Graft Bind-off Method

Also Known As

  • Flat Closed bind-off
The Graft bind-off method is used on circular knitting to close the bottom of the knitting in a straight line for items such as purses and the toe of socks. It works in a similar fashion to grafting.

Tools needed

  • Round Loom or Rake
  • Tapestry needle

Basic
Kitchener
Decorative
Video

The basic graft bind-off creates loose, somewhat lacy bind-off. Depending on the project you use it in, you may need to reinforce it.

  1. When you having finished knitting your project to the desired length, cut the working yarn leaving a 1-2 foot tail.

  2. Thread the tail through the tapestry needle.

  3. Starting with peg where the working yarn is, draw the yarn through the wrap as if to purl (under the loop and up the peg) with the tapestry needle.

  4. After the yarn has been drawn all the way through, take the wrap off the peg.

  5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the next peg to the left that has a wrap.

  6. Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the next peg to the right that has a wrap.

  7. Repeat steps 5 & 6, alternating back and forth across the loom until all wraps have been removed from the pegs.

  8. Once all of the wraps have been removed, pull the yarn through the wraps but do not gather. Secure the working yarn by making a knot.

  9. Turn the piece inside out and weave the remainder of the yarn through the corner and inside the piece.

The kitchener graft bind-off creates an invisible strong bind-off perfect for socks. There are three parts to working a kitchener graft bind off: preparation, kitchener stitch and finish.

Preparation

The first four steps prepare you for the kitchener graft and are only done once.

  1. When you having finished knitting your project to the desired length, cut the working yarn leaving a 1-2 foot tail.

  2. Thread the tail through the tapestry needle.

  3. Starting with peg where the working yarn is, draw the yarn through the wrap as if to purl (under the wrap and up the peg) with the tapestry needle. Keep the wrap on the peg.

  4. Draw the yarn through the wrap on the peg to the right as if to knit (above the wrap and down the peg) with the tapestry needle. Keep the wrap on the peg.

Kitchener Stitch

The next steps work a kitchener stitch as a bind off and are repeated until all of the wraps are off of the loom. There will be yarn spanning the loom across a couple of pegs until those wraps are removed from their pegs. Make sure you gently pull the working yarn to tighten the kitchener stitch as you remove the wraps from the pegs.

  1. Draw the yarn through the wrap on the peg to the left as if to knit (above the wrap and down the peg) with the tapestry needle.

  2. After the yarn has been drawn all the way through, take the wrap off the peg.

  3. Draw the yarn through the wrap on the peg to the left as if to purl (below the wrap and up the peg) with the tapestry needle. Keep the wrap on the peg.

  4. Draw the yarn through the wrap on the next non-empty peg to the right as if to purl (below the wrap and up the peg) with the tapestry needle.

  5. After the yarn has been drawn all the way through, take the wrap off the peg.

  6. Draw the yarn through the wrap on the peg to the right as if to knit (above the wrap and down the peg) with the tapestry needle. Keep the wrap on the peg.

  7. Repeat steps 1-6 moving to the next non-empty peg to the left or right as specified working the yarn through each wrap both purlwise and knitwise until all wraps have been removed from the pegs.

Finish

  1. Once all of the wraps have been removed, pull the yarn through the wraps but do not gather. Secure the working yarn by making a knot.

  2. Turn the piece inside out and weave the remainder of the yarn through the corner and inside the piece.

The decorative graft bind-off creates a strong visible bind-off perfect for the seam at the top of toes in socks or at the bottom of bags.

  1. When you having finished knitting your project to the desired length, cut the working yarn leaving a 1-2 foot tail.

  2. Thread the tail through the tapestry needle.

  3. Starting with peg where the working yarn is, draw the yarn through the wrap as if to purl (under the loop and up the peg) with the tapestry needle.

  4. After the yarn has been drawn all the way through, take the wrap off the peg.

  5. On the next peg to the right, draw the yarn through the wrap as if to knit (above the loop and down the peg) with the tapestry needle.

  6. After the yarn has been drawn all the way through, take the wrap off the peg.

  7. Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the next peg to the left that has a wrap.

  8. Repeat steps 5 & 6 with the next peg to the right that has a wrap.

  9. Repeat steps 3-6, alternating back and forth across the loom working the yarn purlwise and knitwise respectively, until all wraps have been removed from the pegs.

  10. Once all of the wraps have been removed, pull the yarn through the wraps but do not gather. Secure the working yarn by making a knot.

  11. Turn the piece inside out and weave the remainder of the yarn through the corner and inside the piece.

Coming soon!