Tubular Bind-off, Part 2

Disclaimer:  NOT a tutorial, just a ramble.
What could be more rewarding than binding off?  I don't know; perhaps a hot fudge sundae... in a lounge chair, on the back porch, with munchkins fanning me... oops.  Sorry, I'm back!

Binding off means completion, and, more important, now I can start/finish/"work" on something else. It's a real treat, and when it finishes off beautifully, I'm talkin' satisfaction!

Yesterday, even though my garment wasn't complete, I had the satisfaction of binding off the bottom edge with "tubular bind-off".  Brenda asked if I could give a tutorial, and I gasped!  I read and worship tutorials, but I don't have the gadgets to post a pretty, informative drawing.  Therefore, I recommend 'do as I do':  Get this book The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie M. Wiseman.  It was recommended to me at my LYS years ago, and I've used it... A LOT!

And years ago I made this notation on this page:

I've never seen a bind off named "Grafting or Kitchener Stitch" but it's really the same as "Tubular".  For my Spring Green top, I used ribbing (1x1), and on the last row I worked with two needles in my right hand to separate the knit stitches (on the front needle) from the purl stitches (on the back needle).  The nitty-gritty is:  Front needle, knit, purl, Back needle, purl, knit.  Of course, to get started you do a little differently, but you'll have to read that yourself.
When Brenda left that comment, I wondered how I did it myself!  So, I went to my guru, Techknitter, which is listed to the right under blogs I read, and sure enough I found more information than I wanted/needed AND an alternate method using knitting needles instead of tapestry needle.
Coincidentally, I had just finished a sock this morning which was ready to kitchener, so I tried it.  I 'heart' it!!  Here's an excerpt:

These four steps are repeated again and again to create a Kitchener stitched seam. If you want to chant the steps to yourself as you work, here is the mantra:

• Step 1: Purl front, push the stitch off
• Step 2: Knit front, leave the stitch on
• Step 3: Knit rear, push the stitch off
• Step 4: Purl rear, leave the stitch on

(When my kids hear me chanting like this, they know to stay away until the muttering ceases.)

Step 4