Basic Knit or Slip Stitch Crochet Bind Off

I thought for a very long time what to call this bind off. Since we are using our hooks to knit, I thought perhaps I should use a knitting term. On the other hand, How many of us are primarily (or only) crocheters?

I myself have only dipped my toes in the knitting waters and am pretty much ignorant of the most basic knitting terminology. If I call something by only it’s knitting name, will that be more or less confusing? The reverse is true for those people who are bi-craftual, and wonder why I’m calling a common knitting term by some other bizarre name.

I also pondered what would be easiest for the new Knooker.

I have studied several knitting bind off videos at KnittingHelp, especially the “Basic Knit Bind Off” and what Amy calls the “Single Crochet Bind Off.” And I swear they both look like they are making a crochet slip stitch, except the knit one looks incredibly awkward to me, and the results look exactly the same.

As a crocheter, it bugs me that what is called a single crochet is actually a slip stitch, and the “Double Crochet Bind Off” is the single crochet stitch. But as far as I can tell, these are the standard knitting terms for these bind offs.

SO….all that to say that I hope this name will be easily understood by both crocheters and knitters.

The Basic Knit or Slip Stitch Crochet Bind Off

You can use any crochet hook for binding off. However, you may want to consider going up a hook size to keep your bind off from becoming too tight.

1. Work the knit stitch into the first stitch of the row. You will end up with one stitch on your hook.

Knit into first stitch

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2. Slip your hook into the second stitch as if to knit. Yarn over and pull through BOTH loops on your hook. You should now have only one stitch on your hook. You are essentially making a slip stitch. At first it looks a bit like making a single crochet, but that is because the knit stitches stand upright instead of laying across the work as in a crocheted fabric. But it is actually a slip stitch.

Work as if to knit

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Pull through both loops

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3.  Continue working into each stitch across your piece until you reach the last stitch.

Work each stitch on the holding cord

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It should look similar to this

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4.  On the last stitch, work as before. Cut the ball end of the yarn leaving a 3-4 inch tail, and pull it through the last stitch. Pull out the holding cord, finish off and weave in the ends. Ta-da! You did it!

Work last stitch

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Cut yarn and pull through

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Pull out holding cord. Ta-da

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Here is a video showing the bind off in action: (There’s no sound in this video. )

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