Our lovely textured cowl is knit and ready for the bind off!  If you are like me, I’m always fussing with cowls to hide the less attractive wrong side from view.  Fuss no more!  In keeping with the reversible theme, I have devised a bind off to mimic the Channel Island Cast On to make Namesake reversible from every angle.

In searching for the perfect bind off edge, I experimented with every picot bind off that I could find and none of them produced the same nubby effect as the cast on.  I finally morphed a picot bind off with a decrease bind off and was quite happy with the results.  Below is a photo of the two techniques – Channel Island Cast On is on the lower stitches and its paired bind off on the upper stitches.  I hope you will be as pleased as I am!

The Channel Island Bind Off, like its counterpart, has several steps – but again, so worth the effort!  I have written out the instructions for you, but have a detailed video in place to help you finish in style.  See Channel Island Bind Off Video

Like many knitters learning new techniques, the tension in your cast on may be firm.  Any size discrepancies between the cast on and bind off edges can be easily corrected with blocking.  I recommend giving your cowl a bath in cool water and then laying flat to dry.  For a stubborn edge, try using some pins to help coax it into the desired shape.  If you are new to blocking, start by watching my Blocking video.

No matter which size you chose, wear your reversible beauty and be proud of all you have accomplished!  Pictured below are the Medium in Grassy (shown single and doubled), the Small in Grey Flannel and the Large in Deep Turquoise (doubled).

Thank you again for knitting with me!  I enjoy following your progress and celebrating with you as you master new techniques.  I am humbled by your leap of faith as you continue to knit these mystery projects.  I hope you will join me in January for Endgame, a gorgeous new pattern to grow your skills.  Scroll down to the end of the post for more details.

Happy knitting,

Michelle

Part Four

Click here to download printable version

Bind Off using Channel Island Picot Bind Off. See Channel Island Bind Off Video

Channel Island Bind Off

1.  Cast on 2 sts using the Knitted Cast On.

2.  With right needle tip, lift the second stitch on the left needle over the first stitch and off the needle.

3.  With right needle tip, lift the now-second stitch on the left needle over the first and off the needle.

4.  Slip the first stitch to the right needle as if to purl.

5.  On left needle, k2tog. There are now 2 stitches on right needle.

6.  On right needle, lift the right stitch over the left stitch and off the needle.

7.  Slip the stitch on the right needle to the left needle.

Repeat Steps 1 – 7 to last stitch. Cut yarn and pull tail through last stitch.

Knit and Purl –

Two simple stitches with endless possibilities!

©2014 Michelle Hunter

January KAL – Endgame

Kick off the New Year with a gorgeous cabled scarf – Endgame. The pattern is full of beautiful stitches enhanced by the lovely tweed yarn, Kenzie.  End Game’s unisex design introduces a cast on and bind off new to the series along with other essential techniques. Continue to grow your knitting skills while creating a classic, yet modern, scarf.

Kenzie just may be the perfect tweed. New Zealand merino, angora and alpaca lend softness and body, nylon lends strength and silk noils contribute delicate texture and color accents. The smooth, round 3-ply yarn knits into a cohesive fabric that blooms when wet blocked. The angora haze is just fuzzy enough to lend a cozy feel, but not so fuzzy that it will obscure any stitch patterning. Kenzie is available in 30 beautiful colors – the hardest part is choosing just one!

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive an email reminder for the KAL – you won’t want to miss this one!

• Kenzie by HiKoo, 50% New Zealand merino, 25% nylon, 10% angora, 10% alpaca, 5% silk noils, 3(4) skeins – all the same color
• Waste yarn -contrasting color in a similar weight to Kenzie, 10 yards
• US #6 (4mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• US #7 (4.5mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle

Approximately 6 ½” wide, 56 (70)” long.

20 stitches = 4” in stockinette using larger needle.