The Italian Tubular Bind Off is one of those pro-level finishing techniques that can seriously level up your knitting. It’s perfect for 1×1 ribbing, creating a stretchy, clean edge that looks polished and intentional—like you bought your sweater at a store.
But every time I looked up a tutorial, I found myself overwhelmed by a confusing 4-step sequence. It felt hard to memorize — until I discovered a way to break it down into a 2-step rhythm. That shift made it so much easier to remember and execute. If you’ve been avoiding this bind off because it seems complicated, let me walk you through the version that finally clicked for me.
Table of Contents
Before You Begin: Don’t Skip the Tubular Row
Before you sew the bind off, you need to prepare your ribbing with a tubular row. This step ensures that your finished edge is stretchy and smooth instead of tight and stiff.
Tubular Row Instructions
- Pass 1: (Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front) repeat to end.
- Pass 2: (Slip 1 with yarn in back, Purl 1) repeat to end.
Note: These two rows align your stitches in a way that supports the sewn bind off. It only takes a minute and makes a big difference. (Ask me how I know…)
Sewn Italian Bind Off: The Simplified 2-Step Method
Now you’re ready to begin the bind off.
- Cut your yarn to a length about 3 times the width of the edge are binding off and thread it onto a tapestry needle.
Every stitch below is make by inserting the needle and pulling the yarn through. Adjust your tension as you go—firm enough to be tidy, but not tight. If it’s too tight, it won’t be stretchy.
Set-Up Step
- Insert your tapestry needle into the first stitch (a knit stitch) as if to purl. Don’t remove the stitch.
Step 1: Work the Knit Stitch Pair
- Insert needle into the second stitch (a purl stitch) from behind as if to knit.
- Then into the first stitch (a knit stitch) as if to knit, and remove it.
Step 2: Work the Purl Stitch Pair
- Insert needle into the second stitch (a knit stitch) as if to purl.
- Then into the first stitch (a purl stitch) as if to purl, and remove it.
Repeat
- Keep alternating Step 1 and Step 2 until one stitch remains (a purl stitch).
- Insert your needle as if to purl, then remove the stitch.
Finishing Touches
Now it’s time to weave in the ends. If you worked in the round, use your yarn tail to close the gap between the first and last stitch when weaving in your ends.
An Even Further Simplified version
Here’s the process in fewer words so that it’s easier to remember.
Insert your tapestry needle into the…
Set up: …first stitch (a knit stitch) as if to purl.
- …second stitch (a purl stitch) from behind as if to knit; …first stitch (a knit stitch) as if to knit; remove the first stitch.
- …second stitch (a knit stitch) as if to purl; …first stitch (a purl stitch) as if to purl; remove the first stitch.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until one stitch remains (a purl stitch). Insert your tapestry needle as if to purl, and remove the stitch.
Save This Graphic
I made a simple visual to help you remember the steps. Save it to your phone, Pinterest, or wherever you store your knitting resources. Before long, you wan’t need it anymore—you’ll know it by heart.
A demonstration
Inserting the needle from behind as if to knit is a weird technique at first. Here’s a demonstration from Brooklyn Tweed if you need it.
Final Thoughts: Why I always Use This Bind Off Now
Once you get the hang of this method, you’ll want to use it on every 1×1 ribbed edge—hats, cuffs, hems, and more. It gives you project that “how did you do that?” finish without the frustration. Try it once, and I think you’ll fall in love with it, too.
