Here are two ways to avoid stair-step bind-offs and I think both are handy tools to know about even if you don’t memorize them because you don’t use them that often. You can apply these techniques to any pattern that calls for sequential bind-offs along the same edge.
These are among those little tricks that the pros use to make things look good and to prevent frustration at the finishing stage. Power to the knitter!
- The first uses classic Wrap and Turn (W & T) short rows. This is handy when you are at the shoulders of a sweater and want to do a 3-needle bind-off.
2. The second method uses the sloped bind-off, something I learned from the brilliant designer Shirley Paden. This technique is especially good when forming certain crew-neck shapings or a scooped neck.
How do you do short rows when there is a pattern? I am confused on this.
I really appreciate the new ways of doing things. So helpful.
I emailed you on this. As I said, there is no generic answer and there is too little information here, but I can tell you this: any time you shape a piece of knitting (inc, dec, or use short rows) in a pattern stitch, you have to problem-solve each step. Look at it and figure it out. Here’s a video I did on shaping a lace pattern. Watch me do it and you’ll get what I’m talking about.
https://youtu.be/WHFZQXheU5I
Yes, I would like the book “Knitting 101” These tips are great but I really need to sit down with the instructions to learn them.
One big problem I have with the sloped shoulder is that the first stitch after turning is always bigger than the rest. I don’t know what I am doing wrong.
Hi Heidi,
Without seeing your knitting and without watching you do it, it’s very hard for me to answer your question. Maybe tug it extra tightly as you make that turn? Does it really matter? It’s going into a seam anyway, right? Like many questions I get, this one has no generic answer.
I was just reading this section in your book “Sweater 101.” Thank you for posting for additional clarity.
Thank you so much for these videos!. The sloped bind off is unbelievably beautiful. I can see how it will be so much easier to pick up stitches with both of these methods. You are so wonderful to share these tips. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You are so welcome Sandra. I’m glad they help people.
Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Great video.
Thanks Cheryl, they were very helpful to me! Yanna
You are welcome
Your teaching is giving me the confidence and freedom to use different techniques in existing patterns and improving the resulting product. Thank you Cheryl.
You are so welcome Janneke! Thank you for commenting.
Hello Cheryl
I hope you’re having a great day. Thank you so much for these informative and inspirational videos and for taking the time to share your great wealth of knowledge with us. I’m so looking forward to a beautifully crafted neckline, sloped bind off from now on, yaaaay!
Kind regards
Fiona.
You are so welcome Fiona! And thank you for taking the time to comment. I first learned the sloped bind-off from the brilliant designer, Shirley Paden. She’s an elegant and gracious woman.
Dear Cheryl,
Do you have videos or a book that can be purchased with all this information available?
Housebound short memory. Denise
Hi Cheryl, your videos are very helpful! I’m learning tons. On the sloped bind off…the first row says to bind off 10 stitches, but you did 6 instead. How do you know how many fewer stitches to do? If the first instruction has been to bind off 5 stitches, would you have bound off 1?
Thanks!
Hi Sally. Thanks. I just made up those numbers for demonstration purposes. It’s your pattern that will tell you how many to bind off for each “step” (which you will not really make into a step but you know what I mean I hope.)
Have been usin the bond knitting machine, ur videos helped a lot, I now feel like I am somebody , thanks for being hereouida
You are so welcome Ouida. Please join my email list if you have not already done so, on my welcome/home page.
Brilliant (as British folk would say) !!
Thanks very much for posting these.
Thank you Sandra. I’m on a quest to ban the things everywhere before my expiration date.
What a wonderful technique! How does this apply to knitting a sweater in the round?
I don’t know Juanita. It depends on the pattern. You just have to apply it as it comes up if you read “Bind off X sts over the next X rows.”
Instead of doing a wrap and turn, could you use German short rows?
Absolutely Barbara. It’s just that back then (25 years ago) I didn’t know that method. The internet has brought so many new skills to us. And I do like the German method, by the way. I’ll be showing it in a video soon but not by itself . . . in the context of where it can be very well used.
Cheryl,
The sloped bindoff instructions are so helpful – thank you! Would you recommend this even when the pattern calls for only a single decrease at the neck edge every other row?
Hi Karen,
You can do it there but I probably wouldn’t since I’m pretty successful just using the decreases.
Thank you so much!!
I have been knitting for almost sixty years now and I still learn so many new things from you! Thanks again and again!
You are a crack! And a very good teacher as well!
Brilliant! Why didn’t I ever think to do that! Thank you for the sloped bind off. Stair steps, NO MORE,YIPEE,
You are so welcome Sue. Welcome to the beginning of easy finishing. 😀
Thank You soooooo much!! I just love you and all the wonderful tips and tricks you teach us knitters. You explain everything so well and I just love the video demo so there is no guessing the technique of what you are doing. And I have the option of going back to the video if I feel I have forgotten how to do all the steps. My knitting is looking so more professionally done than something that is home made!! When I get an email from you I open yours first cause I can’t wait to see what kind of treasure that you have to share next. Thanks for all your brain knitting knowledge.
You are so welcome Sharon and thank you for your this generous comment. xo
Finally I’ve understood wrap & turn! Thanks for the clear instructions
The “sloped bind off” is new to me, but makes a lot of sense. Thanks again
You are so welcome Hema. And thank you for taking the time to comment.
You are the best teacher ever!!! Love this!!! This video is great, you are sooo appreciated Cheryl!!!! Thank You!! xo
You are so welcome and thank you Nancy . . . you are very kind and I appreciate your taking the time to comment. And thanks for the inspiration to take the VIP experience on the road to select parts of the country. 😀
A good teacher always makes it look easy, and you are the best! Thank you!
Thank you Patty. It does take time to simplify things. 😀
Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing the curved neck – as a knitter of many, many years, I was delighted with your video demonstrating this method :-). Doesn’t matter how long one does anything, there is always something to learn. Again, thank you for smashing video.
You are so welcome Elizabeth. I learn new things about knitting all the time. That’s one of the things I love about it.
Thank you. Very good to know. Can this method be done when making aaran sweater with cables etc??
.
Yes. I would probably use the stepped bind off and decrease as I’m binding off above the cables themselves.
Thank you, that is really clever and very helpful.
Cheers, Karen.
You are very welcome Karen. Thanks for commenting.
Wonderful advice. You are a star! Thank yiu
Thank you Bev. And you are kind. Thanks for commenting.