Slip Stitch and Bind Off
Slip stitch is basically just moving the required stitch from the left needle to the right needle. Most of the time this is used for shaping, decreasing, and color work. Your pattern usually will tell you how to slip the stitch. For example if you are working on a Knit row, insert your needle into the stitch exactly as if you were going to knit it and slip it off your left needle onto your right. Same thing for purl row, insert your needle into the stitch exactly as if you were going to purl it and slip it off your left needle onto your right.
In order to finish most projects you will need to “Bind off” to keep all of your hard work from unraveling. There are several ways to achieve this but we are going to learn the very basic knit or purl bind off. If the pattern you are working on does not specify which way to bind off, use the opposite stitch of your last row. Meaning if your very last row was a knit row, then do a purl bind off. If you very last row was a purl row, then do a knit bind off. This will help keep it in pattern with a nice neat finish. Again we will be working all the stitches from your left hand needle onto your right. Knit or purl first two stitches. For Knit…*Insert left needle into the front of the first stitch on right needle, pull the stitch over the second stitch and off of the right needle. You have one stitch on your right needle. Knit next stitch *, repeat from * to * until only one stitch remains. Cut thread and pull thru last loop on needle making sure to leave a long tail for weaving. For Purl…* Insert left needle into the back of the first stitch on right needle, pull the stitch over the second stitch and off of the right needle. You have one stitch on your right needle. Purl next stitch *, repeat from * to * until only one stitch remains. Cut thread and pull thru last loop on needle making sure to leave a long tail for weaving.
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