Draw Yarn Through Remaining Stitches

Learn to bind off hats that are knit in the round by drawing the yarn tail through the remaining stitches - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Learn to close hat tops in this knitting lesson from Liz Chandler @PurlsAnd Pixels.

When a pattern instructs you to “draw yarn through the remaining stitches,” it is asking you to weave the yarn tail through your final live stitches. This will remove your stitches from the needles and will also keeping them from running. Using a darning needle (or blunt tapestry needle) to slip the stitches onto the yarn tail makes this bind off easier to complete. Once you have threaded the live stitches onto the yarn tail, pulling on the end brings the stitches together and closes the hole at the top of your work.

Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn how to draw yarn through your remaining live stitches.

Video Guide: How to Draw Yarn Through Remaining Stitches

Written Guides: How to Draw Yarn Through Remaining Stitches

Step 1: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 1:

Measure the working yarn coming from your knitting and find a point that is roughly eight to ten inches away from your needles (or the length your pattern instructs). With sharp scissors, cut the working yarn at that point.

Step 2: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 2:

Thread the loose end through the eye of a darning needle.

Step 3: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 3:

Locate the next live stitch that would have been worked if you had continued knitting your pattern. Starting with this first live stitch, insert the tip of the darning needle into the front leg of the stitch from front to back.

Step 4: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 4:

Slip the stitch onto the darning needle (slip the stitch purlwise).

Step 5: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 5:

Continue slipping live stitches onto your darning needle until it fills up. Then, carefully pull the darning needle and yarn tail through the stitches.

Step 6: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 6:

In the same manner, slip all the remaining stitches onto the darning needle.

Step 7: Draw yarn through remaining stitches to bind off knits in the round - a lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 7:

Thread the remaining stitches onto the yarn by pulling the darning needle through them.

Draw Tail Thru Remaining Stitches, Step 8:

Pull the yarn tail away from your work to secure the stitches; this will bring the stitches closer together and close the hole at the top of your work.

How to finish hats that have been knit from the bottom up.

Return to Hat Finishing Tips to see how to to weave in your loose ends.

Practice With My Knitting Patterns

Ready to try it?

Learn to make a simple knit beanie hat in all sizes with this knitting pattern by Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

You will finish Simple Knit Beanie hats with the yarn tails as I’ve shown you in this lesson.

Basic Slouch Hat knitting pattern by Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

My Slouch Hat pattern is finished by weaving in the loose ends in the same manner.

Up Next

Next, let’s learn to make knitting increases. The “Make One” increases add stitches to your rows. Learning these stitches will allow you to shape the thumbs of gloves and more.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index