i took up knitting a few months ago. i can cast on, but i can't bind off. any suggestions?

Answer 1

The simplest way to bind off is this: knit 2. Take the left hand needle and put it through the front of the first loop that you knitted on the right hand needle. Bring the loop over the the second loop, and off the needle. you now have one loop (the second one you knitted) on the right hand needle. Knit 1. do the same thing. Keep going until all the loops are off the left hand needle. You'll have one loop left on the right. Cut the yarn, and pull the end through the loop, drawinging it tight. Voila! You've bound off!

Answer 2

I like to alternate knit with purl stitches when binding off because the bind off "chain" will sit on top of the edge, not completely on the right side or the wrong side.

k1, p1, pass the knit st over the stitch just purled. *k1, pass the purl st over the st just knit. p1, pass the knit st over the st just purled.* At the end of the row, cut the yarn and feed the free end through the last loop and pull tight.

You can see photos and videos of bind off techniques at this site.