What is a tubular bind off?
The tubular bind off (also called the sewn bind off or Kitchener bind off for ribbing) creates an edge that looks as if the ribbing simply ends cleanly — there's no visible bound-off row, no ladder of loops across the top. Instead, the stitches finish in a way that mirrors the structure of the ribbing itself.
The result is also highly stretchy. Where a standard cast off on ribbing creates a firm, sometimes inflexible edge, the tubular bind off produces an edge that gives as generously as the body of the ribbing. This makes it the preferred finish for hat brims, sock cuffs, and neckbands — anywhere where the edge needs to stretch over a head, foot, or hand without fighting the knitter.
The technique is worked with a tapestry needle and a length of yarn, not with the knitting needles themselves. You work it off the needle, pulling the stitches off as you go.
What you'll need
- Your knitting needle with the final ribbing stitches still on it
- A tapestry needle (blunt-ended, large enough for your yarn)
- A length of yarn about three to four times the width of your work (generous is better — running out is frustrating)
The tubular bind off works best on 1×1 ribbing (k1, p1). For 2×2 ribbing, a modified version is possible, but the standard technique assumes alternating single knit and purl stitches.
Preparing the stitches
End your ribbing with a wrong-side row. Your stitches should be arranged so that a knit stitch appears first on the left needle when you're looking at the right side. (If the wrong stitch type is first, work one more row.)
Cut the working yarn, leaving a tail 3-4 times the circumference of your work (for working in the round) or 3-4 times the width (for flat work). Thread this tail onto the tapestry needle.
The motion — step by step
The tubular bind off alternates between two moves, each applied to one stitch at a time. You'll work through all the stitches on the needle, alternating these two operations:
Into a knit stitch: knitwise, then stay
- Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch (a knit stitch) knitwise — from left to right, as if to knit.
- Pull the yarn through.
- Slip this stitch off the knitting needle.
Into the next purl stitch: purlwise forward, then stay
- Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch (a purl stitch) purlwise — from right to left, as if to purl, but going through the front.
- Pull the yarn through.
- Leave this stitch on the knitting needle for now.
Repeat the pair
Now you have the knit stitch off the needle and the purl stitch still on it. The next move goes back to the stitch that's still on the needle:
- Insert the tapestry needle into the purl stitch (the one still on the needle) knitwise — left to right.
- Pull through. Slip the purl stitch off the knitting needle.
- Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch (now a knit stitch) purlwise.
- Pull through. Leave this knit stitch on the needle.
Continue in this alternating pattern — each pair of moves removes one stitch and leaves one — until all stitches are bound off.
Tension is critical
The most common problem with the tubular bind off is working it too tightly. If you pull each stitch snug, the resulting edge will be firm and the stretchy advantage disappears. Work at a deliberately loose tension — every pass of the tapestry needle should leave a slightly looser loop than feels natural. When in doubt, err on the side of too loose rather than too tight.
If you've completed the bind off and it's too tight to stretch over the intended body part, the only fix is to redo it. Cut the sewn yarn carefully, unravel the bind off, and redo at a looser tension. This is annoying but the result is worth the effort.
When to use it
- Hat brims: A tubular bind off means the brim of your hat slides easily onto the head without the cast-off edge cutting into the forehead.
- Neckbands: A crewneck or turtleneck finished with a tubular bind off looks and feels polished.
- Sock cuffs: Particularly satisfying — a sock cuff bound off this way has a professional, commercial look that's hard to achieve with other methods.
- Fingerless mitt or glove cuffs: The ribbed cuff of a mitt or glove is a natural home for this technique.
The tubular bind off takes longer than a standard cast off — roughly three to five times as long, depending on your comfort level. It's not the right choice for every project. But for a garment where the ribbing edge is a visible, prominent feature, it's the finish that makes the piece look completely finished.