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Binding Off

hook.

Insert the crochet hook into the stitch the same way you would knit the snrch following the pattem: lor stockinctte stitch from front to back; for purl snrch from back to front.

No matter how you bind off, there will always be I srirch leń ovcr at the enJ of the tow. Draw the end of the yarn rhrough this sritch and puli it vcry tight. Tlien you can sew the yarn end into the seleedge stitches or use it to sew the pieces together.

You have to bind off siiiches at the end of knitted pieces. at armholes and necklines. and also for buttonholes. You can choose from among 3 different ways: binding off by passing stitches over each other. binding off by knitting stitches together, or flnisliing with crochet.

Binding Off by Passing Stitches over Each Other

l’hc stitches in the binding-ofl row are adapred to the pattem. hu rex-tured pattem*. continuc accorJing to the pattem, bind knir stitches oll knitwise, purl stitches purlwise.

1 he binding-ofl row of ribbing can Ih* worked cntirely with knit Mitchcs; this will make the edge tum dighrh forward (scc knit-on bands, page 62). But an edge bound off entirely m knir stitches is less strctchnble than an edge bound off in accordance with the pat tern- for ex.implc, alter-nately 1 knit, I purl.

Work .ts close to the tip of the nec-dle as possible and make surę that when you are passing the stitch you are binding off over che ncxt one and you Junt puli it out too far,

In the binding-off row. keep an eye on the pattem, becausc this row will Mili show a little once the pieces are sewn together

Binding Off by Knitting Stitches Together

When you bind off by knitting stitches together, you get a firm edge that Joesnt stretch much, because the binding-off stitch is only as large as a nonnal sdteh. sińce iL is ptcked back up onto the leń needle. In norma I binding olf, on the other hand. the stitch ls usually pulled our a little when it is passed ovcr.

Knitting the stitches together t> thereforc gtxni lor patterro in which the stitches tetul to puli together. such as cablc partems as well as for jacket or pocket bands that are not Mipposed ro stretch. Also, it is very g<x>d lor shoulder seams, sińce it will keep the scams from stretching out.

Finishing with a Crochet Hook

Sonie knitters prefer to tinish with a crochet Imok. The si:e of the hook inllucnces how lix«e the edge will be.

For a nonnal. relatieely stretchy edge, usc a crochet hook that is the same >i:e as the knitting necdles. For an cspecially strong edge, such as lor front bands, u>e a sinaller crochet hook. For a looser edge, such as for ncck bands that will be turned in and sewn down later, use a bigger

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