Uploaded February 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
knitfreedom.com I'm so excited about bind-offs for lace right now.
knitfreedom.com/bind-offs/best-bind-off-for-lace-frilled-standard-bind-off
While I was studying for the I Love Bind-Offs ebook (more about that below), I solved a problem that I didn't even realize that I had, which was that that I never really gave a thought about how to bind-off for lace.
I had the feeling I wasn't the only one.
To make sure, I checked the 20 most popular lace scarf patterns on Ravelry.
ZERO patterns gave specific advice about bind-offs. "Bind off loosely," was as good as it got.
Most of the patterns forget to tell you to bind off at all! Clearly, people aren't thinking about bind-offs when they are thinking lace. Why not?
My theory: When you're knitting a lace project, you spend hours and hours painstakingly following a complicated pattern to make your beautiful piece.
By the time you get to the end, you just want to finish. And why shouldn't you? We don't get any guidance otherwise.
BUT: The problem is that when you just use a regular bind-off on lace, it's not stretchy enough.
I know, stretchiness isn't top-of-mind when you think about lace. It's not like the cuff of a mitten where you need it to stretch out and stretch back.
Lace makes open, airy, flat designs, but the only reason they get to be open and airy and flat is because after you knit them, you BLOCK THEM.
You soak them, you squeeze them, you stretch them, you pin the edges into points, all so that you can see the beautiful pattern that the lace creates.
And here's where the bind-off is key because the bind-off has to be able to take all this abuse. And only a STRETCHY bind-off has what it takes.
A Stretchy Bind-Off Is Best For Perfect Lace Projects
A standard bind-off is just too firm to use as a bind-off on lace. That's why patterns tell you to "bind off loosely" Springtime Bandit by Kate Gagnon Osborn-- they're trying to compensate for lack of stretch by making the loops larger. But I have a better solution for you.
A word of caution, though: a bind-off that's too stretchy will make a weird flare along the edge. The last thing you want on a beautiful lace project is to have an edge that looks stretched or wider than the whole project.
And don't forget the clock! When binding off lace, you're usually dealing with a ton of teeny-tiny stitches. Whatever bind-off you use, it can't be slow, because you'll be at it for a while.
I decided my students shouldn't have to settle for less-than-perfect bind-offs, and so in order to find solutions to this problem, I sacrificed a bunch of my lace projects in progress (believe me, they weren't going anywhere).
Comparing Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off and Frilled Standard Bind-Off
I divided each lace project into two or three sections and did a different recommended bind-off on each one, and then I blocked them and took pictures and decided for myself which ones work the best — and what I consider my favorite option.
Comparing Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off and Frilled Standard Bind-Off
The three winning bind-offs I found were the Frilled Standard Bind-Off, which I am going to teach you today; the Picot Chain Bind-Off, and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off (JSSBO), both of which I teach you in my upcoming course I Love Bind-Offs.
The Winner: The Frilled Standard Bind-Off, an easy and perfect fit
Frilled Standard Bind-Off on Lace (Feather and Fan)
My favorite bind-off for lace, the Frilled Standard Bind-off, was actually not in any of the books I studied as a suggested lace bind-off. But it turned out to be the all-around winner for ease, speed, and stretch.
Learn the Frilled Standard Bind-Off
Go to the blog post to see step-by-step instructions, swatch photos, and an animated demo. Enjoy learning this new technique using whatever style of instructions suits you best: knitfreedom.com/bind-offs/best-bind-off-for-lace-frilled-standard-bind-off
Tip -- many readers have asked what needles I'm using in the video and photos. I'm using my favorites: Signature Needle Arts needles. Make sure to get the Stiletto Tip.
Frilled Standard Bind-Off: Step-by-Step Instructions
1. K1
2. K1 but don't drop the st off the L needle
3. BO 1. Loop remains on L needle
4. K into the loop that's still on the L needle
5. BO 1
6. Repeat steps 2-5
7. The finished bind-off. Frill!
Leave A Comment
Thank you for all your lovely comments last week! I hope you've all tried last week's tip and you have a lace project on which to try this week's hypothesis — that the Frilled Standard Bind-Off is the best there is for lace.
I love to hear all your thoughts, stories, and feedback. I answer as many comments as I can on the day of publication, so if you have a question for me, ask it today!
youtube.com/watch?&v=n0fG5rk0j04
knitfreedom.com I'm so excited about bind-offs for lace right now.
knitfreedom.com/bind-offs/best-bind-off-for-lace-frilled-standard-bind-off
While I was studying for the I Love Bind-Offs ebook (more about that below), I solved a problem that I didn't even realize that I had, which was that that I never really gave a thought about how to bind-off for lace.
I had the feeling I wasn't the only one.
To make sure, I checked the 20 most popular lace scarf patterns on Ravelry.
ZERO patterns gave specific advice about bind-offs. "Bind off loosely," was as good as it got.
Most of the patterns forget to tell you to bind off at all! Clearly, people aren't thinking about bind-offs when they are thinking lace. Why not?
My theory: When you're knitting a lace project, you spend hours and hours painstakingly following a complicated pattern to make your beautiful piece.
By the time you get to the end, you just want to finish. And why shouldn't you? We don't get any guidance otherwise.
BUT: The problem is that when you just use a regular bind-off on lace, it's not stretchy enough.
I know, stretchiness isn't top-of-mind when you think about lace. It's not like the cuff of a mitten where you need it to stretch out and stretch back.
Lace makes open, airy, flat designs, but the only reason they get to be open and airy and flat is because after you knit them, you BLOCK THEM.
You soak them, you squeeze them, you stretch them, you pin the edges into points, all so that you can see the beautiful pattern that the lace creates.
And here's where the bind-off is key because the bind-off has to be able to take all this abuse. And only a STRETCHY bind-off has what it takes.
A Stretchy Bind-Off Is Best For Perfect Lace Projects
A standard bind-off is just too firm to use as a bind-off on lace. That's why patterns tell you to "bind off loosely" Springtime Bandit by Kate Gagnon Osborn-- they're trying to compensate for lack of stretch by making the loops larger. But I have a better solution for you.
A word of caution, though: a bind-off that's too stretchy will make a weird flare along the edge. The last thing you want on a beautiful lace project is to have an edge that looks stretched or wider than the whole project.
And don't forget the clock! When binding off lace, you're usually dealing with a ton of teeny-tiny stitches. Whatever bind-off you use, it can't be slow, because you'll be at it for a while.
I decided my students shouldn't have to settle for less-than-perfect bind-offs, and so in order to find solutions to this problem, I sacrificed a bunch of my lace projects in progress (believe me, they weren't going anywhere).
Comparing Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off and Frilled Standard Bind-Off
I divided each lace project into two or three sections and did a different recommended bind-off on each one, and then I blocked them and took pictures and decided for myself which ones work the best — and what I consider my favorite option.
Comparing Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off and Frilled Standard Bind-Off
The three winning bind-offs I found were the Frilled Standard Bind-Off, which I am going to teach you today; the Picot Chain Bind-Off, and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off (JSSBO), both of which I teach you in my upcoming course I Love Bind-Offs.
The Winner: The Frilled Standard Bind-Off, an easy and perfect fit
Frilled Standard Bind-Off on Lace (Feather and Fan)
My favorite bind-off for lace, the Frilled Standard Bind-off, was actually not in any of the books I studied as a suggested lace bind-off. But it turned out to be the all-around winner for ease, speed, and stretch.
Learn the Frilled Standard Bind-Off
Go to the blog post to see step-by-step instructions, swatch photos, and an animated demo. Enjoy learning this new technique using whatever style of instructions suits you best: knitfreedom.com/bind-offs/best-bind-off-for-lace-frilled-standard-bind-off
Tip -- many readers have asked what needles I'm using in the video and photos. I'm using my favorites: Signature Needle Arts needles. Make sure to get the Stiletto Tip.
Frilled Standard Bind-Off: Step-by-Step Instructions
1. K1
2. K1 but don't drop the st off the L needle
3. BO 1. Loop remains on L needle
4. K into the loop that's still on the L needle
5. BO 1
6. Repeat steps 2-5
7. The finished bind-off. Frill!
Leave A Comment
Thank you for all your lovely comments last week! I hope you've all tried last week's tip and you have a lace project on which to try this week's hypothesis — that the Frilled Standard Bind-Off is the best there is for lace.
I love to hear all your thoughts, stories, and feedback. I answer as many comments as I can on the day of publication, so if you have a question for me, ask it today!
youtube.com/watch?&v=n0fG5rk0j04
![[KnitFreedom] Fixing a Dropped Purl Stitch](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n2FFXM2dbnc/mqdefault.jpg "[KnitFreedom] Fixing a Dropped Purl Stitch
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/fixing-a-dropped-purl-stitch-free-video/
Visit https://www.knitfreedom.com/shop/fix-knitting-mistakes/ to watch the entire video course and get more great tips to help you learn how to troubleshoot and fix mistakes in your work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2FFXM2dbnc")
![[KnitFreedom] How To Hide Purl Wraps: A Short-Row Trick for Invisible Purl-Side Wraps](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/okzHQMKYrlo/mqdefault.jpg "[KnitFreedom] How To Hide Purl Wraps: A Short-Row Trick for Invisible Purl-Side Wraps
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/pick-up-and-hide-purl-wraps-wrap-and-turn-on-the-purl-side/
The problem with the intuitive way of picking up purl wraps is that it places the wrap in front of the stitch.
The challenge is to find an easy way to get that wrap in the back, which is exactly what our trick does.
Ready To Learn How To Pick Up Short-Row Purl Wraps The Invisible Way?
Before we start if you need to brush up, please review Short Rows: Learn To Wrap-and-Turn (https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/wrap-and-turn-short-rows/). It will refresh your ability to follow the pattern below.
Make a swatch and follow along:
CO 20 sts.
Row 1: K 18, W&T (wrap and turn).
Row 2: P 16, W&T.
Row 3: K to 2 sts before next wrapped st, W&T.
Row 4: P to 2 sts before next wrapped st, W&T.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 4 wrapped stitches along each needle. K2, W&T.
Here is the part of the pattern that comes next, where you will use our new trick:
Next row: P across, pick up and purl wraps as you come to them.
By the way, this technique comes from the pattern instructions of the Cedar-Leaf Shawlette (who knew? Its actually a good idea to read pattern instructions).
To sum up:
1) Knit to the wrapped purl stitch.
2) Using the right-hand needle, pick up the wrap from the right side of the work.
3) Place the wrap on the left-hand needle over and behind the stitch it was wrapping.
4) Purl those two stitches together.
Remember, the key is to pick up the purl wrap from the opposite side of the work.
You can use this technique on any pattern that calls for short rows.
See photos and read the blog post here:
http://knitfreedom.com/techniques/hide-purl-wraps-short-rows
Sign up for the KNITFreedom newsletter and become a knitting superstar!
http://knitfreedom.com/newsletter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okzHQMKYrlo")
![[KnitFreedom] 5 Ways To Relieve Knitting Back, Shoulder, and Neck Pain – Demo by Esther Gokhale](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qM0ICNdpp28/mqdefault.jpg "[KnitFreedom] 5 Ways To Relieve Knitting Back, Shoulder, and Neck Pain – Demo by Esther Gokhale
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/5-ways-to-relieve-knitting-back-shoulder-and-neck-pain-demo-by-esther-gokhale/
Read the blog post: https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/fix-knitting-back-shoulder-neck-pain-esther-gokhale/
After a yoga injury a couple years ago, I have struggled with back pain that has confused my doctors and physical therapists.
After feeling stuck and not getting much better, I became depressed and gained weight. This also impacted my knitting – no one wants to knit while they are in pain!
I began searching high and low for an answer that did not include medication or surgery.
Fortunately, I stumbled across a book and teacher that eventually changed my life and helped me heal my back. I just knew I had to share this technique with all my fellow knitters!
Plus, instead of doing a book review, I thought – why not film a video with the author herself?
So Esther Gokhale, the “Posture Guru of Silicon Valley,” and I set out to record a video just for you on how to relieve back, neck, and shoulder pain.
Summary and Recap – 5 Ways To Relieve Back Pain for Knitters
1. The Shoulder Roll
Because of the shapes of our couches, chairs, and car seats, our shoulders tend to get hunched forward over time. Concentrating on your knitting makes it worse.
Shoulder repositioning is an easy way to start fixing your posture and relieving your back pain.
2. Stretchsitting
To mitigate the fatigue of sitting and compressing your spine, you can use a backrest to traction your back and actually stretch and heal it as you sit.
3. Stand up periodically
Every 15 minutes you should be standing up.
Stand up and do what feels good!
Tip: Whenever you feel a little uncomfortable and start to move and shift in your chair – THAT’S a sign from your body to stand up! – like how about right now?
4. Stacksitting
When you’re not sitting against the back rest of a chair, you probably alternate between relaxed and slumped or being upright and tense. Both of those do damage.
The Goal: you want to be upright and relaxed. The key to this is to have the pelvis well-positioned.
5. Lengthen the Neck
This technique will help relieve tension in the jaw and face, and it often helps reduce chronic headaches and jaw pain.
About the Gokhale Method Institute
The Gokhale Method helps people restore their natural architecture — the posture and movement ways that we all had as little children.
Up until 100 years ago people had excellent architecture and movement patterns. You still see the same patterns in some cultures around the world today — and all those people are free of back pain!
The Gokhale Method helps you get back to that health and posture efficiently and in a sustained way.
Leave a Comment
Which of these techniques really hits home for you? Did you experience any relief right away? What other movement tips would you recommend to other readers? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Read the blog post for more tips and pointers:
http://knitfreedom.com/back-pain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM0ICNdpp28")
