, we’ll work two setup passes.
To start, break your working yarn leaving a tail about 3 times as long as the width of the piece being bound off. Thread this tail onto your tapestry needle.
(Note that these instructions assume that the first stitch on your needle is a knit stitch, followed by a purl.)
To work the setup:
2:11 Insert the tapestry needle into the first (knit) stitch on your left needle as if to purl. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
2:27 Bring your tapestry needle to the back of the work and thread it through the front leg of the second (purl) stitch on the needle as if to knit. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
Repeat the following four movements until only two stitches remain:
3:00 “Knit off”: Thread the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the needle as if to knit, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through and snug it gently.
3:15 “Purl on”: From the front of the work, thread the tapestry needle through what is now the second stitch on the needle as if to purl. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
3:34 “Purl off”: Thread the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the needle as if to purl, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through and snug it gently.
3:49 “Knit on”: From the back of the work, thread the tapestry needle through what is now the second stitch on the needle as if to knit. Leave this stitch on the needle and pull the yarn through.
(Once you get the hang of it, you can combine the first two passes together into one, as well as the third and fourth passes, to simplify your movements. Repeat the refrain “knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on” as a mnemonic device to remember what you’re doing as you go along.)
Once you reach the last two stitches on the needle:
6:09 Bring the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the needle as if to knit, then drop the stitch off the needle.
6:17 Bring the tapestry needle through the next stitch on the needle as if to purl, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through and fasten it off gently.
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[@deniselim9607]

To simplify: knit off the knit stitches and purl off the purl stitches of your 1X1 rib. If you knit off a knit st, then purl into the next knit st from the front. If you purl off a purl st, then knit into the next purl st from the back. Once I realized this, I stopped getting mixed up whether I was supposed purl off and knit on or knit off and purl on, especially if I set my work down and picked it up again. The videography of this video is so superior to others that I watched. So easy to see what you are doing. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! (Great tip!)

[@avawu2]

this needs more upvotes!

[@lauralcg]

This tip helped me a lot to get it done!!! Thanks a lot for sharing.

[@knotanitter]

Thanks for that last time I always get confused what I last did!

[@MiscBeccaNicole]

This actually made it make sense omg thank you

[@lovermew]

After watching a bunch of videos on this bind off, this one is the clearest for me, thanks! And I love your Jenny Holzer tattoo.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@camilewhite9081]

I have watched a couple tutorials on this method and this was by far the most comprehensive. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@patriciaseverson524]

For those like me who forget where they left off: Following on @deniselim9607's comment below: To pick up at the right place in sequence (when combining steps 1&2, then steps 3&4): if your yarn was left in back of work, then you are ready to do a knit off next (steps 1&2); if your yarn was left in front, then you are ready to do a purl off next (steps 3&4). Also, best way I've found to go back and snug up bound off stitches (if necessary): gently tug on the top loop of the top knot at the top edge of each knit/purl row. You may have to test a few strands before you find the right one, but once you do it great simplifies the snugging up process.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Excellent tips!

[@noelleparris9451]

This was great. I had never done this bind off before and I was able to follow along and do it on my cardigan hem! Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Awesome! We love this method, it makes such a nice edge!

[@apriljem]

Yes! Your video was the clearest one that I have seen! Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy knitting!

[@almarodriguez1548]

Love the ITALIAN BIND OFF. Makes a beautiful clean edge that makes a gift knit special.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We totally agree!

[@elvanunlu]

I wanted to thank you for this tutorial! The easiest instructions of the Italian bind-off on KZbin. Simple, short and memorable.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy knitting!

[@tystar115]

I have been struggling to learn how to do the italian bind off. Your tutorial was the one that finally made it click for me! Thank you so much. I'll never avoid doing this method again 😭

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@isme61t2]

this is the best tutorial!!! I was so confused before watching this one, and it becoms so easy that i dont need to watch while bindling off. Thumbs up and thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@duffa65]

such good timing, the link to this tutorial popped up in my FB feed literally just as I had gotten to the bind-off of a top-down cardigan

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Oh perfect! (I just used it for a sweater I was working on too! -- Kel)

[@Lizbernhard]

Thank you for this video. It was incredibly helpful.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy knitting! (this tutorial TOTALLY saved a sweater hem for me!)

[@Bluewaterpinessantarosabeach]

Thank you kindly for sharing this technique.

[@user-tn5bb5vl6e]

Thank you so much for this video, I love this bind off but have always had trouble keeping my place in the steps. Combining the steps is genius. Now I can bind off an entire sweater hem and not get lost!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! (Yes, I find this SO much easier to keep track of! -- Kel)

[@hannahr26]

Best video I’ve seen explaining this!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy knitting!

[@kathyfitz151]

Thank you! I've seen so many tutorials that show you the 4 steps, but never show you what to do when you reach the end.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! (Right? You need to know how to finish it off!)

[@JackyBarrow]

Thanks for this tutorial, tried it today, worked like a dream.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@jodiealaoui7293]

Thank you! This was easy to understand, the best one I found.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy knitting!

[@mdbenoit]

Very well explained, thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@naomeecutie21]

I was looking for a video tutorial on the standard tubular bind off but this one was less intimidating. My sleeves came out perfectly!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Oh excellent! We're so glad it helped! (I just used this tutorial for a sweater I was knitting too! -- Kel)

[@valeriacifuentes4866]

Hi; I love your video It's so easy explained, thank you so much! how can I use this technique for 2x2 ribbing?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! You can use this technique for 2x2 ribbing but you'll need to rearrange your stitches first - here's a tutorial by @dreareneeknits that explains how! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJqaooKkhMx0mpI

[@laurenpaparone602]

Great video. Does this technique also work for bind off in the round? I noticed you had used it for cuffs. I need to use it on a hem in the round.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! This technique is great for binding off in the round - you'll have a long length of yarn to wrangle for a sweater hem, but just go slowly and you'll end up with a gorgeous hem. :)

[@LalaLa-jb3li]

Love Your Ring. Oh My

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

The Brooklyn Tweed team ring game is strong! :D

[@tammysmith9495]

How do you do this bind off if you have twisted rib?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Great question! Our pattern experience manager Mary (who filmed this tutorial) says, "In twisted rib you're twisting the stitches as you work them normally so you wouldn't have to deal with differently mounted stitches, I wouldn't recommend twisting the stitches being bound off." Happy knitting!

[@zoewoodcock747]

I must be really stupid, I am finding it very confusing 😢

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Not at all! If this method isn't clicking for you, try the tubular bind off on two needles - Ysolda has a great tutorial here: ysolda.com/blogs/journal/tubular-bind-off

[@TheSolipsist0]

I got it after practicing at a swatch. It was maby my 5th attempt.

[@CrazyForEwe]

You are not stupid, @zoewoodcock747 This is a confusing and complicated bind off, but you can do it. After a few goes, you will get your rhythm. It helps to remember the knit off-purl on, purl off-knit on phrase she mentions here. Also, notice that on the second stitch you are inserting the needle purlwise into a purl stitch and knitwise into a knit stitch. You got this, my friend ❤

[@elkeeffler173]

I feel the same as you. I have now used this bind off method on at least three garments and each time I have to go back to the video to re-learn it. Slowing the speed down also helps. Imagine the type of brain that dreamt up this form of binding off😳. But it works and looks good.

[@chris112233ish]

Can this be done for a 2x1 rib?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hello! Did some digging and found a tutorial from 2009 where someone increased their 2x1 rib to a 2x2 rib before working the tubular bind off: shadowdancer.typepad.com/blog/2009/07/a-tutorial-stretchy-sock-cuffs.html

[@cindyg.8425]

Great video…. But how does one leave “enough “ yarn on tapestry needle to allow for 190 stitches on hem? I have tried multiple times to finish my hem but the huge Looooong tail trying to go through is so hard. I see your video on short amounts of cast-ons but no explanations out there to help with this question. Do you have any advice? My yarn ( ridiculous ly long keeps getting hung up on needles-and my tension is off whilst doing this. I see on many of my u-tube channel knitters doing this BOhowever no videos on how to do this with “many stitches on hem). Help please. And thank you. ( using Shelter BTW).

[@maevemcintyre6817]

you could possibly use a shorter tail, then join more yarn on when the tail becomes too short (ie. you could use the method where you felt the new length of yarn onto the old one!

[@cindyg.8425]

@@maevemcintyre6817 thank you so much for your input. I appreciate this so much.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hello! Yes, totally agree with @maevemcintyre6817 - with Shelter you could easily use a shorter length and spit splice as needed, because there is a LOT of yarn to pull through on a sweater hem!

[@MikiCrespo]

Thanks so much for sharing 💗

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching!

[@janet4900]

I'm already lost. I didn't see where you put the needle in the second maneuver. It was in the back, but you couldn't see it.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Janet! Check the video description for the written-out steps :)

[@colleen2503]

I love the finished look of this and will try it on socks. However, I was looking for a clean-looking bind off for the ribbing of a sweater and cannot imagine doing this across so many stitches. Do you have any tips on dealing with yards of yarn while doing this?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Colleen! Having just done this on a DK weight sweater, it actually wasn't bad wrangling the yarn for the hem bind-off - I did work sitting at a table to keep everything flat! -- Kel

[@colleen2503]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official Thank you! It’s funny to get this today because I just finished binding off an oversized vest with this method. It took forever but it is so well-worth it. After struggling with it last night in my easy chair and getting frustrated with the somewhat “sticky” yarn, I gave up. Today I sat at the table and it made a world of difference. Great tip!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Oh good! I'm glad that helped! It is such a nice bind-off, definitely worth the work!

[@sahamonkey]

Any suggestions on how to do this in the round when you come to the last stitch?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

For your last stitch, you'll bring your tapestry needle through the stitch on the needle as if to purl, then drop the stitch off the needle. Pull the yarn through - you can pass the yarn tail through your first stitch in the round and then weave in your end to join the beginning and end of round together neatly. Happy knitting!

[@StickToYourKnitting]

By George, I think I’ve got it! Thank you for making this technique clear for me! ❤

[@Nenona1200]

Timestamps: Intro: 0:00 Setup: 2:10 Stitch: 3:00 Combining: 4:17