Binding Off Knitted Projects with a Crochet Hook, Part 5: Icelandic Bind Off

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This series was developed for crocheters who knit,

and for knitters who have never bound off with a hook.

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Welcome back to our series on using a crochet hook to bind off knitted projects. Here's what we've covered so far:

Part 1 - Basic terminology (crochet yarn over vs. crochet yarn under), recommended hook types and sizes, and Basic Crochet Bind Off.
Part 2 - Suspended Bind Off.
Part 3 - Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, or JSSBO.
Part 4 - Miraculous Elastic or Lacey Bind Off

Our previous tutorials have focused on bind offs suitable for stockinette, pattern stitches, and/or ribbing. Today, we'll switch gears and learn a simple bind off suitable for garter stitch projects: the Icelandic Bind Off.

The Icelandic Bind Off is not the only garter-stitch-appropriate bind off*, but it's the easiest to work with a hook.

*I very much wanted to feature Annie Cholewa's Knitsofacto Bind Off, a lovely twisted-purl bind off that gives a beautiful finish to garter stitch projects - but it turned out to work better with needles than with a hook! If you're interested in exploring alternate bind offs, do check out her tutorial.

And now, our feature presentation....

Icelandic Bind Off

The Icelandic Bind Off is fast, fairly straightforward, and looks great on garter stitch fabric. (I've read that if used for stockinette, it makes a rolled edge, but haven't tried this myself.)

To work the Icelandic Bind Off, you need to reach through one stitch to knit another. This can feel a bit awkward at first, but with a little practice you'll find it's easy to develop a rhythm.

Why it works so well for garter stitch: Garter stitch fabric is ridgy on both sides. Because the Icelandic Bind Off tips slightly forward, it tucks neatly into the ridges below, while rolling its own WS ridges up to form a slightly bumpy top edge that blends right in with garter stitch.

Here are some advantages of the Icelandic Bind Off:

• Looks great on garter stitch projects
• Is moderately stretchy without distorting the edge of the fabric
• Adapts well to a crochet hook
• Uses only knit stitches
• Encourages good tension by keeping a previous loop on the needle as the current loop is worked
• Can be worked with a hook smaller than the knitting needle

The Icelandic is another bind off so simple that the steps can't be minimised - which is a Good Thing!

Icelandic Bind Off Video Tutorial

Icelandic Bind Off Photo Tutorial

~ Try using a hook 2 sizes down from your knitting needle; experiment as necessary to find the best hook size for your project.
~ Don't forget to yarn under when working a knit stitch with your crochet hook.

1. Insert hook purlwise (from right to left, in front of the needle) into the first stitch.
2. Hook the second stitch with the tip of your hook.
3. Rotate hook back and up, bringing it knitwise through the second stitch; this will pull the second stitch halfway through the first, creating an "X".
4. Yarn under, and...
5. Knit the second stitch only (the new stitch will come up through the legs of the "X")
6. Slip the stitch off the needle (bringing the other stitch with it).
7. Insert the tip of the needle into the stitch you just made, and...
8. Slip the stitch back ON to the needle, keeping the crochet hook in front.

Now your hook is in the right place to work the next stitch.

To continue the bind off, repeat Steps 2-8. Pretty simple, huh?

If you make a mistake, and need to frog the Icelandic Bind Off:

Remove the hook, and slip the top stitch off the needle:

To frog, remove hook and slip top loop off needle....

Now turn your work around. With WS facing you:
pull on the working yarn to release the stitch,
pop the horizontal loop off the vertical loop,
pick up the vertical loop by inserting your needle from right to left and front to back:

On WS, pull the working yarn out of the stitch, pop the horizontal loop off, and pick up the stitch.

(Pull, pop, pick up. It's a nice alliterative frogging mantra.)

Tips for maintaining good tension: As you work this bind off, don't keep the stitches all tightened up at the tip of the needle and the neck of the hook. Instead, keep them down on the barrel of the needle, and move your crochet hook freely back and forth, so the stitches encounter the full thickness of both needle and hook.

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And that wraps up the tutorial portion of our series on binding off with a crochet hook.

In the next and final post of the series, I'll review what we've learned, give tips for converting other knitted bind offs for use with a crochet hook (and for deciding whether a hook is the right tool), and offer more helpful links for those interested in exploring alternate bind offs.

Until then, happy knitting and crocheting and binding off!

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Many thanks to the Knit Freedom website for helpful information and a great tutorial on knitting the Icelandic bind off.

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Binding Off Knitted Projects with a Crochet Hook, Part 4: Miraculous Elastic or Lacey Bind Off

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This series was developed for crocheters who knit,

and for knitters who have never bound off with a hook.

~ ~ ~

Welcome back to our series on using a crochet hook to bind off knitted projects. Here's what we've covered so far:

Part 1 - Basic terminology (crochet yarn over vs. crochet yarn under), recommended hook types and sizes, and Basic Crochet Bind Off.
Part 2 - Suspended Bind Off.
Part 3 - Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, or JSSBO.

In this post, we'll learn another stretchy bind off: the Lacey Bind Off, also known as the Miraculous Elastic Bind Off. Some call it the "decrease bind off" - but I've seen this name applied to more than one bind off, so I'm going to stick with "Lacey".

The Lacey Bind Off is one of several bind offs that involve knitting stitches together through the back loop. After practicing some of the others, I chose to feature this one because it seemed the simplest to work with a hook, and because it worked best for me. (But knitting and crochet are highly personal crafts - what works for one doesn't always work for another. If you'd like to try some of the other TBL or Through the Back Loop bind offs, do an internet search for "decrease bind off" or "k2togbl bind off". You'll find plenty of links!)

Miraculous Elastic or Lacey Bind Off

The Lacey Bind Off, like JSSBO, is super simple to work and gives amazing results. All you do is let two loops stack up on your hook, then yarn under and pull through both.

Why it works: I can't explain why this one works. But it does. :)

Here are some advantages of the Lacey Bind Off:

• Very stretchy
• Incredibly easy to work with a hook
• Uses only crochet yarn unders, whether knitting or purling
• Works well on ribbing
• Recommended for lace projects that need a flexible bind off for blocking
• Unobtrusive - the bind off sits close to the work

This bind off is already so straightforward and simple that the steps can't be minimised. Give it a try!

Miraculous Elastic or Lacey Bind Off Video Tutorial

Shows how to knit, purl, and frog the bind off, working with a crochet hook.

Miraculous Elastic or Lacey Bind Off Photo Tutorial

Note: This bind off uses only crochet yarn UNDERs. See Part 1 of the series for an explanation of the difference between crochet yarn overs and crochet yarn unders.

To set up the Lacey Bind Off on knit stitches:
With crochet hook, knit the first 2 stitches (2 loops now on hook);
yarn under, pull working yarn through both loops on hook.

To continue the Lacey Bind Off on knit stitches:
If your next stitch is a knit stitch, knit it (2 loops now on hook);
yarn under, pull through both loops on hook.

To purl the Lacey Bind off:
If your next stitch is a purl, purl it (2 loops now on hook);
yarn under, pull through both loops on hook.

That's it! Crazy simple, isn't it?

Tip: if your bind off is not as stretchy as you'd like, try inserting the knitting needle through the front of the 2 loops on your hook before yarning over and pulling through both loops. This will relax your stitching tension and create a looser bind off.

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In our next post, I hope to feature a garter-stitch bind off invented by a blogging friend (but first I'll need to get her permission).

Until then, happy knitting and crocheting, AND binding off!

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Many thanks to these two websites for information on the Lacey Bind Off:
Slip Slip Knit
Stitch Diva Studios

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Binding Off with a Crochet Hook, Part 3: JSSBO

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This series was developed for crocheters who knit,

and for knitters who have never bound off with a hook.

~ ~ ~

Welcome back to our series on using a crochet hook to bind off knitted projects. In Part 1, we discussed some basic terminology (crochet yarn over vs. crochet yarn under), recommended hook types and sizes, and introduced the Basic Crochet Bind Off. In Part 2, we advanced to the Suspended Bind Off.

This week we're going to take a quantum leap into the Land of Super Stretch, and learn what is possibly the stretchiest (and easiest) non-sewn bind off around: Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, or JSSBO.

Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (JSSBO)

JSSBO is one of the modern wonders of the knitting world. Invented by Jeny Staiman, it's simple, elegant, easy to work, amazingy stretchy, and so popular that it's now part of the standard knitting lexicon.

What makes JSSBO so stretchy? Adding a yarnover to each bound-off stitch. What could be simpler?

Why it works: The extra yarnover on each stitch acts like a little coiled spring that stretches when you need it to, then snaps back to its original size.

Here are some of the features of JSSBO:

• Very stretchy
• Easy to work with a hook
• Can be knitted and purled
• Works well on ribbing
• Great for project edges that will be repeatedly stretched, such as hat brims and sock cuffs

Working JSSBO with a hook is even easier than working it with needles, because the hook allows you to draw through several loops at once, thus eliminating a step or two.

JSSBO Video Tutorial

Shows how to knit and purl JSSBO using a crochet hook; how to minimise the steps involved; and instructions for frogging.

Note: In the video I call this Jeny's SUPER Stretchy Bind Off - a slight but understandable error. The correct name is Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. Either way it's a great invention. :)

JSSBO Photo Tutorial

Remember, all yarn overs / yarn unders are made crochetwise. See Part 1 for an explanation of the difference between the two.

To set up JSSBO on knit stitches:

With your hook, yarn over, bring hook to front of work, then knit the first stitch on needle (insert hook knitwise, yarn under, draw loop through, slip stitch off needle) - 2 loops now on hook;
Draw the last (most recent) loop through the first.

Setting Up JSSBO on Knit Stitches

On following stitches:
*Yarn over, knit the next stitch (3 loops now on hook);
Using hook tip, draw the last (most recent) loop through the other two.
Repeat from *.

JSSBO on Knit Stitches

To work JSSBO on purl stitches:
Assuming you already have a loop on your hook, bring working yarn to front.
*Yarn under, then purl the next stitch (insert hook purlwise, yarn under, push hook back and up through loop, carrying yarn with it, slip stitch off needle) 3 loops now on hook;
Using hook tip, draw the last (most recent) loop through the other two.
Repeat from *.

To minimise these steps for knit or purl:
1. Yarn over or under as directed.
2. Knit or purl the next stitch, but before slipping it off the needle, pull the last loop (the knit or purl you just made) through the other two.
3. Now slip the stitch off the needle.
(I'm not sure if this is an actual time saver. Try it and see how you like it. You may find that this method changes your stitch tension.)

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Next week, in Part 4, we'll learn the Lacey Bind Off (also known as Elastic Bind Off or K2tbl Bind Off).

Until then, happy knitting and crocheting AND binding off!

If you have any questions about this technique, please feel free to ask using the comment box below.

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Binding Off Knitted Projects with a Crochet Hook, Part 2: Suspended Bind Off

~ ~ ~

This series was developed for crocheters who knit,

and for knitters who have never bound off with a hook.

~ ~ ~

Welcome back to our series on using a crochet hook to bind off knitted projects. In Part 1, we discussed some basic terminology (crochet yarn over vs. crochet yarn under), recommended hook types and sizes, and introduced the Basic Crochet Bind Off.

This week we're going to expand our skills and tackle something slightly more advanced: the Suspended Bind Off.

All yarn overs / yarn unders are made crochetwise.

Suspended Bind Off

The Suspended Bind Off is really just a Basic bind off with a "delay" built in: after binding off a stitch, you keep it on the needle while you bind off the next. Doing this keeps your tension more even, and builds in a bit of controlled stretch.

Here are some of the features of the Suspended Bind Off:

• Looks like a Basic bind off
• Slightly stretchier than a Basic bind off
• Has an even, more relaxed tension
• Good choice for stitchers who want a basic bind off but struggle with tight tension

Why it Works: Holding (or suspending) the previous bound-off stitch on the needle preserves the loop size, so it can't be accidentally tugged or tightened while the next stitch is bound off. Because you have to reach around the suspended stitch to form the next stitch, the loop you draw up for the next stitch will be a little longer, producing a slightly larger stitch (which in its turn will sit safely on the needle while you make the next stitch).

Working the Suspended Bind Off with a hook is very similar to working it with two needles. Because both hook and needle are in constant use, either stitching loops or holding them in suspension, there is no way I can see to minimise the steps involved.

The Suspended Bind Off is not difficult, though it can seem a bit awkward at first (especially to a beginner-intermediate knitter like me). But once you get a rhythm going, you'll find it's like a dance between hook and needle, loop and loop.

Suspended Bind Off Video Tutorial

Shows how to knit and purl the Suspended Bind Off with a crochet hook.

Photo Tutorial

Suspended Bind Off for knit stitches:

Suspended Bind Off for purl stitches:

(If transitioning from knit to purl, move the yarn to the front of the work.)

Note on the Purled version: It seems to be less stretchy than the Knit version, though this may be due to my own inconsistencies of tension. I couldn't find any tutorials online that demonstrated a Purled Suspended Bind Off, so I worked out a technique for myself. If you have any information on purling this bind off, I'd love to see it! :)

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Next week, in Part 3, we'll tackle Jeny's Super Stretchy Bind Off, or JSSBO. (I know I promised it for this week, but I changed my mind and decided to focus on one bind off at at time.)

Until then, happy knitting and crocheting and binding off!

If you have any questions about this technique, please feel free to ask using the comment box below.

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P.S. If you haven't yet entered the Flowery Giveaway, click on the button below to read all about it. Giveaway is open until midnight (US CDT) Sunday August 30, 2015.

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