Of course, you appreciate the lovely new knitted scarf you’ve finished, but it’s not quite complete. You could bind it off and call it a day, but a nice edging will give it a polished and professional appearance. There are many different edging techniques you can use to finish off your scarf, so choose one that you like and complements the yarn and pattern you used. With just a little bit of effort, you can give your scarf a beautiful finishing touch that will make it look store-bought.
One popular edging technique is the crocheted picot bind-off. This edging creates a delicate and lacy effect that is perfect for scarves made with fine or lightweight yarn. To do the crocheted picot bind-off, you will need a crochet hook that is one size smaller than the needles you used to knit the scarf. Insert the crochet hook into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook. Repeat this process until you have bound off all of the stitches on the needle. To create the picot, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over again and pull through all three loops on the hook. Repeat this process as many times as desired.
Another popular edging technique is the knitted I-cord bind-off. This edging creates a sturdy and durable finish that is perfect for scarves made with bulky or textured yarn. To do the knitted I-cord bind-off, you will need two needles that are one size smaller than the needles you used to knit the scarf. Cast on three stitches onto one of the needles. Knit the first two stitches, then slip the first stitch over the second stitch. Knit the next stitch, then slip the first stitch over the second stitch again. Repeat this process until you have bound off all of the stitches on the needle. Cut the yarn and pull it through the last loop to secure.
Finishing the Scarves with a Bind Off
Bind Off All Stitches
The most common way to finish a scarf is to bind off all the stitches. This creates a neat and tidy edge that will help to prevent the scarf from unraveling. To bind off, follow these steps:
- Knit the first two stitches on the left-hand needle.
- Slip the first stitch over the second stitch.
- Knit the next stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Slip the first stitch over the second stitch again.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there is only one stitch left on the left-hand needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a few inches of tail.
- Pull the tail through the last stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Weave in the ends of the yarn to secure the bind off.
Here is a table summarizing the steps for binding off all stitches:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Knit the first two stitches on the left-hand needle. |
| 2 | Slip the first stitch over the second stitch. |
| 3 | Knit the next stitch on the left-hand needle. |
| 4 | Slip the first stitch over the second stitch again. |
| 5 | Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there is only one stitch left on the left-hand needle. |
| 6 | Cut the yarn, leaving a few inches of tail. |
| 7 | Pull the tail through the last stitch on the left-hand needle. |
| 8 | Weave in the ends of the yarn to secure the bind off. |
Basic Knit Bind Off
The Basic Knit Bind Off is a simple and secure way to end your scarf knitting. It’s also very stretchy, which makes it ideal for scarves that you want to be able to wrap around your neck several times.
To do a Basic Knit Bind Off, you’ll need to:
- Knit the first two stitches on the left-hand needle.
- Slip the first stitch over the second stitch to bind them off.
- Knit the next stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Slip the first stitch over the second stitch to bind them off.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have only one stitch left on the left-hand needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.
- Thread the tail through the last stitch on the left-hand needle and pull it tight to secure.
Here are some tips for doing a Basic Knit Bind Off:
- Make sure to keep the stitches loose as you knit them, so that they can easily be slipped over each other.
- Don’t pull the yarn too tightly when you’re binding off the stitches, or the bind-off will be too tight and inelastic.
- If you’re having trouble slipping the stitches over each other, you can use a crochet hook to help you.
Knit Bind Off Table
The following table provides a step-by-step guide to the knit bind off:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Knit the first two stitches on the left-hand needle. |
| 2 | Slip the first stitch over the second stitch to bind them off. |
| 3 | Knit the next stitch on the left-hand needle. |
| 4 | Slip the first stitch over the second stitch to bind them off. |
| 5 | Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have only one stitch left on the left-hand needle. |
| 6 | Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. |
| 7 | Thread the tail through the last stitch on the left-hand needle and pull it tight to secure. |
Lace Bind Off
This bind-off method creates an elegant and delicate lace-like edge, perfect for garments and accessories. It involves knitting together the loops on the right-hand needle and then placing them on the left-hand needle, similar to the standard bind-off but with an additional step.
Instructions:
-
Knit the first 2 stitches: Knit the first two stitches on the right-hand needle.
-
Yarn over: Bring the yarn forward and over the right-hand needle.
-
Knit together: Insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle and knit it together with the yarn on the needle.
-
Lift the stitch: Lift the resulting loop over the right-hand needle and onto the left-hand needle.
-
Repeat steps 2-4: Continue knitting together the first two stitches on the right-hand needle, yarn over, and lifting the new loop onto the left-hand needle.
-
Knit the next stitch: Knit the next stitch on the right-hand needle.
-
Repeat steps 1-6: Repeat steps 1-6 until all stitches are bound off, creating a beautiful and intricate lace edge.
Sewn Bind Off
The sewn bind-off is a stretchy bind-off that is perfect for scarves and other projects that need to be able to stretch. It is also a very easy bind-off to do.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Knit the first two stitches.
- Insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle and knit it through the back loop.
- Slip the first stitch over the second stitch and off the left-hand needle.
- Knit the next stitch.
- Repeat steps 2-4 until only one stitch remains on the left-hand needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
- Thread the tail of yarn through the last stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Pull the tail of yarn to tighten the bind-off.
Tips:
- To make the bind-off even more stretchy, use a larger needle size for the bind-off than you used for the rest of the scarf.
- Be sure to pull the tail of yarn tightly when tightening the bind-off. This will help to prevent the bind-off from coming undone.
- The sewn bind-off can also be used to join two pieces of knitting together. To do this, simply sew the bind-off of one piece to the cast-on of the other piece.
| Bind-off Method | Sewn Bind Off |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Stretchiness | Stretchy |
| Uses | Scarves, other projects that need to be able to stretch |
Decorative Bind Offs
Decorative bind offs add an elegant finishing touch to your knitted scarves. Here’s a guide to three popular techniques:
1. K2tog Bind Off
Knit the first two stitches together, slip them back onto the left needle, and bind off the newly created stitch. Repeat until all stitches are bound off.
2. I-Cord Bind Off
Insert a knitting needle into the first two stitches, lift them over the right-hand needle, and knit them together. Repeat until only three stitches remain, then bind off.
3. Seed Stitch Bind Off
Knit one stitch and purl the next until only two stitches remain. Knit these two stitches together and bind off.
4. Picot Bind Off
Knit two stitches, yarn over, and knit the next two stitches. Slip the first three stitches back onto the left needle and bind off the newly created stitch. Repeat until all stitches are bound off.
5. Shell Bind Off
Bind off four stitches. Then, *knit two stitches, slip two stitches to the right-hand needle, knit two stitches, and pass the slipped stitches over the knitted stitches.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches are bound off.
6. Swiss Bind Off
Bind off two stitches. Then, *knit one stitch, slip the next stitch to the right-hand needle, purl one stitch, and pass the slipped stitch over the purled stitch.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches are bound off.
7. Lace Bind Off
Bind off four stitches. Then, *knit two stitches together, yarn over, knit two stitches together, and bind off two stitches.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches are bound off.
8. Ribbed Bind Off
Bind off two stitches. Then, *knit two stitches, purl two stitches, knit two stitches, and bind off two stitches.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches are bound off.
9. Latvian Braid Bind Off
This technique creates a decorative braid that adds a unique touch to your scarves. Here are detailed instructions:
| Row 1: | Knit 2 stitches, *slip 1 stitch to the right-hand needle, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches are worked. |
|---|---|
| Row 2: | Knit 2 stitches, *pull the previous row’s slipped stitch over the first knitted stitch, slip 1 stitch to the right-hand needle, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches are worked. |
| Row 3: | Bind off all stitches. |
Finishing Touches: Adding Fringe or Tassels
To give your scarf that extra touch of flair, consider adding fringe or tassels. Here’s how to achieve both:
Fringe
Materials:
- Yarn in a contrasting or matching color
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cut the yarn into equal lengths, approximately twice the desired fringe length.
- Fold the yarn in half and thread it through a stitch on the edge of the scarf.
- Pull the ends of the yarn through the loop to create a lark’s head knot.
- Tighten the knot and repeat the process until you have created the desired amount of fringe.
- Trim the ends of the fringe to even them out.
Tassels
Materials:
- Yarn in a contrasting or matching color
- Cardboard or a tassel maker
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Wrap the yarn around the cardboard or tassel maker repeatedly, creating a thick bundle.
- Tie a piece of yarn tightly around the middle of the bundle to secure it.
- Cut the loops at one end of the bundle to create the tassel strands.
- Remove the tassel from the cardboard and trim the strands to the desired length.
- Attach the tassel to the end of the scarf by sewing it on or threading it through a loop.
| Type | Materials | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Fringe | Yarn, scissors | Cut yarn, create lark’s head knots |
| Tassels | Yarn, cardboard, scissors | Wrap yarn, tie center, cut loops |
How to Close a Scarf Knitting
Once you have knitted the length of the scarf you desire, it is time to close it up. There are a few different ways to do this, and the method you choose will depend on the look you are going for. Here are three common methods for closing a scarf knitting:
**Method 1: Three-Needle Bind Off**
This method is perfect for creating a stretchy, invisible seam. It is also the most common method for closing scarves.
- Hold the two ends of the scarf together, with the right sides facing each other.
- Insert a third needle into the first stitch on each end of the scarf.
- Knit the first stitch on the left-hand needle over the first stitch on the right-hand needle.
- Slip the first stitch on the left-hand needle back onto the right-hand needle.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there is only one stitch left on each needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail.
- Thread the tail through the last stitch on each needle and pull to tighten
**Method 2: Mattress Stitch**
This method is perfect for creating a more decorative seam. It is often used for scarves that are knit in a lace or openwork pattern.
- Hold the two ends of the scarf together, with the right sides facing each other.
- Insert a needle into the first stitch on the left-hand end of the scarf.
- Bring the needle up through the second stitch on the right-hand end of the scarf.
- Knit the two stitches together.
- Repeat steps 2-4 until there are only two stitches left on each needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail.
- Thread the tail through the last two stitches and pull to tighten
**Method 3: Grafting**
This method is perfect for creating a seamless join. It is often used for scarves that are knit in the round.
- Hold the two ends of the scarf together, with the right sides facing each other.
- Insert a crochet hook into the first stitch on each end of the scarf.
- Yarn over the hook and pull it through both stitches.
- Repeat steps 2-3 until there is only one stitch left on each hook.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail.
- Thread the tail through the last stitch on each hook and pull to tighten
People Also Ask About How to Close a Scarf Knitting
What is the best way to close a scarf knitting?
The best way to close a scarf knitting will depend on the look you are going for. The three methods described above are all common and effective ways to close a scarf, so choose the one that you think will work best for your project.
Can I use any type of yarn to close a scarf knitting?
Yes, you can use any type of yarn to close a scarf knitting. However, it is important to use a yarn that is the same weight and fiber content as the yarn you used to knit the scarf. This will help to ensure that the seam is strong and durable.
How do I make the seam on my scarf invisible?
There are a few ways to make the seam on your scarf invisible. One way is to use the three-needle bind off method, which creates a stretchy, invisible seam. Another way is to use a grafting technique, which creates a seamless join. You can also use a mattress stitch to create a more decorative seam.
