Icelandic Bind Off

By Jen Lucas

Looking for an elastic ending to your next knitting project? Try the Icelandic bind off. It provides a stretchy edge to a project, perfect for lace shawls or necklines of sweaters where having a stretchy bind off edge is crucial. This particular bind off is a couple extra steps beyond a traditional knitwise bind off, but that little bit of extra effort is worth it. No worries about a too-tight bind off here!

When you’re ready to bind off, follow these steps on a Right Side row:

Step 1: Knit one stitch.

Step 2: Slip stitch purlwise from right needle to left needle, leaving right needle in the stitch.

Step 3: With right needle still going purlwise into the first stitch on left needle, work into the next stitch on the left needle knitwise.

Step 4: Knit the second stitch, pulling the new stitch through both stitches and drop both stitches off the needle.

Repeat Steps 2–4 until one stitch remains. The working yarn can be cut and drawn through this final stitch to fasten off.

I usually use a K2tog Through the Back Loops Bind Off for my shawls, but I’m definitely going to be using this bind off on my next lace project. I love how neat and tidy it looks while also providing stretch.

Have you used this bind off before? Tell us all about it!

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10 Responses to “Icelandic Bind Off”

  1. Linda Hunter Hawkins

    I used to use this bind off stitch often & loved how neat it looked ! Then 5 yrs. ago I had a stroke & had forgotten how to do it and what to use it on. I have recently started knitting (and some crocheting) again 🤗 So thank you very much for publishing this “How To” it has helped me so much! I love your newsletter.

  2. Nola Cotesworth

    Show video of cast off

  3. Janet

    Sounds like a long-term plan for casting off

  4. Suzi Stevens

    Please show a video of the Islandic bind off.

  5. Jennifer Hume

    Your instructions and pictures are very clear. I am going to try this bind off!

  6. Solange

    Love all your projects ro me all of them new. I appreciate it very much. Thanks

  7. Sylvia Winter

    I have used this for some time. didn't know it's name. Like the finish doing it this way.

  8. BarbaraL Lowell

    I am intrigued. I have heard of this on occasion but never checked it out. Hope I can remember when I get to my next bind off. I am in sewing mode lately so no WIP's right now. Thank You.

  9. Nancy Kessler

    This looks like the Kitchener stitch.

  10. Nancy Freeman

    I will try