The 3-Needle Bind Off is a great way to seam live stitches together and cast off at the same time. While similar to the Kitchener Stitch, the 3-Needle Bind Off is not a seamless join, but sometimes that’s a good thing and shoulder seams are the perfect example of that! With the 3-Needle Bind Off, you join the live edges of the shoulders and create a discreet and sturdy seam on the inside which adds structural integrity – where you need it most! This allows the seams to lay flat on your shoulders and prevents your garment from stretching and shifting.
For the purpose of this article we are using a contrast yarn for the bind off. When executing the 3-Needle Bind Off on a working project you will use the working yarn for the following steps.
To do a 3-Needle Bind Off, hold the needles parallel with the right sides of the work together, wrong sides facing out. Using a 3rd needle as your working needle, insert the tip into the first stitch on the front needle and then into the first stitch on the back needle, as if to knit.
Wrap the yarn around the working needle (the 3rd needle) and bring the yarn through both stitches as if to knit 2 together and drop both stitches from the needles. You will have 1 stitch on the working needle.
Knit the second stitch as you did the first.
You now have 2 stitches on the working needle. Using the tip of the needle, lift the first stitch over the second and off the needle as you would normally bind off.
Continue in this fashion until all stitches have been worked and 1 stitch remains on the working needle. Break the yarn and pull the tail through the last stitch to fasten off.
You can see how the stitches line up perfectly on the right side of the work for this bind off, and the firm and sturdy seam on the inside of the work.
Use the 3-Needle Bind Off in place of grafting whenever you see fit. I love this bind off for decorative knits, like the toes of Christmas stockings, purses, tote bags, and tea cosies.
Happy Knitting Everyone!