Sewn Tubular Bind-Off Tutorial

The sewn tubular bind-off creates a beautiful edge to 1×1 knit ribbing where the ribbing pattern just continues off the edge. I love how the clean and slightly stretchy edge this gives knit ribbing and is my favorite method of binding off! This bind-off method is the same whether knitting in the round or flat – like on the split hem of the Agnes Sweater Vest. You will knit two set-up rounds first which give more stability to the edge and then start the binding off with a tapestry needle.

This tutorial goes through the steps for the sewn tubular bind-off with both videos and written instructions (with pictures). I’m using my second Agnes Sweater Vest as my example which has knit ribbing on the collar, armholes and hem and all bound off using this method.

The Agnes Sweater Vest combines crochet and knitting and the stitches for the ribbing are picked up along the crochet edge – I have a tutorial for picking up stitches as well! If you want to make your own Agnes Sweater Vest, you can check out the tutorial or the official graded PDF pattern.

This page contains some affiliate links to products and I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links (at no extra cost to you).

What You’ll Need

• Coordinating yarn – I’m using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (Brass Heather) as my main color
• Circular knitting needles – I use Takumi Bamboo Circular Needles
• Tapestry needle – I use straight ones, but I’ve seen a lot of knitters use bent tip tapestry needles (Knit Picks)

I’ve linked to my own video tutorials below or keep going down to the written instructions.

Video Tutorial: Sewn Tubular Bind-Off In the Round

Video Tutorial: Sewn Tubular Bind-Off On a Split Hem

Sewn Tubular Bind-Off Steps

Here are the written, abbreviated (sort of) steps for the sewn tubular bind-off, but I also break down each step with pictures a bit further down!

Set Up Stitches

1. Insert needle into first stitch purlwise, pull yarn through, keep stitch on the needle.
2. Insert needle between first and second needle from the back, over second stitch, and out the back. Pull yarn through and keep stitch on the needle.

Steps

1. Insert needle into first stitch knitwise, slip off needle.
2. Insert needle into second stitch purlwise, pull yarn through, leave on needle.
3. Insert needle into first stitch purlwise, slip off needle.
4. Insert needle between first and second needle from the back, over second stitch, and out the back. Pull yarn through and keep stitch on the needle.

Set-Up Rounds

The set-up rounds for the sewn tubular bind-off help create slightly thicker, more structured edge than if you just went straight into binding off. The steps are slightly different in the round than if you’re were working flat – like on a split hem – but it’s easy to do! For the first round you will knit the knit stitches and slip the purl stitches and then reverse it for round two – purl the purl stitches and slip the knit stitches.

Round 1

[Knit 1, Slip 1 (the purl stitch) purlwise with yarn in front] – repeat for the whole round.

Round 2

[Slip 1 (the knit stitch) purlwise with yarn in back, Purl 1] – repeat for the whole round.

If you’re working flat then the set-up rounds are just repeated for both rows – Knit the knit stitches, and slip the purl stitches with yarn in front.

After the two set-up rounds, you’ll notice the stitches sort of “pair up” like in the photo below.

Sewn Tubular Bind-Off

Now it’s time to start binding off! This method does take some getting used to, but I think it’s worth it for the clean bind-off that it creates. After the first two set up stitches there are four steps that are repeated the whole way around your work (or to the end of the row if working flat).

I have the steps written down on a notecard so I can refer to them if I get lost as I go. I also like to merge the first two steps sort of into one, and the last two steps into one because I’ve found it easier to keep track of where I am in the pattern (you can see how I do this in the video at the beginning of this post).

Set Up Stitches

1. Insert needle into first stitch purlwise, pull yarn through, keep stitch on the needle.

2. Insert needle between first and second needle from the back, over second stitch, and out the back. Pull yarn through and keep stitch on the needle.

Step 1

Insert needle into first stitch knitwise, slip off needle.

Step 2

Insert needle into second stitch purlwise, pull yarn through, leave on needle.

Step 3

Insert needle into first stitch purlwise, slip off needle.

Step 4

Insert needle between first and second needle from the back, over second stitch, and out the back. Pull yarn through and keep stitch on the needle.

Repeat those 4 steps until you reach the end of the round or row.

End Of The Round

For the last two stitches, you should be back at steps one and two of the pattern – I’ll show you what that looks like below:

Insert the needle knitwise into the first stitch, slip off the needle. Insert the needle into the second stitch purlwise and pull yarn through. Weave in the ends into the ribbing on the back of your work.

And that’s the sewn tubular bind-off! I hope you found this tutorial and videos helpful and that you can get the hang of this clean bind off method.

Happy binding off 🙂