How to bind off in crochet borrows knitting terminology again, since crochet does not technically bind off a full row of live stitches the way knitting does. The equivalent finishing step is fastening off, closing your single remaining active loop rather than an entire row. This guide covers the distinction and the actual fasten off steps.
Why Crochet Doesn’t Bind Off
Binding off in knitting closes an entire row of live stitches sequentially, since knitting holds many active stitches at once. Crochet only ever has one active loop, so there is no equivalent row-closing process, just a single final loop to lock closed.
The Fasten Off Steps
- Complete your final stitch, leaving one loop on your hook.
- Cut the yarn, leaving at least a 6-inch tail.
- Pull the tail through the remaining loop and pull snug.
- Weave in the tail securely.
Frequently asked questions
Is fastening off the same as binding off?
They serve the same finishing purpose but work differently, since binding off closes an entire row of live knitting stitches while fastening off simply locks crochet’s single remaining loop.
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