Interlock Bindoff by Jeny Staiman

Interlock Bindoff

Knitting
English
This pattern is available for free.

Please see the original knitty article here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEss11/FEATinterlock.php

After the publication of Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bindoff, I began a quest to find a bindoff that would stretch out just as far as JSSBO, snap back in just as well, and also be invisible (or close to it). Interlock Bindoff is the result of that quest.

Please see my demo video on YouTube.

I also have a blog post about the back story of this bindoff.

If you are interested in adapting Interlock to knit-purl rib combinations other than k1p1, please continue reading!

Knitters who are familiar with Kitchener Stitch should understand the principles of how to draw your TN through the next two sts on your needles, whether knit, knit (front needle) or purl, purl (back needle). Here’s a quick review:

  • Knit, Knit --> Bring TN through first k st as if to knit and slip off needle, then next k st as if to purl and leave on needle.
  • Purl, Purl --> Bring TN through first p st as if to purl and slip off needle, then next p st as if to knit and leave on needle.

Interlock bindoff is based on the same principles as Kitchener Stitch/Duplicate Stitch. In stockinette, the next two sts on the left needle will always be knit, knit, therefore the same set of moves below is repeated over all sts. Notice the similarity to the knit, knit portion of Kitchener stitch.

  • Knit, Knit --> Bring YN through first k st as if to knit (and slip off), next k st as if to purl (and leave on). Yarn will come to front; bring YN through bindoff loop from front to back.

With Interlock k1p1, there are TWO sets of moves, both different from the moves for Interlock stockinette because the next two sts on your left needle will never be knit, knit, they will be either knit, purl or purl, knit.

  • Knit, Purl --> Bring YN through first 2 sts as if to knit (slip first st off; leave 2nd st on). Yarn will go to back; bring YN through bindoff loop from back to front.
  • Purl, Knit --> Bring YN through first 2 sts as if to purl (slip first st off; leave 2nd st on). Yarn will come to front; bring YN through bindoff loop from front to back.

With Interlock k2p2, there are FOUR sets of moves, depending on whether the next two sts on your left needle are knit, knit; knit, purl; purl, purl or purl, knit. At this point you should recognize the elements below that correspond to Interlock k1p1 as well as Kitchener Stitch. Once you understand the four sets of actions below, you can apply them to any knit-purl combination.

  • Knit, Knit --> Bring YN through first k st as if to knit (and slip off), next k st as if to purl (and leave on). Yarn will come to front; bring YN through bindoff loop from front to back.

  • Knit, Purl --> Bring YN through both k and p sts as if to knit (slip k st off; leave p st on). Yarn will go to back; bring YN through bindoff loop from back to front.

  • Purl, Purl --> Bring YN through first p st as if to purl (and slip off), next p st as if to knit (and leave on). Yarn will go to back; bring YN through bindoff loop from back to front.

  • Purl, Knit --> Bring YN through both p and k sts as if to purl (slip p st off; leave k st on). Yarn will come to front; bring YN through bindoff loop from front to back.