To cast off knitting, knit the first two stitches, lift the first stitch on the right needle over the second and off the needle, then knit one more stitch. Keep lifting the previous stitch over the new one until one loop remains. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail, pull the tail through that final loop, and weave it in.
Cast off and bind off mean the same thing
Cast off is the term used more often in British patterns, while bind off is common in U.S. patterns. Both mean securing the live stitches and removing them from the needle so the fabric does not unravel. The method below is the basic knitwise, or chain, bind-off. It works well for many flat pieces, swatches, scarves, and edges that do not need exceptional stretch.
What you need
- Your finished knitting with the live stitches on the left needle
- The empty working needle, normally the same size used for the project
- Scissors
- A blunt tapestry needle for weaving in the tail
How to cast off step by step
- Work the first two stitches. For a plain knitwise cast-off, knit two stitches normally. You now have two loops on the right needle.
- Lift the older loop over. Insert the left needle into the first stitch you knitted—the loop farther from the right needle’s tip. Lift it over the second loop and over the tip. One loop remains on the right needle.
- Work one more stitch. Knit the next stitch from the left needle. There are again two loops on the right needle.
- Repeat the pass-over. Lift the older right-needle loop over the newer loop and off the tip. Continue working one stitch and passing the previous loop over it.
- Secure the last loop. When one loop remains and no live stitches remain on the left needle, cut the working yarn with a practical tail—about 6 inches is usually comfortable for weaving. Pull the cut end completely through the last loop and snug it gently.
- Weave in the end. Thread the tail through a tapestry needle and run it through several stitches on the wrong side, following the fabric structure. Avoid pulling so tightly that the edge puckers.
These steps match the basic method illustrated in the Craft Yarn Council’s instructor handbook and in Lion Brand’s written tutorial.
Keep the edge from becoming too tight
The most common problem is pulling each new stitch tight before passing the older stitch over it. That creates a firm chain with less give than the knitted fabric. Let each loop sit at its natural size and spread the completed stitches along the needle occasionally to check the edge.
| Problem | Likely cause | Practical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Edge pulls inward | Bind-off loops are too tight | Redo the row more loosely or try a needle one or two sizes larger |
| Edge looks wavy | Loops are too loose for the fabric | Use the original needle size and maintain steadier tension |
| Ribbing will not stretch | A firm basic bind-off restricts it | Bind off in pattern or use the stretchy method specified by the pattern |
| Last corner forms a bump | The final loop or tail is over-tightened | Secure it gently and distribute excess yarn while weaving in |
| Stitch accidentally drops | Loop slipped before being secured | Catch it promptly with a crochet hook or needle before continuing |
When should you cast off in pattern?
If the instructions say bind off in pattern, work each stitch as it would appear in the established pattern before lifting the previous loop over it. For 1-by-1 ribbing, for example, knit a knit stitch and purl a purl stitch as you bind off across. This preserves the visual rhythm better than knitting every stitch, although the basic pass-over action stays the same.
Follow the project pattern when it specifies a particular stretchy, decorative, sewn, or three-needle bind-off. A sock cuff, sweater neckline, or shawl edge often needs more elasticity than the basic chain method provides. Before finishing an important garment, test the proposed edge on a swatch. If you are checking garment proportions as well as the finish, use a consistent method such as our guide to measuring sleeve length.
Cast off all stitches or only some?
“Bind off all stitches” means continue until the entire row is secured. Shaping directions may instead say “bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next row.” In that case, work enough stitches to pass four older loops over—leaving one working loop on the right needle—then continue the row according to the pattern. Count completed pass-overs, not simply the number of stitches you knitted.
Finishing and caring for the fabric
Weave the tail through stitches of a similar color and texture, then trim only after it is secure. Blocking can even the fabric, but use the method appropriate for the fiber and yarn label. Animal fibers, synthetics, and plant fibers respond differently to water, heat, and agitation. CurioBeacon’s guides to washing wool carefully and caring for delicate fabrics explain why fiber-specific care matters.
