Binding off problem

[whitecalx]

I made a crocheted soaker and did a knit edge on the waist. When I cast off it lost its stretchiness. How do I make the last row stretchy like the ones below it?

Please help.

[pamelamama]

Hmmm sounds like maybe you needed to do the ribbing in a smaller gauge? I don't usually lose stretchiness when I cast off. Did you cast off in ribbing?

[Arwyn]

The book I'm using to learn from (The Everything Knitting Book by Jane Eldershaw) talks about a type of binding off that's supposed to be partiularly good for (single) rib work called invisibla or tubular binding off.

The instructions call for using a tapestry needle to sort of "weave" off the end. I don't know where one might look for knitting stitch instructions online, but maybe you can search for that type of binding off.

? :sg ?

Good luck! (And tell me if it works - I'll probably be at that stage in a couple days, and was thinking about trying this out! :) )

[pamelamama]

*tee hee* I'm so glad someone used the pirate :LOL

[whitecalx]

I didn't do ribbing just a knit and cast off per instructions in the Stitch'n'Bitch

[pamelamama]

ohhhh i see.... so what you probably wound up with is a rolled edge, no meg?

[Susan_WW]

I usually go up quite a few needle sizes. I do my waistbands with a US size 4 needle but I bind off with a US size 10 (then again I bind off with size 10 no matter what needle size I've been using since 10 is the largest needle I have :) ) Also make sure you bind off very loosely.

HTH!

[pamelamama]

Actually, it was sounding to me like you bound off maybe TOO loosely? Can we get a photo?

xo pam

[whitecalx]

http://www.coodlesbaby.com/images/yellowsoaker.jpg

http://www.coodlesbaby.com/images/yellowsoaker2.jpg

[pamelamama]

so what is it doing that you don't like?

[pamelamama]

Ok, so you DID bind off too tightly...

http://www.wonderful-things.com/newknit6.htm to try a suspended bind off.

Or, as susan suggested, a larger needle size.

hth

[pamelamama]

http://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/pdf_files/KN_Glossary_sum04.pdf

more helpful stuff. suspended bind off at bottom

[whitecalx]

Okay I'm doing the suspending bind off on a 10 needle (couldn't get the 10.5 to fit in the stitches I picked up) I doesn't seem to be any looser than the plain bind off that I did.

[Susan_WW]

Make sure your yarn is really really loose! I thought I was doing the suspended bind off loosely one day but it still didn't have all the stretch I wanted. Your yarn has to have alot of slack in it - which can be difficult for new knitters who tend to hold their yarn with a lot of tension.

[whitecalx]

that's probably it. I guess I need to yank it all out and start over, ugh.

I started with crochet and I did that tight. Heck, when I cast on I do it on two needles so I can actually fit my second one in when its time to knit!

[Susan_WW]

Heck, when I cast on I do it on two needles so I can actually fit my second one in when its time to knit!

Definitely too tight!!! I know it's hard to loosen up but it will come with time. When I first started knitting, the yarn was so tight that it would squeak as it I pulled it off the needles. But now I usually knit right on gague.