Machine Knitting: Backstitch Bind-off

This method produces a stretchy bind-off that looks very similar to an e-wrap cast-on.

These instructions are written for right-handed knitters. If you hand sew with your left hand, you’ll probably want to reverse them so it feels more natural.

Getting ready

End knitting with COR and unthread carriage.
Cut yarn leaving a tail that’s 3 times the width of your knitting on the needles; thread your yarn needle.

Securing the first stitch

Sew into the front of the stitch on the end needle and carry yarn to the right of the needle above the needle bed.
Sew into the back of the stitch on the second needle and carry the yarn below the needle bed.

You should see two threads on top of the first needle — one for the knit stitch hanging on the needle and one for the backstitch.

Backstitching across the rest of the bed

Sew into the front of the stitch to the right making sure your yarn needle goes into the knit stitch and under the previous backstitch; carry the yarn to the right of the needle above the needle bed.
Sew into the back of the stitch two needles to the left and carry the yarn below the needle bed.

Repeat these steps until you reach the end needle on the left; that is, until you have sewn through the back of the stitch on the end needle.

Securing the last stitch

Sew into the front of the stitch to the right and carry the yarn to the right of the needle above the needle bed.
Sew into the back of the stitch on the end needle a second time.

Remove the knitting from the machine.

Tips

As you sew into the front of a stitch, hold your yarn needle at a slight diagonal to the right with the tip pointing up slightly.

As you sew into the back of a stitch, hold your yarn needle at a slight diagonal to the left with the tip pointing down slightly.

As you sew into the front of a stitch, make sure your yarn needle goes through the knit stitch hanging on the machine needle and under the thread of the previous backstitch.

As you backstitch, take up all the slack in the thread, but do not pull it so tight that you misalign the machine needles or distort the stitches hanging on the machine.