3 options for how to cast off rib on a knitting machine (from the experts!)

So you've reached the end of your ribbed snood or finished the cuff of your favourite new jumper, now comes the time to cast off that rib from your knitting machine.

At one of our recent live group calls inside the Machine Knit Community, a member had reached a similar point in her project, and asked for advice on the best way to cast off her rib at the top.  

She had been trying the "behind the sinker post cast off" but found that it was looking wobbly and uneven, and she wanted to know if there was a better way.

Those of us on the call offered our suggestions, which I have compiled below to give you an easy guide for all the options for casting off rib stitches on the knitting machine.

Option 1: Transfer tool cast off

Transfer tool cast off is when you move all of your stitches onto the main bed from the ribber bed, and then (as the name suggests) use transfer tools to cast them off, linking the stitches behind the sinker posts to hold them in place.

We have a handy video tutorial for casting off with a transfer tool on YouTube, which explains the method further, in a really helpful visual way.

Using the sinker posts is so crucial because it gives you a really nice even finish, and a consistent edge that is neither too tight nor too loose.

This is my favourite cast off method, and the one I use 95% of the time for finishing off the top of rib knits. With the wools that I have used predominantly (JC Rennie, Jamiesons, Jamieson & Smith, Hinchliffe) it seems to spring back, and is nice and stretchy.  

When I first started machine knitting I felt very unsure about casting off rib. There were lots of details in instruction manuals and online for casting off single bed knitting, but very few seemed to mention casting off rib specifically. I felt like I was missing a trick.

That’s until I realised that the main reason was because in most cases, once you transfer stitches from the ribber bed to the main bed, you are just casting off single bed knitting.

Casting off on the main bed is one of the very first things a machine knitting beginner will learn. With ribbing, you have stitches on both beds and it looks complicated to try and cast off from that position.

By moving all the stitches onto the main bed you are back to having all your stitches just on the main bed and so you can use the single bed cast off that most machine knitters are familiar with.

One of our suggestions to improve the finish on this cast off was to rest and wash/dry the rib to see if that improved the shaping.

We also suggested more practise, and trying a variety of yarns to see if they differed, as well as playing with tension and reducing the stitch size towards the top of the rib by 1 or 2 dots, to help pull it in a little too.

It takes a bit of practice, so the best way to learn is to knit a full width across all of the needles on your knitting machine, and cast off the full lot - by the time you get to the end, you’ll be a pro!

Option 2: Finishing by hand (Italian bind off)

In the Italian bind off method, you remove your knitting from the machine on waste yarn, and then finish the edge by hand.

Doing this off the knitting machine makes it easier to see and handle, and it gives a finish that will look more similar to your original cast on than with other methods

Personally, I’m not concerned about it looking identical to my cast on at the bottom of the garment, which is why I use the transfer tool method.  

Finishing by hand is slower and takes more work than the transfer tool cast off, but it’s a nice job that you can save for evenings in front of the telly, as you don’t need to be at your machine.

This is also sometimes known as Kitchener bind off, and the Brother Ribber Techniques Manual has very clear instructions for this. You can download the manual for free, and the relevant instructions are on page 80.

Option 3: Smiles & Frowns by Diana Sullivan

Another suggestion was the “Smiles & Frowns” technique taught by Diana Sullivan, or watch the simpler method here.

As with option 2, for Smiles & Frowns you remove the knitting from the machine on waste yarn, and finish the edge by hand, carefully looping your yarn through specific stitches.

This might seem a little fiddly, but it gives a great professional finish and is really stretchy - so it's ideal for garments that require a neckline or cuff to stretch, like the tops of socks.

For the Smiles & Frowns technique, you’ll need to practice getting your stitch tension consistent - you don’t want to pull the stitches too tight, so practice on a swatch first, until you get the hang of it.

Final check: Mary Weaver says...  

After the live session ended, I thought I'd consult my machine knitting bible a.k.a. The Ribbing Attachment by Mary Weaver - this is such a great book and I wish I could memorise everything in it.  

There are so many pearls of wisdom that I’m trying to get in the habit of consulting it every time I'm a little unsure about something, just to see what Mary says.

I was quite pleased to see that, on the whole, Mary Weaver recommended the methods I already knew about.

Mary agrees with me that most of the time the edge won’t even be visible, and so you can go for the simplest method (or the one you enjoy the most).

She also recommends finishing by hand if the look of the cast off is more critical, i.e. when it’s visible, such as neckline edges, pocket tops or ends of ribbed bands.

Mary suggests doing this on your knitting machine, but there is little benefit to this and it only makes it harder, so taking it off the machine to finish will make it both easier and give a firmer edge.

Hopefully with all of those suggestions for casting off rib on your knitting machine, you will find something that can become your preferred method of casting (binding) off.  

I'd love to know if you have any other methods that you use! Just add them in the comments below.

PS: If you are still getting to grips with your Ribber attachment on your knitting machine, we have a workshop for you.

The Understanding your Ribber workshop is for everybody - from those who have never used their ribber, to those who already use it but don't really feel like they really know what they are doing!

It’s available to buy now on our Online Workshops page.