techniques: bind off and three needle bind off
binding off: what, why, and how
Binding off is the most basic of finishing moves used to complete the knitting of a project. After the last row is worked, live stitches still remain on the needle, and there are various ways—simple and not-so-simple—to work them to create a finished edge. Binding off is the simplest.
A bind-off edge will typically follow the style of the knitting that precedes it. In plain stockinette stitch, where every stitch on the right side of the work is a knit stitch, instructions will usually tell the knitter to bind off "knitwise"; that is, bind off each stitch as if to knit. Ditto for reverse stockinette, where stitches are all purls on the right side of work—bind off "purlwise", or bind off each stitch as if to purl.
In ribbing such as knit 1, purl 1, instructions will most often tell you to bind off in pattern. In this case, you'll bind off knit stitches as if to knit, and purl stitches as if to purl.
There are instances where you'll do the exact opposite to achieve a specific effect, or do something else with those live stitches altogether, but for the purposes of this post, we'll stick with showing the basics of binding off both knitwise and purlwise on a stockinette fabric.
how to bind off knitwise
1. Knit the first two stitches of the row:
2. With yarn in back, insert the LH needle tip into the stitch farthest from the RH needle tip...
...lift this stitch up and over the stitch closer to the needle tip...
...and off the needle:
One stitch bound off.
3. Knit one more stitch so that there are again two stitches on the RH needle:
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for desired number of stitches.
If binding off to the end, when all stitches are bound off and one stitch remains on the RH needle:
Break or cut the yarn, leaving a long enough tail to weave in or work any instructed finishing...
...then draw the tail through the final stitch:
how to bind off purlwise
1. Purl the first two stitches of the row:
2. With yarn in front, insert the LH needle tip into the stitch farthest from the RH needle tip...
...and lift this stitch up and over the stitch closer to the needle tip and off the needle:
One stitch bound off.
3. Purl one more stitch so that there are again two stitches on the RH needle:
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for desired number of stitches.
If binding off to the end, once all stitches are bound off and one stitch remains on the RH needle, proceed as for binding off knitwise, breaking yarn and drawing tail through final stitch to fasten off.
binding off in pattern
When instructed to bind off in pattern, this means you will bind off each stitch as it is meant to be worked in the pattern. In stockinette, bind off knitwise on the RS, or purlwise on the WS.
In a stitch pattern that uses both knit and purl stitches in a row, bind off working the stitches just as you would if working a row, making sure to move the yarn to the back before beginning a knit stitch, and to the front before working a purl.
When binding off in garter stitch, bind off in the opposite manner as your last row/round worked to keep the edge in pattern.
three-needle bind off: what, why, and how
The three-needle bind off is used to join two sections of live stitches, without the need for seaming, such as for joining front and back shoulders together. It's named for the extra needle that is used to work the stitches held on needles 1 and 2.
It can also be used to join the beginning (cast on edge) to the live stitches at the end, such as for a cowl that is worked flat, then closed into a loop after knitting is completed. When using a three-needle bind off in this way, a provisional cast on method must be used to keep the stitches of the first row live for joining in this fashion.
how to work the three-needle bind off
The two sections of knitting may be on the same circular needle, or on two straights or circulars, but either way, you will need a spare needle of the same size, unless specified differently in your pattern.
NOTE: Typically this bind off is worked with the RS of the pieces held together so the bound off edge appears on the WS. If your pattern instructs you to hold the WS together, the edge is meant to be exposed as a design element. This tutorial shows the knit sides together, but hold your pieces as instructed for your pattern.
1. Hold the two pieces of knitting so that the RS are facing each other and WS are facing out. If necessary, slide the stitches so that the needle tips are at the place where the bind off is to begin. If the yarn is still attached to the ball, or if you have a tail long enough to bind off all the stitches (approximately three times the length of the edge to be joined) use this to work your bind off. Otherwise, join new yarn as you work your first stitch:
2. With the two needles held parallel in your left hand, insert RH needle tip into the front leg of the first stitch on the front needle, then into the front leg of the first stitch on the back needle:
3. Wrap yarn around RH needle...
...draw through both stitches, then carefully slip both stitches off their respective LH needles. One new stitch on the RH needle:
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to make one more new stitch on the RH needle:
5. With yarn in back, insert one of the LH needle tips into the stitch farthest from the RH needle tip and lift this stitch up and over the stitch closer to the needle tip and off the needle. One stitch bound off:
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for desired number of stitches.
When binding off to the end, break or cut yarn and draw through remaining stitch, just as for a simple bind off.
And here's what your bind off looks like on the WS, and on the RS: 
Just like a well-sewn seam!
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