Monday, November 9, 2009

The three needle bind off

I'm slightly obsessed with knitting at the moment, but it's too hot to knit with wool. It's very sad, because I'm learning all these new things by knitting a little person's cardigan, which was moving along quite quickly until the hot weather landed on us. I think I prefer winter.

One of the new techniques I've learned is the three needle bind off. I've discovered that not only is it really easy, it gives a really nice finish to a seam, and means you don't have to sew it up later. All good!

Here's how you do it:

You've probably got a bunch of stitches on a stitch holder (another great piece of equipment I've used for the first time for this project), so move them onto a spare needle the same size as the ones you're using. I used one of the dpn's I have with a stopper on the end (they're very useful, these stopper thingy's!).

Place right sides together, and hold the two needles with stitches on them so the stitches are kind of lining up. Place the third needle through both first stitches as if to knit (see below).

Wrap the yarn as you would normally, and bring it through both stitches at once. Let both stitches drop off the needles as normal.
Repeat so you have two stitches on your right needle, then bring the back stitch over the front stitch as you would for a regular cast off.
Continue until you've cast off all stitches, then look at your fancy new seam...

Cool, huh?

Next I get to start the neck band, which involves picking up stitches from the edge. Another first! Hurry up cooler weather!!!!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow you are moving right along...I agree cool weather is much more conduscive to our cozy creative habit :P....

I haven't worked with seams in knitting yet but I will have to stash this one in my back pocket, love how it looks!!!

yardage girl said...

OMG - you are too clever for words - I have no idea what this post was about, but it looked impressive and intelligent! It is a tad warm today - a bit of balance in the temperature stakes would be tops, heh!

Pippi creates said...

Oh, now you are just showing off! You make that knitting thing look so easy, maybe I'll have to try it sometime. Next winter...

Tania said...

Anything that gets me out of sewing anything together is a WINNER. Time to move to the granny squares Mrs. As soon as they get big and toasty warm you move on to another...

Beck said...

I just can't fathom the whole knitting thing..I just don't have the brain space for remembering stitches, rows, etc. You look like you are a super star knitter so hats off to you, my dear! Maybe you could knit a cotton bikini? Weirdly enough when I was in grade 1 (Faraday St Primary, Carlton) a girl knitted me a pair of underpants. Yep, underpants. Luckily I didn't have to try them on at school. My kids love that story, x

Bells said...

the one time I tried 3NBO I totally stuffed it. Not sure where I went wrong as it looked just like what you're doing there. I must try again.

And I reckon small items are definitely the way to go with learning new techniques. It's how I learned socks! I did baby ones!

Peta @ Pippiwillow said...

I read you rwords and gaze at your stitches and think..."one day i just might be able to do something like this...one day" Peta

mama reddog said...

The three needle bind off is one of my mainstays - looks clean, easy peasy once you get the knack of it, and holds like iron - a must for toddlers and kids ;) Great tutorial!