How to Work the Ruke Bind-Off in the Round
If you love the finished look of a sewn bind-off but want something a little simpler to remember, the Ruke Bind-Off, also called the Ruke Cast-Off, is a beautiful technique to add to your knitting toolbox.
The method was developed by knitwear designer Neringa Rūkė of Rūkė Knit. Neringa has explained that she developed the technique after struggling with the Italian bind-off and wanting a simpler approach. Unlike a traditional knitted bind-off, the Ruke Bind-Off is worked with a tapestry needle and a long tail of yarn.
Rūkė Knit describes the finished edge as clean and elastic and uses the in-the-round version for circular edges such as sweater hems, cuffs and necklines.
In this tutorial, I’m showing you how to work the Ruke Bind-Off in the round.
Cut the yarn, leaving a tail approximately 3–4 times longer than the width of your knitting. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle.
With the right side of your work facing:
Setup
Insert the tapestry needle through the first three stitches on the left needle as if to purl, working from right to left.
Pull the yarn through all three stitches, but leave all three stitches on the knitting needle.
Slip only the first stitch from the left needle onto the right needle without knitting it.
Repeat Steps 1–3 two more times.
You will have worked the setup three times total, with three stitches transferred to the right needle.
Continue the Bind-Off
Insert the tapestry needle through the first three stitches remaining on the left needle as if to purl, from right to left, and pull the yarn through.
Slip only the first stitch off the left needle.
Unlike the setup stitches, this stitch is not transferred to the right needle—it is now cast off.
Repeat Steps 5–6 around the entire round until all stitches have been cast off.
Happy knitting!
XOXO Kim
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