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Knitting Library  >  Techniques

How to Cast off Knitting for Total Beginners

Published on December 18, 2018 By Davina | May contain affiliate links (whats this?)

Today you’ll learn how to cast off knitting once you’re finished your project. How exciting!

At this point, you’ve got some rows of knitting under your belt. You should be very proud of yourself! You’ve used two sticks to transform a loose bundle of string into a knitted rectangle. Now it’s time to get your knitting off the needles.

Cast Off Knitting Video Tutorial

 

A cast off (also called a “bind off”) creates an end to your knitting. It’s a safe and neat way to seal off the stitches so that they don’t unravel.

To cast off knitting, start on a new row, and knit two stitches loosely. It’s important to keep the stitches loose so your cast off edge will remain stretchy.

Cast Off Knitting Photo Guide

Knit two stitches loosely
Slide left needle into first stitch
Pull the first stitch over the second stitch
Continue to pull the first stitch over the second stitch and off the needle
There is now one stitch on the right needle. The other has been cast off!
Knit one stitch. Repeat Steps 2-6 until one stitch remains
When one stitch remains, cut off a 10″ yarn tail
Wrap the yarn around the needle
Pull the stitch over the yarn tail
Pull the yarn tail through the needle
Pull the yarn tail to tighten it up
Your knitting is now cast off! Woohoo!

Some tips: When casting off, remember that you always need two stitches on the right needle. No more and no less. Casting off is a game for two (stitches). Also remember to keep a loose hand when you’re casting off.

Once your cast off is secure, you’re done! Now your project is complete. It’s all grown up and ready to enter the real world *sniff* They grow up so fast!

In this tutorial, I’m using Lion Brand’s Hometown USA in color Fort Lauderdale Coral and 8mm bamboo needles (similar).

Are You New to Knitting?

how to knit for beginners
I’ve made a detailed guide for new knitters! It covers the very basics: cast on, knit stitch and cast off. These three techniques are the backbone of knitting. Master them, and you’re officially a knitter. Check out the guide by clicking the image above!

pink knitting on wooden needles

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Category: Techniques / Subcategory: Cast Off

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Reader Interactions

Comments 10

  1. Sharlene Heskins says

    April 10, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    Hi
    I just wanted to let you knowthat your tutorial is the easiest and most helpful one that l have found.
    Thank you for helping me get my knitting off the needles!!!

    Reply
  2. Ann Hanson says

    April 26, 2020 at 11:02 am

    Hi I get more stitches thab when I started. Why is this happening?

    Reply
    • Kathie says

      June 8, 2021 at 3:10 pm

      After you knit the first 2 stitches and put one over the other you only knit one after that because you have a stitch on the right needle. At least that’s what I got from the tutorial.

      Reply
  3. Esther Dalrymple says

    August 15, 2020 at 6:20 pm

    Love your instructions and videos. So easy to follow. I am left handed but I found it was quite easy to switch hands.
    Finished my first project, a knitted band to hook face masks to so I don’t have to hook them behind my ears! (During covid19)

    Thank you

    Reply
  4. Nancy Saenz says

    April 24, 2021 at 10:56 pm

    Great and easy example. The tail I have seen in other videos is threaded into the finished project with a tapestry needle then snipped off correct?

    Reply
  5. Kathie says

    June 8, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing. I am just now getting back into knitting after about thirty years, but couldn’t remember for my life how to cast off. Have interchangeable hooks and needles, so I was just crocheting them off but decided that I needed to do the correct cast off.

    Reply
  6. Viv says

    September 25, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    Thank you! I needed a refresher! Really appreciate your neat tutorial.

    Reply
  7. Mary White says

    March 31, 2022 at 7:13 am

    These are the best and “clearest to follow” instructions for knitting. THANK you! Since the pandemic, thanks to you and your wonderful sheep and stitch website, I have made eight blankets!

    Reply
  8. Karen W says

    April 14, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    I am completing my 1st knitting project in about 15 years. Your bind off/cast off instructions were easy to follow. Thank you for the step-by-step pictures, very helpful!

    Reply
  9. Kathleen says

    October 11, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    Thank you for your tutorial ❣️

    Reply

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