Glossary / Bind off
BOBind off
Securing the last row so the knitting cannot unravel.
Also written: cast off
How to work it
Knit two stitches, then pass the first over the second and off the needle. Knit one more and repeat, keeping one stitch on the right needle each time, until one loop remains. Cut the yarn and pull it through. Bind off loosely so the edge keeps its stretch. Called casting off in UK terms.
US and UK
This stitch is also called Cast off (UK). Always check which term set a pattern uses before you start, since the same name can mean a different stitch across the two.
Common confusions
What does BO mean?
In knitting patterns, BO means Bind off. Securing the last row so the knitting cannot unravel.
Does BO mean bind off or bobble?
In a knitting pattern, BO is bind off. In a crochet pattern, bo is usually a bobble. The capitalisation is not reliable across designers, so read the craft first: knitting binds off, crochet fastens off and makes bobbles.
Why is my bound-off edge too tight?
The standard bind off has almost no give, so a neckline or a top-down cuff can end up unwearable. Bind off with a needle one or two sizes larger, or use a stretchy bind off. Any edge that has to stretch over a head or a heel needs one of these.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Bind off | BO |
| Español | Cierre de puntos | cerr. |
| Deutsch | Abketten | abk. |
| Français | Rabattage des mailles | no standard code |
| Italiano | Chiusura delle maglie | no standard code |
| 日本語 | 伏せ止め | no standard code |
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
Get Worsted