Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Usually worked on 1x1 ribbing, the Italian Tubular Bind Off allows you to graft your live hem stitches into a neat and stretchy finished edge, without having to first separate them onto two needles as with the standard tubular bind off.
This method allows you to work the Italian Tubular Bind Off on 2x2 ribbing, with no rearranging of stitches required!
This bind-off can be worked directly from your ribbing, or after working tubular rows/rounds (see our Italian Tubular Cast On tutorial for instructions.)
0:50 SET UP:
Note: These instructions assume your ribbing starts with 2 knit stitches. If your round starts with 2 purls, simply shift your BOR marker. (To start with purls when knitting flat, work the setup in reverse (knit on, purl on), then skip to step 8.)
Break yarn leaving a tail approximately 3 times the length of the edge to be bound off. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle.
Insert tapestry needle through the first knit stitch as if to purl. Leave the stitch on the needle. Pull the yarn through and snug gently at the end of each pass throughout.
Go behind the next two knit stitches and insert the tapestry needle between the knit and the purl stitches from back to front.
Insert tapestry needle through the first purl stitch as if to knit from front to back.
2:45 STEPS:
2:54 Step 1: Insert tapestry needle through the first knit stitch on the needle as if to knit, then drop the stitch off the left needle. (knit off)
3:07 Step 2: Insert tapestry needle through the second knit stitch as if to purl but leave it on the needle. (purl on)
3:18 Step 3: From the back, insert tapestry needle from back to front through the first purl stitch as if to purl. (purl on from back to front)
3:40 Step 4: Insert tapestry needle through the second purl stitch as if to knit from front to back. (knit on from front to back)
3:57 Step 5: Insert tapestry needle through the remaining knit stitch as if to knit and slip it off the left needle. (knit off)
4:16 Step 6: Bring tapestry needle to the front, skipping two purl stitches, and insert it through the next knit stitch as if to purl. (purl on next knit)
4:40 Step 7: Drop the first purl stitch off the left needle.
4:50 Step 8: Insert tapestry needle through the remaining purl stitch as if to purl and drop it off the left needle. (purl off)
5:20 Step 9: Go behind the next two knit stitches and insert the tapestry needle between the second knit and the first purl stitch from back to front.
5:40 Step 10: Insert tapestry needle through the first purl stitch as if to knit from front to back. (knit on)
Repeat Steps 1 - 10 until all but the last two stitches have been bound off.
8:08 FINISH:
If the final two stitches are knits, insert your tapestry needle through the first stitch as if to knit and drop off the needle, then into the next stitch as if to purl and drop off. If purls, insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch as if to purl and drop off the needle, then into the next stitch as if to knit and drop off.
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If you found this tutorial helpful, we’d love your support!
At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design. We craft our patterns with a commitment to timeless quality, publishing size-inclusive, stylish designs for all shapes, identities, and skill levels.
Contemporary design, superior craftsmanship, and clear instructions give knitters the opportunity to elevate their skills and explore the intersection of crafting traditions with current style and new techniques.
Our extensive library of educational resources and skill-building tutorials give crafters the tools to succeed and the confidence to make their projects their own.
Learn more at: @BrooklynTweed_Official
Visit us at: brooklyntweed.com
Usually worked on 1x1 ribbing, the Italian Tubular Bind Off allows you to graft your live hem stitches into a neat and stretchy finished edge, without having to first separate them onto two needles as with the standard tubular bind off.
This method allows you to work the Italian Tubular Bind Off on 2x2 ribbing, with no rearranging of stitches required!
This bind-off can be worked directly from your ribbing, or after working tubular rows/rounds (see our Italian Tubular Cast On tutorial for instructions.)
0:50 SET UP:
Note: These instructions assume your ribbing starts with 2 knit stitches. If your round starts with 2 purls, simply shift your BOR marker. (To start with purls when knitting flat, work the setup in reverse (knit on, purl on), then skip to step 8.)
Break yarn leaving a tail approximately 3 times the length of the edge to be bound off. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle.
Insert tapestry needle through the first knit stitch as if to purl. Leave the stitch on the needle. Pull the yarn through and snug gently at the end of each pass throughout.
Go behind the next two knit stitches and insert the tapestry needle between the knit and the purl stitches from back to front.
Insert tapestry needle through the first purl stitch as if to knit from front to back.
2:45 STEPS:
2:54 Step 1: Insert tapestry needle through the first knit stitch on the needle as if to knit, then drop the stitch off the left needle. (knit off)
3:07 Step 2: Insert tapestry needle through the second knit stitch as if to purl but leave it on the needle. (purl on)
3:18 Step 3: From the back, insert tapestry needle from back to front through the first purl stitch as if to purl. (purl on from back to front)
3:40 Step 4: Insert tapestry needle through the second purl stitch as if to knit from front to back. (knit on from front to back)
3:57 Step 5: Insert tapestry needle through the remaining knit stitch as if to knit and slip it off the left needle. (knit off)
4:16 Step 6: Bring tapestry needle to the front, skipping two purl stitches, and insert it through the next knit stitch as if to purl. (purl on next knit)
4:40 Step 7: Drop the first purl stitch off the left needle.
4:50 Step 8: Insert tapestry needle through the remaining purl stitch as if to purl and drop it off the left needle. (purl off)
5:20 Step 9: Go behind the next two knit stitches and insert the tapestry needle between the second knit and the first purl stitch from back to front.
5:40 Step 10: Insert tapestry needle through the first purl stitch as if to knit from front to back. (knit on)
Repeat Steps 1 - 10 until all but the last two stitches have been bound off.
8:08 FINISH:
If the final two stitches are knits, insert your tapestry needle through the first stitch as if to knit and drop off the needle, then into the next stitch as if to purl and drop off. If purls, insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch as if to purl and drop off the needle, then into the next stitch as if to knit and drop off.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you found this tutorial helpful, we’d love your support!
At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design. We craft our patterns with a commitment to timeless quality, publishing size-inclusive, stylish designs for all shapes, identities, and skill levels.
Contemporary design, superior craftsmanship, and clear instructions give knitters the opportunity to elevate their skills and explore the intersection of crafting traditions with current style and new techniques.
Our extensive library of educational resources and skill-building tutorials give crafters the tools to succeed and the confidence to make their projects their own.
Learn more at: @BrooklynTweed_Official
Visit us at: brooklyntweed.com
