Ever confused by knitting pattern instructions? Learn what to do when you see cast off & bind off in knitting patterns, what’s the difference?

So, if you’re here, chances are that you came across a term in a knitting pattern that you didn’t understand and that pattern either told you to “cast off” or “bind off”
Well, in basic terms, both cast off and bind off are terms that refer to how to secure your live stitches along the edge. Basically, it’s how you stop knitting and finish the edge of your knitting project.
Knitting, unlike crochet has an entire row or round of live stitches. This means that if you just pulled your knitting needles out and didn’t do anything else, all of the stitches would unravel and all of your hard work would be lost.
There are a lot of methods for finishing your knitting project but that will be confusing if you’re not sure what cast off vs. bind off means!
What is the difference between cast off & bind off?
So, who here is an American fan of Harry Potter? Or Paddington Bear? Maybe you have a thing for Sherlock Holmes or you’re super into what’s going on with Meghan & Harry?
OR maybe you live in the UK and love American movies or TV shows or Percy Jackson or Ramona Quimby?
If you fit into either one of those categories then there is NO surprise that you’re reading this post. Because…are you ready….?
The difference between cast off vs. bind off is simply a difference in UK vs. American knitting terminology. They’re the same thing!
It’s like loo vs. bathroom, football vs. soccer, or trousers vs. pants.
In the US we generally say “bind off” to refer to finishing the edge of a knitting project, while in the UK, they generally say “cast off”. Whichever term your pattern uses, the technique is exactly the same!
I must have learned to knit from a British book because I totally use the term “cast off” much more frequently. Or maybe I just think it makes more sense since we also “cast on”?
To see a basic bind off/cast off technique, check out my video tutorial!
Anyway, that should demystify cast off vs. bind off for you! I am always so interested to learn alternate knitting terms, do you know any others (for example, when we talk about US yarn weights vs. ply)? Anything else you say differently where you live?
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
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Anonymous says
Great post! I always found the terms “cast off” and “bind off” a bit confusing, but your explanation really cleared things up for me. I appreciate how you broke down the differences so clearly. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah Webb says
If you have both knit and purl stitches does this mean you have to do both methods of cast off as one or can you all knit cast off?
Cassie May says
If the pattern doesn’t say, you usually would cast off in pattern (do both methods) because that will be stretchier. But if you do all knit cast off, the world won’t explode either. So try it and see which you like better!