Sideways Gathered Bind-off

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This method for binding off is great way to finish a sideways knit Hat without any kind of shaping. Once you’ve completed the tube that will become your Hat, once the grafting is done, you’e ready to work this bind-off to close the top.

Do bear in mind that when working a gathered bind-off, the body of the Hat will need to be much longer than it would usually be with a shaped. On a standard fitted beanie, the crown accounts for roughly one-third of the overall length of a Hat, so your Hat will want to be at least a third longer when provisionally casting on.

Furthermore, the nature of the gather creates some bulk, and that bulk eats some of that length, so you’ll want to cast on a few extra stitches to accommodate that, too.

1) Once you’ve grafted your tube, you’re ready to start the gathered bind-off. The example shown uses a standard garter selvedge, but you can do the same with a different selvedge finish.
2) In my experience, you need a strong yarn for this bind-off- The yarn I used for the example tore pretty quickly once I started the gather, so I had to start again with a worsted-spun multi-plied yarn. I cut the spare yarn to about 50% longer than the circumference of the tube, to ensure I had enough.
3) To start, you want to insert your needle under the first row bump on the selvedge. If you used a different selvedge finish, be sure to insert your needle underneath the whole edge stitch for a neater finish.
4) With this method you can work your needle through several selvedge stitches at once.
5) Pay attention to the yarn tail as you work – you don’t want it to pull through!
6) Once all of the stitches have been threaded onto the spare yarn, you’re ready to start gathering.
7) Gently pull the yarn tails so that it starts to gather.
8) You may need to encourage the stitches along as it gathers, as sometimes the stitches can get a little stuck and bunch up if you try to gather too quickly. Tighten the gather as much as you can to close the hole. Heavier gauge yarns, or lots of stitches, may mean that you won’t close the hole completely.
9) Once sufficiently gathered, take the yarn tail through the centre of the hole and turn the work inside out. Tie a firm knot or two with the spare yarn, and secure to finish.
10) And your bind-off is finished! Weave in all ends and block as required.

Support

As always, if you have a question about this technique or need some help with it, leave a comment below! I’m afraid I’m unable to offer help via email or private message, but you’re welcome to post in our forum.

 

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Woolly Wormhead

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