I really like the Russian bind off as it makes it so easy to control your tension compared to traditional bind off. When you use the traditional bind off, it’s very easy to end up with a bind off edge that is less wide than the rest of your fabric. This can be a problem, especially when knitting a gauge swatch, as it compromises your measurements by pulling in the fabric.. With the Russian bind off, this isn’t the case. Your bind off edge is as large as the row (or round) below it.
Yet this is sometimes a disadvantage, as when you need a snug fit, as in fingerless mittens. I’ve just finished such a pair, using the pattern Dromenach by Liz Corke that has a lovely decorative ribbing. As I often do, made several modifications to the pattern. She has you use a twisted cast on, the Estonian cast-on and she provides 2 pages of illustrated instructions on how to realise it with the pattern. I chose to use instead a twisted German cast on (more convenient to me as I already know how it is worked).. I also used a completely different wool (Shetland Spindrift by Jamieson’s of Scotland), which a knitted at an almost ridiculously tight gauge. The reason I knitted it at such a tight gauge is that … I didn’t right the wool’s skein properly (it states to use 3.25 mm needles and I went for a 2.5 mm instead, silly me!
The fabric I produced is quite rigid and very sturdy. But I’m still very happy with the result because the mittens are perfect for when I go winter swimming. I swim in the Geneva Lake and the water does get cold if not icy. After the swim, I put on half mitts + a pair of woollen mitts on top. But before I do that, I drink a little coffee to warm myself up and these half mitts are doing the job perfectly. They are much warmer than the ones I was using previously. What I am not so happy with is the choice I made to use my favorite bind off, the Russian bind off. For warmth and durability, fingerless mitts require a snug fit at the bound-off edges, and the Russian bind off just can’t provide that. So for the thumb, I used the tradtional bind off instead and it being narrower it clings to the finger much better.
The Russian bind off is worked as follows :
- Knit the first two first stitches through the back loop.
- Slide this stitch back on the left needle.
- Knit the two stitches through the back loop.
Knitwear designer : Liz Corke
You can find Liz Corke’s designs on her website: www.lizcorke.com. Go and check out her patterns! Currently, she is offering an incredible sale, but hurry up because there are only 3 days left! Her website also features interesting knitting technique tutorials.
I don’t have any commercial ties with Liz Corke. I purchased her pattern over a month ago, and I noticed the sale by chance.
I also don’t have any commercial with Jamieson’s of Shetland. I bought their yarn at my local yarn shop.
Unsolicited Knitting Advice 