How to do A Three Needle Bind Off

A Three Needle Bind Off is a bind off that creates a seam between two pieces of fabric at the same time as you bind your project off the needle.  This is a fairly common technique that you will see for things like shoulder seams.  I have also used this technique on a slipper pattern to join two soles together.  I also knit a hoodie where the ribbing was knitted separately, and I used the three needle bind off to join it to the main body of the fabric.

Some advantages of using the three needle bind off are that it creates a strong, sturdy seam which makes it a great choice for shoulder seams.  It is also easier and faster to perform than sewing a seam.   A disadvantage is that the V’s of the stitches are not lined up directly when you perform this technique.  The V’s end up being slightly off set.  Other than that, I am not aware of any other disadvantages of a three needle bind off.

In order to perform the three needle bind off, the same number of stitches are required on each needle.  Place the right sides of the fabric together and the needles parallel with the needle tips pointing to the right.  Then perform each step as detailed below.

1. Insert a third needle knitwise into the first stitch on the needle closest to you
2. Then insert the same needle knitwise into the first stitch on the second needle
3. Wrap your yarn as if to knit
4. Knit the two stitches together

5.  Repeat on the next stitch of each needle

6.  Now you have two stitches on your right-hand needle

7.  Slip the first stitch on the right-hand needle over the second stitch

8.  Repeat these steps until all the stitches are bound off.  At the end you will have one stitch remaining.  You can cut your yarn and pull it through the last stitch to secure it.  

Three needle bind offs will not be used on every project, but the technique is very handy to know for when it is required.   Your pattern will usually specifically call for this technique.  There are dozens of different ways to bind off your project and increasing your skill set will help grow your confidence as a knitter.  I encourage you to knit two swatches and give this technique a try.  Let me know below if you have performed this bind off before and how you applied it.  

Knit with Love my Friend,