Casting on stitches.
Knitting, knitting, more knitting.
Yay! Time to bind off.

Looks like a lovely shawl, by the way.

The knitting is done.
Cast off! Cast off those stitches!
Wrap the shawl around.

A great abyss threatens
Needles full of stitches call
This task outlives me

Namaste - jdu

Knit two together
Pass stitch back, repeat 'til end
I need more coffee

Casting on, counting.
Love from my fingers to you.
Binding off. Blocking.

Many live stitches...
Stitches die, but the project -
Its new life is born

A finished project
Looming in the near future
Impending greatness

Making a big shawl
casting off takes forever
but it's worth the time

O! Magic Bind-Off
Come to me in the night and
do thine own workings!

One stitch, then one more
One stitch raised over the next
Surely this must end?

Casting off is hell
It takes an eternity
Beer don't help, can't hurt

A finished project
Looming in the near future
Impending greatness

Casting off takes so long
why can't I just be finished
nearing the end, bliss

Two haikus for you (one more about frogging)

CO 99
knit a thousand rows; repeat
Mistake in row one!

Don't bind off tightly-
Relax or use big needles
Soon you can block it.

Binding off is not
The existential question
That casting on is.

Knit and loop over
again, again and again
garment emerges

Binding off is fun.
This is how the shawl gets done.
It makes me very happy.

I am almost done!
No, I'm not- the casting off
Will never end. Meh!

From many stitches
into one comes a great thought
shoulders will be warm

The knitting soothes me
The dreaded bind-off looms near
Too late to quit now

Are we knitting true
when casting on, binding off?
Loop, loop, repeat... YES!

Cast off! Oh, cast off!
This mad cry in my head is
A long time coming.

Main knitting is done
completness overrated
This should be more fun

Cast Off Yarn Harlot!
And in the end you will see
A garment for thee.

slw

Knit one, pass stitch over
too many of these, you feel
cast offed. Death by wool.

Chain loops come undone
On provisional cast-on
Frogging while I weep

Slow knitting along-
Careful teasing of stitches
Jubilation time!

Cast on, knit, knit, knit
cast off, cast off and see it
the beauty beheld

Celery raw,
develops the jaw
Celery stewed,
Is more quietly chewed.

Ok its not a haiku, but this has stuck in my tiny mind since like grade 2 and I'm 52 now. Can't remember where my car keys are; but, I can remember that little ditty, Go Figure.

So happy for you that the shawl end is on your radar, can't wait to see what you fall into next.

Cast off o wee stitch!
So that I may once again
Cast on another.

Knit. Hop stitch over.
Why knit it from the center?
I just cast on five!

Finally, binding off.
Light at tunnel's end indeed.
Still takes forever.

(You have to pronounce 'finally' in two syllables: fine-ly)

Cast on and just go!
Knit along without fear and
bind off. Now seam. Doh!

Tiny stitches
Looping over and over
Patience needed.

here's my bind off Haiku

Finally finished?
Just the bind off remaining
Eons later, done!

Binding it off now.
Who put all these blaspheming
Yarnovers in here?

Nightsongs or Nightmare?
Cast off before yarn runs out -
Oh! how my thumbs ache...

_I may never knit another shawl again..._

It takes forever,
Picot bindoff for my shawl.
Looks pretty however.

Cast on, it's the start,
knit knit knit purl purl purl turn,
bind off in pattern, I'm done!

Started binding off
So many days ago. Sigh.
Never will it end.

See the end it nears
Gone are the days of stitches
Warm we shall now be

knitter seeks closure
knit knit pass over and breathe
what? too tight again?!

One stitch at a time
Cast them off loosely enough
Or else do it twice

bind off one by one
will this project never end?
laminaria

Cast on. Count. Re-count.
Add or remove more stitches.
Bind off, piece of cake.

My favorite part is the cake! :)

Finally finished
Knit two, pass over, repeat
An eternity

When I'm at the end
Finally it's bind off time!
Refrigerator.

Only cause I can't think of 5 more syllables. Hey, it's Monday, I have a poor 7 month old who's cutting his 2 front teeth on the top AT THE SAME TIME, and I didn't get much sleep last night cause of it. I figure I'm doing good at this point just to have on clean underwear.

I'd still love to win either book though...come on random number generator - pick me!

each bind-off creates
a new note of the chord that
when finished brings warmth

Ah, the end is near.
It's time to bind off at last.
Near the end is not.

Long-tail casting on
Don't bother me, I'm counting
Damn, long tail too short

cast on with delight

knitting therapeutically

bind off into night

yarn off the needles
one by one by one by one
my eyes are closing.

Cast on faith, hope, love
Knit together each heartbeat
Bind off miracle

Isn't it quite strange
How much longer binding off
takes than casting on?

Cast on, such a thrill!
Knit until blue in the face.
Cast of, such a pill!!

I'm in awe of that shawl you've made! Yikes, such a lot of work!!

One by one they go,
like little lemmings they go,
off to start new life.

The last pattern step.
Defeat is not an option.
To complete is bliss.

Anti-climactic.
Letting it go after all
those soft lengths of yarn.

cast off almost through,
then just sneak a peek ahead,
casting off 'til spring!

Knitting is complete
Can't wait to see the blocking
Never quite finished

Two and then one slipped
Each stitch sliding smoothly to
A finished object.

Knitting is all through.
Cast off, that's the thing to do.
Time to start anew.

Finally finished,
knit, knit, slip the stitch over.
Sanity regained.

Small endless stitches-
With patience transformed into
Awesome masterpiece

My shawl is now done
But for the sweet casting off
Then great wine for me

Cast off: knit-slip-knit.
Monotonous: knit-slip-knit.
Can't sleep...knit-slip-knit.

O the moment's here
project almost completed
where is my needle?

this will be enough,
you say looking at your yarn.
and then -- one yard short.

Cast on not too tight
Knit: go go go till the end
Cast off very loosely.

Cast off time is here
It means I can have a beer
Brain cells not required

when I finish this
g*d damned endless bind off row
I'll cast on again

Knitting's starting line
Is so much faster it seems
Than the finish line.

Endless stitches wait
One by one they drift away
Wine seems not to help

First Cast On Cast On
Then Cast Off Cast off cast off
Then cast on again

Casting off begins
oh so many long day dreams
of the next cast on

Knitting forever
Time for the final cast off
CRAP! Found an error

Casting off. The last
Breath of stale air before the
Breeze of wearing (kn)it.

Leapfrogging stitches
Join together to bind off
Completed knitting

Casting on long tail,
Realize my tail's too short,
4 times in a row!

(Seriously, this happened to me when casting on a baby blanket. I was casting on 275 stitches! Not only did I keep losing count, I kept running out of tail!)

Slipping and sliding
Loops falling like summer rain
Holding together.

Cast off: so many
Tricks and tips but still it takes
Forever to end.

(My first crochet cast off made me want to stab something.)

too tight. TOO tight. TOO....
TIGHT! This cast-off edge will n'er
fit o'er my big head.

I'm knitting a hat
It would be nice if it fit
Tubular cast on!

A finished work nears
Weaving ends is all that's left
Casting off is sweet

One stitch at a time,
Hoping, praying, please oh please,
Phew! Had enough yarn!

Three needle bind off
Six hundred twenty stitches
Impinging nerves Ow

500 stitches
Seems like it will never end
Time to bind off now

Woohoo! It's finished.
But not really. Binding is
a project in itself.

The end is in sight...
Binding off is such a pain.
Can't wait to finish!

pass knit pass at last
current knitting ending now
bind the hand work off

In my mind it's done!
Yet many stitches remain
Before I'll wear it.

I cast on with joy
project goes on forever
When will bind off come?

Your endless attitude towards your shawl inspired me!

Casting on, bind off
Two essential parts of knits
Tedium ensues.

Christ on a cracker,
I swear I hit the middle
three hours ago?

Casting off is fun
it means you are almost done
just blocking is left

O, Christmas knitting;
Casting off a shawl, better than
Twelve felted slippers.

at long last the end
so close and yet so far off
off cast off cast off

cast off, sounds as if
I mean discard, toss away,
but its mine to keep!

Casting off is now
my most favourite thing but
it always takes long

Yeah, this kind of sucked.

Casting off stitches
my favourite thing to do
Refrigerator

Sorry, I couldn't resist ;-)

Knew this shawl wouldn't defeat you. I'll even try a Haiku:

Cast on! Pattern start.
knit by endless row by row
Whoa! Bind off. Done!

Glad it wasn't as endless a shawl as you thought it might become.

Now what about Joe's gansey? I can't remember if you ever got it finished. Have to go look at your archives.

Now go have a cuppa, finish the finite bind off, do your blocking magic and show us this beauty tomorrow.

What is "casting off"?
Self-described process knitter
dislikes letting go.

Oh no! Small collar
Too tight for big headed me.
Effed-up, must redo.

Save me, Oh, save me
Binding off just plain sucks you know,
Is that new yarn I see?

To cast on is fine
But to bind off ends the time
On this lovely piece.

The center-pull ball
Gives its innards for our pleasure
What use for what's left?

Universe knitted
Looping to oblivion
Bind off receding

Cast on exciting
Slowly joy turns to slog
Bind off! Done! Yippee!

Oh crap, now I have to block it ;).

Tight cast offs sometimes
are good. But not with knit socks.
One stretchy, one not.

(this is the story of my first pair of knit socks...until I learned JSSBO. What a LIFE saver!)

I'm knitting a sweater
for my six-foot-two husband
Can't I cast off yet?

Adventure at play
Clicking needles casting off
At the end of day

Binding off, bind off.
Many more stitches to go.
Shawls have looooong edges!

Bittersweet the end
What greater joy there is than
Casting on again

Letting go so soon
It seems to take forever
Casting off for now

Gird your loins, my friend.
Cast off ALL the stitches, it's
better than grafting.

Cast on and bind off
Monter et rabattre les mailles
Knitting in Frenglish

Not too tight, not too loosely
so the bind off goes.
Now I have to block the thing!

This will never end,
caught in monotony, but
time to cast off, friend!

Tight cast offs sometimes
are good. But not with knit socks.
One stretchy, one not.

(this is the story of my first pair of knit socks...until I learned JSSBO. What a LIFE saver!)

switch to crochet hook
'cause I can crochet faster
the end comes sooner

It comes to an end
Stitch after stitch dropping off
almost done, what's next?

Cast on promises
Joy of knitting stitches but
Bind off seals the deal!

(and in a related note:
Counting syllables
leaves coworkers wondering
what I am doing

To finish the job
I must remember I can't
Pull the stitch too tight

Like the River Thames
Casting off flows On and On
Without an end

Damn, lost count again!
Why, this infernal hobby?
Beer when I finish

My project is done.
Casting off took forever.
But I'm happy now.

Casting off takes time
I would rather be spending
starting new projects

Two, because I couldn't help myself...

Knit two stitches first
Then pass the first over top
Lengthy loose leapfrog

Triangle shawl done
But meet the long downside to
Exponential growth

~Rebecca

Casting on comes first
then knit, purl some, and knit more
Bind off, and you're done.

(not my best work, but all I could think of)

Not too tight, not too loosely
so the bind off goes.
Now I have to block the thing!

What lovely knitting
Knit round and round in the round
Wait, now it's finished?

When did that happen?
I thought it was forever!
I was getting bored!

It's almost complete!
Just binding off to be done.
Why am I waiting?

Casting off for now
It seems to last forever
Letting go at last

It comes to an end
Stitch after stitch dropping off
almost done, what's next?

the cast off begins
into the black hole alone
brightness at the end

binding off so close
i want to finish this thing
so close yet so far

My project is done.
Casting off took forever.
But I'm happy now.

On the stiches go
Knit, purl, knit repeat with love
Binding off, complete.

Casting off takes time
I would rather be spending
starting new projects

Once cast, cast-a-way.
Twice cast and then frogged today.
Thrice cast, bound away!

(this is the story of my knitting)

My project is done.
Casting off took forever.
But I'm happy now.

It stares from a page
Intrigue casts on loveliness
Bind off will be near

My project is done.
Casting off took forever.
But I'm happy now.

the cast off begins
into the black hole alone
brightness at the end

Casting off takes time
I would rather be spending
starting new projects

Not too tight, not too loosely
so the bind off goes.
Now I have to block the thing!

the cast off begins
into the black hole alone
brightness at the end

Long cast off is hell
Knitters never ending curse
Task of Sisyphus

To get to the finish
Head over heels like love
Your stitches will diminish!

Cast off if only
to free my needles of work...
start the next project

In cold Canada
Stephanie casts off her shawl
(sigh) Laminaria.

Warm shawl on needles
eternally casting off...
perhaps before spring?

Soft and light as air
lying upon my shoulders.
Laminaria.

One minute, darling.
We'll make fervid love as soon
as I cast this off.

Casting off takes time
Stitch by overwhelming stitch
Shawl devours girl

: )

Silky loops secure
Entwined, restrained, poised. Please, block
me. Wrap me round you.

It starts with just three
But grows exponentially
Now casting off looms...

Ten thousand stitches
eleven hours later
cast off in relief.

Finish a project
Cast off each and every stitch
Then drink wine and beer

Coming to an end,
or is it just beginning?
A new adventure.

Now I'm casting off.
Weaving ends will follow soon;
terror lurketh here.

The only downside
To knitting triangle shawls -
Bind-off never ends.

The end of stitches
Wow, there are so many kinds
k2 back loops, please

:)

Remaining stitches,
Upon us is journey's end.
Stay loose! Let's cast off!

Five hundred and Six?
Can I rewrite the pattern
and cast on just three?

Hundreds of stitches
Passing one over the next
Finally-a shawl!

Time for casting off
Pearlish strands come off needles
projects begun, done.

I trudge along so
this thing can be done, but the
ends still need weaving!

I dislike casting off
It takes for-freaking-ever
One stitch closer to done

p.s. all of you rock!!! What's JSSBO?

Binding off is okay
But finishing it makes your day great
So go celebrate!

Neverending loops
One off over the other
Till only one left

or

Yay! Time to bind off!
Wait...is that a knit-on lace
Edge to do next? Dang.

or

Cast on 5 stitches
Increase to infinity
So near yet so far

or

Cast on 5 stitches,
Work intricate lace designs,
Bind off for snow pic!

Okay, this is addicting...must stop now.

It's time to cast off.
Perseverance has won out.
This I did finish!

Hated dpns,
A cast-on would make me sweat:
One guaranteed mess.

Binding off is okay
But finishing it makes your day great
So go celebrate!

Holy craptastic!

Port Ludlow at the weekend.

A Harlot-y life.

Casting off mentioned
Gansey, Gansey, Gansey, oh
Joe is so patient

Hated dpns,
A cast-on would make me sweat:
One guaranteed mess.

Binding off. Binding
The endless edge of the world.
Oops, it's flat! The end.

Norwegian cast on,
Knit, end with kitchener stitch.
Avoid binding off!

Interminable
Counting, casting on many
Now there are too few?

Clipped the yarn too soon.
Thought I was done--but alas,
made more work for me!

Casting off stitches,
The project is nearly done!
Neverending task. . . .

Like the River Thames
Casting off flows On and On
Without an end

Cheese and Rice!! Who knew there would be so many posts! Here is my lame attempt:

Ode to the cast off
each stitch closer to be-ing "done"
knit two, pass over, off.

Start a new project
Creativity betwixt
Bind off: How's it fit?

PS: Told you your "forever" wouldn't last! :-)

Desperation move:
singing the phrase "binding off"
to the Rocky theme.

I'm finally done
that project took forever
just the cast off left.

second effing stitch
won't easily come
over first. hate that.

yarnover. decrease.
a corresponding series
gives shape, making lace.

at least some say so.
without, you would still be lace
to steven. and so

cast off beloved
shawl, who brought ache to fingers.
treasure not the holes,

but intention that
you placed in each tiny stitch.
YOU gave life, gave soul.

Binding off is okay
But finishing it makes your day great
So go celebrate!

(1) Alpha, stitches on!
Then, waves of love, perhaps pain?
Omega, off, done!

(2) Joyous adventure!
Endless slog thru pride and pain...
Bind off -- victory!

Bet that writing "limericks" for casting on/off would fill an X-rated book!

One last thing to do,
Yet length of task is daunting.
Time for beer-o-clock.

on and on and on
on and on and on and on
on and on and... done.

Lovely lace green scarf,
binding off takes forever,
but you are worth it!

Knitting is fun but
Casting off makes my head hurt
I forgive knitting.

I draw a deep breath
before casting the waves of
loops off my needles

So wish I was done
When will this lace weight free me?
Tangled up in knots

Casting off. Oh my.
Seems like forever, my friend.
But the end comes.

Joy of completion
Ignore mis-crossed cable
Shed tears, drink wine, frog

So much knitting left
considering that this is
the very very last row.

casting on, so slow
knitting in the middle is fun
binding off, so slow

I know not Bind Off
I just buy more needles
To start another

(By this you can tell that I may just possibly have more WIPS than completed projects......)

To cast on is bliss
Anticipation divine
Cast off, not so much

Glad this is random
For haikus I cannot do
Please please please pick me!

Anticipation
is the cast on. The cast off?
A test of patience.

MKBG

The time to bind off
Has come. Now to bath, soak well.
Agressive blocking.

I want to be done!
Just to wear my woolen joy,
Must cast off...oh crap!

Eager Journey
In and out over and under
Satisfying last steps

Knitting done for now,
Boring cast-off is my lot.
So good to be done.

Cast off, endlessly
Will it ever be complete?
Not in this lifetime.

one and two and off
with these weathered hands of mine
endless loops of green.

Casting on is fun
Challenging is the creation
Cast off – big fat dud

Post failed, trying again:

Knitting fairies come,
cast-off Laminaria
while I sleep, I plea.

Binding off is fun.
The row, end to end, is long.
Binding off is dumb.

;-)

the end horizon
is finally approaching
my shawl nearly done

Cast one on; oh look!
Cast on a new one; oh look!
Bind off never comes.

I want to be done!
Just to wear my woolen joy,
Must cast off...oh crap!

Stitches to cast on
Knitting, Knitting, oh my MORE
Bind off time is now

Anticipation
is the cast on. The cast off?
A test of patience.

MKBG

Cookie cutter loops
Drifting off of my needles
While I watch Buffy

Joy of completion
Ignore mis-crossed cable
Shed tears, drink wine, frog

Last stitch, oh beware
For have I bound off loosely?
Laminaria

Knitting: casting on
Knit X, purl Y. On and on!
End by casting off

Casting on is fun
Challenging is the creation
Cast off – big fat dud

Cast on is a joy
Knit forever on lace shawl
Cast off at long last

Casting on is fun
Challenge is the creation
Cast off – big fat dud

Casting on is fun
Challenge is the creation
Cast off – big fat dud

The knitting is done
The casting off eternal
'Til the final loop

Keep at it Stephanie.

icing on the cake
it is the cherry on the top
beautiful finish

Binding off is fun.
The row, end to end, is long.
Binding off is dumb.

;-)

Pattern now ending
Yarn must leave the needles
Casting off, set sail

Dude! The lemmings one is my favorite so far.

Knit one, pass, repeat
Not too loose, nor too tight, but
just right - forever.

Looks great, this bind off, too, shall pass.

Endless stitches now
Slowly decrease one by one
Until none remain

icing on the cake
it is the cherry on the top
beautiful finish

icing on the cake
it is the cherry on the top
beautiful finish

Binding off is fun.
The row, end to end, is long.
Binding off is dumb.

;-)

Casting on is fun
Challenging is the creation
Cast off – big fat dud

Although it's no fun,
When all stitches are bound off,
Your knitting is done!

Knit one, pass, repeat
Not too loose, nor too tight, but
just right - forever.

Looks great, this bind off, too, shall pass.

Cast some stitches on
Knit until your fingers drop
Beautiful heirloom

Knit one, pass, repeat
Not too loose, nor too tight, but
just right - forever.

Looks great, this bind off, too, shall pass.

Ah! Knitted beauty
I see the end drawing near.
Where's the Tylenol?

posting is failing all the time, I hope this isn't turning up a hundred times

Never ending row
bind off is even longer
This takes for ever

It does not matter
How enjoyable the knit
Binding off is best!

how can mama knit
let alone cast off a row
when child beckons so

Cast on. Count up. Wrong.
One hundred thirty-seven.
No, one sixteen. Damn.

Ending the lifting
Of loops over reason's edge,
Work ends, wearing starts.

Casting off a shawl
Space-time continuum warps
Whose black hole is this?

Or...
Knit one, knit one more
Pass second stitch over first
And ad nauseum.

I will probably spend the rest of the afternoon thinking of more instead of grading. Grading is like casting off - the more you do, the more remains.

Binding off -- how hard
Can it be? I'll let you know
in a million years.

Knit through the first loop
and then we do it again
by little loopies

Why is it, always
More fun to begin, cast-on,
Than end, and cast-off?

In keeping with the seasonal requirement for haikus:

Laminaria!
The winter finds you cast off,
But never cast out.

Slowly but surely
Stitches are cast off and the
Lace's beauty shines!

Endless stitches now
Slowly decrease one by one
Until none remain

Binding off can take
A long time. Unless you like
To knit hats. Brim up!

one and two and off
with these weathered hands of mine
endless loops of green.

And Just when you think
You can't knit another stitch
You get to cast off.

Knit through the first loop
and then we do it again
bye little loopies

itching to be done
anticipation building
finally finished

Pond-scum-green stitch, I
Kiss your sweet brow and tuck you
To sleep in the shawl

Slumber away, with
Your sisters you lay. Please don't
Come loose and free fall

Cast off live stitches
Come back ashore, neat binding
The net is knitted.

Why do I bother?
Laminaria is sheer.
Canada is cold.

purl two together
slip back to the left needle
repeat till the end

I want to be done
With this cumbersome cast off
Ere I age and die.

Only cast-off row left.
I can finish before bed!
Seven a.m. is here already??

Why is it, always
More fun to begin, cast-on,
Than to end, cast-off?

stash avalanche! halp!
can haz more time please to knit?
bind off for the win!

a beginning comes
with a promise of an end
knitting, life, journey

Have I enough yarn
to cast off properly?
nope. bad estimate.

Wow! Nearly finished!
So excited, so giddy!
Just cast-off...oh crap!

Cast on two hundred.
Knit your sweater seamlessly.
Cast off. Thanks EZ.

The bind off begins.
Wait, is that a damn mistake?!?
There... on the bust... great...

knit one, purl one, and
pass first stitch over. Wait, no.
chokingly tight. Darnit.

Binding off is fun
If you do it in the sun
But not forever

Loop after loop I
pull one over another
until all are gone

count while casting on
excitement builds, almost done
bind off and adore

so close to being
at the end of my project
just need to bind off

Casting off goes slow
More stitches left than before
Stitch blackhole endless

blog ate my haiku
clever bind off wittiness
lost in cyberspace

now I post again
will it post or will it fail
cyberspace clutter

Knit two together.
Slide back onto left needle.
Repeat forever.

will never finish
endless, boring stockinette
Hurrah end in sight

what, pray, can be worse
then the task of binding off
weaving in the ends

Why is it always
More fun to begin, cast-on,
Than to end, cast-off?

The time to bindoff
Has come. Now to bath, soak well.
Aggressive blocking

i sing of thee, stitch
next one upon the needle
next to be off-cast .

Knit two, bind off one
Means the longest row takes you
Twice as long to knit.

Casting on again
If my gauge was consistent
I'd be binding off

Cast on in the spring
Beautiful shawl of soft wool
Cast off by first snow

(and yes, I'm enough of a haiku dork to incorporate a reference to the seasons)

Cast off or bind off?
It doesn't really matter;
always too damn tight.

Cast on inception
Fiber metamorpohsis
Cast off gift of love

I am no poet
But I sure am a knitter
Who enjoys bind off :-)

And the ever popular...

Oh Harlot blog post
Oh why do you disappear
Instead of posting?

the knitting is done
but your work is not over
just need to bind off

Forget the bind off;
It is surely not too late
for another beer!

Project is now done
I just need to bind if off
Never mind, not done

Yes! Almost finished!
Soon to wear the lovely thing,
Just cast off and block...

two needles clicking
one knitter sighing loudly
zero stitches left

I've been having trouble posting this , hopefully I don't end up with 7 copies of my comment on your blog!

Lets' try this again ...

my life is on hold
when oh when will I be done?
damn! not enough yarn!

(wow! I could have used a few more syllables for the final line,. damn is a bit mild for that situations

always casting on
thrill of new yarn new stitches
bind off in next life

First time is too tight
Second attempt far too loose
Bind off dilemma.

around the needle
over and over again
oops! ran out of yarn!

laminaria
bind off is such sweet sorrow
beautiful torture

My moebius wrap
Keeps me warm in the basement.
Bind off took long time!

The piece might be made
Once binding off has begun-
O blasted suff'ring!

Casting off goes slow
More stitches left than before
Stitch blackhole endless

The loops do not end
Interminably boring
Suddenly finished!

When I'm binding off,
I'm mentally casting on
for my next project.

Unfortunately,
I want to cast on more things
than the one fin'shed.

Or I'll go ahead
and cast things on before I
finish binding off.

If I'm not careful,
I will end up with more things
in UFO piles

Because I'll neglect
the actual binding off
completed projects.

'Tis the longest row
I have knitted in my life.
Should have packed a lunch.

I'm writing mine in French. I find the rules for syllable counting in English too confusing -- or maybe I'm too dense to understand them. Anyway, at least this is the right count of syllables... in French.

Tu montes des mailles,
tu tricotes, encore, toujours...
Résultat : un châle !

I'm almost finished
Just one more row to complete
It takes forever.

The endless options
That casting on brings always
Leaves us in a bind

Casting on thrills me,
Knitting keeps me entertained;
But binding off? Feh.

Yay He wants a scarf!
Seven feet of garter stitch...
Cast off will be sweet.

Anticipation
Loops of spun fiber cast on,
Dream to be bound off

Cast on, Knit again
Yarn goes ever on and on
'Til bind off joy comes

lovely dreamy socks
my super stretchy bind off
ah, circulation.

Nearly finished now
Casting off, casting off still
When will it all end?

(1)
Every cast on stitch
Haunts the minutes my day
The cast off, my night

(2 - just to be silly..)
I cast you all on!
Hundreds of little silk loops
My cat, casts you off...

What a pain it is
binding off a project dear
then to find an "OOPS"!

provisional on,
garter stitch grafting finish
She is knitting gloves

Binding off fairy,
Sprinkle your Magic Dust here.
My shawl is waiting.

I used to cast off
but now I bind off instead.
Isn't it the same?

the knitting is done
but your work is not over
just need to bind off

The task of bind off
Creates excitment anew
For the next cast on.

Casting off takes time
I would rather be spending
starting new projects
 
and
 
Connection refused
Trying to post my haiku
So must try again
 

The shawl is lovely,
but this evil binding off
goes on forever.

Cast on, Bind off, done!
Sing: That's what it's all about!
Do the knitty dance!!!!

casting on begins
a new knitting adventure
bind off, ta da, wear!

Almost to the end
Seventy stitches to go
Seems like a thousand

Casting on drives me nuts!
Binding it off still gives be buts...
Knitting though, is sane enough.

if blocking weren't
so cool, cast off would never
get done. thanks, magic.

I knew it would be done by the time I commented. Your idea of "forever" is more my idea of "significant progress."

When I first tried to load the comments, it said the URL didn't work. I suspect this will be a popular contest. Unusually, I didn't have trouble coming up with a haiku on this; immediately had an idea and only had to make a slight change for syllables. I have a friend that can do haikus on anything, practically on demand; I'm always impressed/jealous. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Casting/binding off
Always a battle trying
For the same tension

I don’t think I’ve ever left a comment but you put up such an irresistible offer heh so here is my poor attempt at a haiku

Here I go again
Starting all over again
Tempting fate again

P.S. I read some of the submissions, very nice job guys :)

Backward-loop cast-on
Sloppy curves hang tight or loose
My bind-off won't match

on and on and on
on and on and on and on
on and on and... done!

casting on is fun
but sometimes, a pain in the ass
bind off is better

Laminaria
Why are you such a big pain?
Thank God you're cast off!

Here is another:

Beer me, because I
have to cast off too many
stitches to finish.

Such thrill to begin,
Yawn into infinity
Oh when will it end?

In keeping with the seasonal requirement for haikus:

Laminaria!
The winter finds you cast off,
But never cast out.

The journey begins
Cast on ad infinitum
I lost count again

Cast On smells like hope!
Body cruising--or cursing.
Cast Off simply stinks.

Crap, thought of a better one!

Tubular cast-on:
Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Also mutant knitters?

Multitudinous
Never ending agony
Done! Time for blocking.

Knit, drop stitch over
Again, again and again.
Better pass the wine.

I feel remiss for not including something to indicate a season but I hope it still counts ok!

Almost done knitting
I would rather knit some more
I hate binding off

Crap, thought of a better one!

Tubular cast-on:
Mutant ninja turtle teens
Also mutant knitters?

Drinking to stay sane,
I cannot see the stitches.
How will I bind off?

Two needle bind off
Makes very good sense to me
Quite invisible

the end is so near
all that's left is the bind off
a mere lifetime more

Cast on two hundred.
Knit your sweater seamlessly.
Cast off. Thanks EZ.

Knitting's eternal
The gratitude lasts and lasts
And also the prayer.

knit two slip one off
now repeat ad nauseum
will it ever end

I love haiku! Sometimes I write them in my head as a distraction when I am annoyed, but this is a happy one.

loop pulled over loop
I work the edge evenly
such accomplishment

On, around, then off
stitches blur together fast
Finish? Start anew...

Robin

Snowflakes falling down,
As numerous bind off stitches
Crumble from needles

Bind off forever,
all day, all night, never ends...
wait... done! Cast-on time!

Look at my cute loops!
I'll make more and more and more
Ok, now I'm done.

Casting off is like
Waves crashing on a shoreline
Stretching ever on.

Bind off forever,
all day, all night, never ends...
wait... done! Cast-on time!

do not bind too tight
my mantra repeated oft
dogged novice knits

Shawl knitting is done
Am casting off forever
Look! A new project!

Casting on dreams...knit
Needles click, magic happens
Too few stitches...rip

knit on one by one
like yellow ducks in a row
off you go now shoo

Oh to just cast off
It seems so simple really
But takes much too long

The Harlot's project
Goes on and on forever
Laminaria

Cast off too quickly
just might lead to much mayhem
Where are the picots?

The knitting's not done
until the binding off's done.
ARG! Too tight. Repeat!

You may be amused by this website I found. Some one in UK has painted words on the backs of sheep and reads them as they wander, creating haiku she calls them haik ewe
http://www.valerielaws.co.uk/science/sheep.html

Only one more row
Wow, I can't believe it's done
Time to start again

Ruminating, chain
looping through, off, and again.
Green sighs without end.

cast off and enjoy
each fine stitch bound together
now you have to block

I just dropped a stitch
Casting off's really a bitch
Now I have to block.

Woot! long tail cast on
I expect great pleasure 'til--
Cast off--it's lovely!

Luminaria.
knit the weekend through and then,
Bind off beautiful.

my tail is so long
mother sudders at the waste
i don't dig re-dos

Free, at labours end!
Birthing, inch by inch forward -
LOVE! In angels caul.

knit one stitch,knit two
now bring the first stitch over
and go for the cookie!

I love the the color and pattern! that green is simply beautiful!

And just when you think
You can't knit another stitch
You get to cast off.

Franklin Habit year.
Luminaria bound off.
Contest winner--me!!!

Laminaria,
Takes forever to cast off
So go have some wine!

pattern said cast on
six hundred stitches-I did
'twas glad 'til bind off

OR

whoever thought up
ruffels at end of project
never help'd bind off

As I think Haiku should have references to nature, whatever that means:

Leaves turned fall colors,
Now trees cast them off. F. O's.,
in their own fashion.

Binding off slowly goes
Lovely socks do await though
Merrily life rolls

Shawl, so far to go
it seems; in and out go my
needles. Almost done!

Sweet relief, I'm done,
However, rejoice not yet,
Mattress stitch time now.

zen of casting off:
knit two together, slip back
enter timeless zone.

As I think Haiku should have references to nature, whatever that means:

Leaves turned fall colors,
Now trees cast them off. F. O's.,
in their own fashion.

J's Surprisingly
stretchy cast off rocks except
Nephew's socks fall down.

Casting off was fun,
Because it indicated
Knitting to enjoy.

Cast on, knit, bind off
The knitting goes so quickly
Binding off is slow

Provisionally,
Endless possibilities,
Stretchy bind off: Socks!

Talent wasn't necessary?

The last of the loops
Seemingly never ending
Anticipation

Laminaria
Thy name synonymous with
root canal and drying paint.

Alas the end's here,
I never thought it would come!
Now to love and wear!

not a single clue
on how to do haiku
so this must do

Casting off is my
least favourite thing to do
Well, next to blocking

Start a new project...
Long-tail cast on - long enough?
Don't knit with the tail!

Casting off stiches
Is not the end of the work.
It still needs blocking.

Lots of ideas,
Lack of time to execute
Makes this knitter sad.

Binding off is fun
I just keep telling myself
I am a LIAR

To begin, to end
Without making a bird's nest
Learn it on YouTube

The directions read
Cast off loosely in pattern
Hard for tight knitters.

"Casting off" makes my
project sound undesired.
But I know better.

Binding off the shawl:
It may not take forever
but may last 'til spring.

How many stitches?!
This had better be the best
project in the world.

Knit one and then another
And leap frog over, this is boundoff
repeat with all stitches until you’re green.

Or

Oh! I can not wait
For this knitting to begin
Oh! I can not wait!

endings without end
loops of yarn go on and on
new beginnings tease

So many bind-offs;
How shall I ever decide?
Ravelry will know!

Knitting seems endless,
An infinity of rows ...
'Til, at last! Bind off.

Just binding off now
It may take till spring or so
That is how its done

Bind off, lovingly.
The stitches will ever last.
Knits. Purls. Happiness.

oh binding off woe
when I missed one it unfurled
must knit shawl again

Finally finished.
Cast off too tight. Bugger it.
It's never finished.

Just realized mine was not about casting/binding off...

Knit successfully
Project completed except,
Bound off way too tight.

First, I am not a poet and I know it. So here is my feeble attempt.

knitting is simple
i wish i didn't cast on
counting is hard

There are some realy good poets on this blog!

Bind off stitch by stitch
Ever decreasing numbers
Shawl's finally done

Laminaria,
what a quick knit, not like that
Summer in Kansas

binding off is sweet
a new garment is produced
casting ON is near...

stitches on needles
knitting, knitting, knitting. Done!
now cast off and be proud.

blog ate my haiku
clever cast off wittiness
lost in cyberspace

now i post again
will it post or will it fail
cyberspace cast off

To begin: cast on.
Then, to frame the work of nights
And days, bind off. Fin.

Nearly a knit,
But no! The stitch comes to rest,
Along the work's edge.

Cast on for pleasure.
Knit day and night - delight.
Cast off a treasure.

anticipation
art unfolds through my fingers
proud to give or keep

Time for casting off
Pearlish strands come off needles
projects begun, done.

Binding off can take
A long time. Unless you like
To knit hats. Brim up!

Yarn leaps on in loops!
Speeds along...slows...dawdles on,
then - tick, tock - binds off.

Born today-a shawl
Of knits, purls, yarnovers made
Brought to bed-bound off!

casting off is fun
don't do it too tight or else
knitter will be sad.

knit for forever
the piece slowly taking shape
bind off then keep warm

Not reading comments
Watching endless green stitches
In, then out again

My first haiku ever. Thanks for the opportunity.

knitting is finished
so many stitches yet to bind
it takes forever

Delicate cast-off
Is required with pattern...
Oh damn it! Too tight!

Last to do, it is
Tiring and long, it be
Cry too, Yoda will

Too many stitches
Not enough time for them all
Drink wine, cast off, done!

unavoidable
say farewell go greet the next
opportunity

Coffee! Where art Thou?
Endless stitches before me.
Really need a beer.

I knit fairly well
But I find that my bind-off
Is always too tight

^true story. but the shawl looks absolutely delightful!

Casting off stitches
Will give these needles freedom
To begin anew.

Finally, your end--
interminable sweater
Oh, no! Out of yarn!

Casting On.

A new creature is
Born with needles and yarn. It
grows stitch, by small stitch

Oh, eternity!
One thousand stitches cast off.
Needles gently rest.

Romancing the needles
A sonnet casts off the last
Sad stitches of love

Shawl almost cast off.
Dinner's still not planned or cooked.
Just forget it - BEER!

Neil Sedaka says,
"Binding off is hard to do."
Or ... wait, maybe not.

Bind off and be done
Slowly, endless, frustration
Back to my sock now

What is binding off?
To whom do I inquire?
Don't I wish I knew!!

Binding off is loooooooooong
yet makes a prize of the shawl
you will wear with pride.

Love, love the shawl.

To bind off is to
create an end And all things must
end Even we must

beginning the end
unending repitition
satisfaction done

Binding off? Is that...
That thing one does if one could
finish a project.

It is now finished,
Crap now I have to block this...
It will never end.

Project is now done
I just need to bind if off
Never mind, not done

It's such a real joy:
Cast On. Begin! But a long
Road to the Bind Off.

Many tasks to finish
Pressing jobs for work and home
I will sit and knit

re-cast re-count, a
cup of tea I start again
and magically end

laminaria looks beautiful, :)

On the final row,
I can not wait to wear this!
One stitch at a time.

My project is done
Off the needles it must come
Finishing, what fun!

Casting on hopeful,
Knitting on endlessly,
Bind off elation.

Easy to forget
When flying across the rows
One must bind off too

Laminaria.
Why art thou so long to knit?
I will so love thee.

Oh! To Have Wee Sprites
Who Spirit In To Cast On
And Cast Off For Me

I hate binding off
Innumerable stitches
That’s why I crochet

Yards of casting off.
The longest part of the piece.
Next time, I'll crochet.

Exquisite knitting
Knit Purl Knit Purl Knit Purl Knit
Going Going Gone

Knit, knit. Keep knitting.
Knit, sigh, knit, swear, knit, cry, knit.
Eternal bind off.

There once was a knitter called Steph
Whose bind off quite robbed once of breath.
When asked, "How's it done?"
She replied, "So much fun!
You try - just a million stitches left."

(Because haiku are too classy for me.)

why did i leave you
incomplete but for cast off?
oh, i remember.

Casting, Casting off
More or less exciting than
Casting, Casting on?

I need a few beers
to ensure my sanity
casting off with glee!

So unrelenting
this counting of stitches is --
On, off, forever....

Decrease two, make five
Now turn and bind off seven
This is crazy math!

with every bound stitch
comes astonishing promise
beauty held in place

and congratulations on being so close!

Casting on is fun!
Knit, Knit the bliss today, then,
Oh No! Must cast off!!

It's time to cast off.
Look! I must start those mittens,
And after, a hat.

Bind on, Stephanie,
To your Laminaria.
Then cast off! Away!

Snowflakes fall softly.
Shawl edge finished. Candle glows.
Next silk skein slinks near.

Couldn't resist a second shot. I loved haiku in grade school. Thanks for asking us to do this. What a great idea!

Start with joy, cast on.
Knit the process until you
Cast off in triumph.

Coming to the end
The thread is tethered at last
To bind the design

My knitting is done
But for the very long bind off.
Startitis calls me.

I prefer long tail
To all the cast-ons. Rats!
I've knit the tail again!

Cast on inception
Fiber metamorphosis
Cast off gift of love

I am at the end
I forgot the beginning
What do I do next?

Hundreds of haiku's
All on casting off a shawl!
That just blows my mind!

Pass Stitch over stitch
Freeing yarn from the needles
what shall I knit next?

Your knitting is done.
Only the process matters.
Why bind off at all?

Cold, lonely. Cast on.
Knit cables, lace, rib and more
Cast off. Warm, happy.

I always forget
to go up a needle size.
Bind-offs fetter me.

so close to being
at the end of my project
just need to bind off

Begin properly.
You need more tail than you think
Or do it again.

I know I counted
Put markers in to be sure.
Damn! First row is wrong.

The only thing worse
Than binding off mohair is
Doing it over.

The knitting is done
Casting off has now begun
Come join in the fun!

Hurry to the end
Binding off takes forever
Want to wear it now!

Casting off. Oh my.
Seems like forever, my friend.
Then it is finished.

Knitted on edging
Just when I thought shawl was done
Miles more lace to knit.

Lace, lace, lovely lace,
Count! One stitch out of place and
It all looks like crap.

I cast on seven
Yarn over, knit some, make one
Must bind off hundreds.

Eternal bind off
Will it end? I don't think so
Is there enough yarn!?

Cannot stop haiku
Technical, precise counting
It's so much like lace.

Binding off at last
The project is almost done
Startitis must wait.

Just as the autumn leaves drop
So my shawl's stitches are cast away
But alas as spring returns the green leaves to their trees
So I wrap my shoulders in the green beauty of laminaria

Sorry I'm not good at haiku's but here's my poem none the less ;)

Casting on to swatch.
Oh, it lied to me again.
Casting on yet 'gain.

How can casting off
Cause so many folks to write
About casting off

I cast on my love
Smooth rough strands through my fingers
'Til my heart is pure

Slip knot; here we go!
Stitches marching like soldiers.
Time to go. Cast off!

End of my project.
It took a really long time.
Does it fit me right?

Casting off, a journey
Not undertaken lightly
Bring me some red wine

Stitch follows stitch, and
stitch again. Fingers at rest,
yet, new yarns beckon.

To cast on a shawl
few stitches - to bind it off
infinity waits

Binding off I am
Ready for the hard work to end
Ready to cast on

I am almost done
I long to be worn by you
Please, cast me off soon!

Forever casting
on, almost enough stitches
shoot- tail is too short!

Done with this d@mn shawl
But casting off takes so long -
Screw it, let's make socks.

Where is that darn cat?
In the kitchen? Lock her in
while I finish this.

Casting on. Again.
Why always three times? Always?!?
Bind off (yay!) just once.

One stitch at a time
It can't go on forever
I will be done soon

Cart ahead of horse.
I want to bind off before
knitting even starts.

Dear yarn, Casting off
is so boring, If I could
I'd leave the needles

Steph is binding off
The black hole of knitting calls
Startitus beckons.

Oh! Oh! to finish up
I would love to be done now
I will miss it though

Cast on, start to knit
Using my mind, hands and wit
Cast off, the best bit

I am casting off.
The project is almost through.
What will I knit next?

Casting on, one two.
Casting off, one two three four
five six seven eight nine...

Knit two, loop over
The end is almost in sight
Not attached i-cord!

I must cast on now
Casting off will come later
Knitting is forever

Binding off is dull
But each stitch gets me closer
To my goal: I'm done!

Not too tight, not too loosely
so the bind off goes.
Now I have to block the thing!

Casting on stitches,
I re-counted seven times.
Why is it still wrong?

Knit with lovely yarn,
Counting surely as you go,
Death by the bind off

Lovely shawl :)

Knit with lovely yarn,
Counting surely as you go,
Death by the bind off

Lovely shawl :)

Tubular bind-off,
best for one by one ribbing,
kitchener renamed.

Why art thou so glum?
You do realize you will
just cast on some more

laminaria
patience relentless knitting
singularity

Now the end has come.
You know your project is done!
Binding off is fun!

Piece of string and sticks
Long tail, knit on, many more
Suddenly, knitting

Knitting is over
but I still can't wear this thing.
Must bind off loosely!

knitting and slipping
pulling yarn loop over loop
please am i done yet?

I am casting off.
Not on a boat, but with yarn.
Bon Voyage, project!

slow as a sunrise
stitches slide like light on snow
melt a fading glance

Oh why is it so
every last bind off row
always seems too tight?

how I love knitting
from the very beginning
to the very end

Casting on then off.
Knitting endless rows between.
Beginning...ending.

Endless knitting as
Snow falls on November morn
Welcome cast-off hell.

The moon shone before
The eternal bind off, and
It will shine after

Just one more row left,
Where's that oversized needle?
It can't be too loose.

At last the cast-off
The end is almost here, dear!
What should I knit now?

End with a bind off
Except Laminaria
It will never end!

I can't wait to see it when its all finished :D

Leapfrogging stitches
Can't recall why I enjoy
this hobby anymore.

Or at least, that's how I feel when I cast off! :)

Binding off now, sigh
It's such a long process
Wow, now I'm Finished

Wonderful responses!!
My pitiful attempt:

Binding off is great
May a knitter admit it?
Best part of knitting!

(I do love a finished project!)

What was I thinking?
385 stitches
Next time baby socks!

Casting on is fun
Knitting along happily
Cast Off - big fat dud

simple, knit, purl, decreased,
Sewn, Three-Needle, Tubular.
All these mean the end! :)

Casting off is slow,
But when finished so fine
To wear and to show.

A few stitches more
The end of a long journey
Cast off to beauty

casting on the stitches, oh,
time flies by and by until
binding off time stops

excitement begins
project frustrations and then
bind off start anew

Rushing to finish
to complete the final row
better not be tight!

Interminable,
Yearning towards completion.
Soldiers, head-to-toe.

What a fun challenge. Leslie

Ardent lover strains;
Cast off the needles -- hurry!
Blocking next;Climax!

What else can I say?
I'm at work, busy-busy
Any chance to win?

I am one yard short
My hair falls out in patches
Best to put it down.

Casting off slowly...
"I'll be here till spring", she thought.
Suddenly - it's done!

Last row! it is done!
fourteen hundred stitches left...
oh well, ALMOST done...

binding off is so anxiety filled for me. sometimes i have to have a lie down in the middle. :) well, it looks gorgeous~

Oh, the slog of it.
But soon, dear, I will be done.
Then, on my shoulders.

can there be an end
as one decreases, always
one stitch remaining

SORRY - Due to technical difficulties, I entered about 10 of the same and didn't know it.

knitting oh endless
I feel I shall never be
done and on my soul

Why is it always
More fun to begin, cast-on,
Than to end, cast-off?

Casting off stitches...
Impatient to wear the shawl...
I still need to block!

Cast off is really
The beginning of the next
Phase in the cycle.

The longest journey
Begins with just two stitches
Till two shall be one.

The end is near now
Knit one pass over repeat
Loop by loop come off

Choosing a bind-off:
Stretchy, firm or hardwearing?
I can never choose.

Tumbling slowly off
circlets of joy now hover
drip, drop, off they fall

cast on and on and
knit knit knit knit knit knit knit
bind off and enjoy

I am at the end.
Do I have enough yarn left?
Bind off in panic.

laminaria
silky soft mossy goodness
the end is in sight

Wishing and hoping.
Million little stitches left.
Damn. I'm out of yarn.

***

Stretching, so it's done.
Denial, we meet again, friend.
Casting off anyway.

***

Finished. Casting off.
So many stitches, but done.
Ugh. Still have to seam.

eternal bind-off
stitches march ever onward
I enjoy this, right?

Can't wait to wear this;
Five stitches left to bind off -
What, I'm out of wool?!

A finished object
Awaits but one must first have
patience to bind off

A bind off haiku
Introspective, meaningful
Nah, just go with beer

A little ditty about my experiences binding off my Haruni of Doom!

What? Binding off in i-cord?
Crazy designer
But, yes - oh so effective!

Racing to the finish line
K2tog
Put knitting down, make cup of tea!

Blog having trouble
And so my comment appears
time and time again :)

So much to cast off.
Will it never end for me?
Gorgeous shawl is born.

Casting off stiches
deep, so deep, into the night
damn it!It's too tight!

Eighty-nine...ninety!
Was that ninety-one or two?
! EXPLETIVE - DELETE !

Cast on has promise
Stitches slip from new to old
Bind off hurry must start anew

Knit one, then one more,
Pass the first one over loose
Hey,then do again

Boy do I suck atmpoetry!

binding off is sweet,
but I'm too busy thinking
of what to knit next

The end is in sight...
*knit, knit, slip one stitch over
repeat from the star

loops on and loops off
intertwined yet separate
magic fabric made

Leaves turned Fall colors,
Now trees cast them off. F.O's,
in their own fashion.

Haiku need to reference nature, yes?

To knit - Ah, I love
The wearing, I do adore
To cast off is death

Goddess of fiber
cast about this handiwork
free me from its spell

Stitch over stitch, shawl
Pours off the needles thickly,
Like honey. Slow, sweet.

brown pants and green shirt
may look like a forest tree
could be worse me thinks

binding off isn't
as bad as sewing in all the
stupid loose ends in.

I put on stitches
then knit as patterns demand
I take off stitches

End of shawl looms on
horizon, like a mirage.
Please, are we there yet?

Cast on--anticipation!
Project grows--delight.
Eagerly bind off. Try on!

Just wondering, is this really a trolling for future fodder for a book??

And so it will end,
or so it had seemed. Alas!
The bind is too tight

I suck at poetry, but here goes:

When knitting a shawl
Casting on is way more fun
Than Binding it Off

One by one the crowd
Bows to my sceptre in turn.
Now all are prostrate.

As I sit and knit
I dread the cast off edging
It takes FOREVER

I really suck at poetry. The one time I wrote a haiku in high school, I got a failing grade. After that I...outsourced my poetry homework...

This is about as simple as it gets:

Take a long, deep breath.
K2 pass 1st st over
Repeat until done.

Casting on is bad
But not total drudgery.
That's weaving in ends.

Getting it done now
If I don't I never will
and all will be lost!

Casting on is bad.
But for total drudgery
Try weaving in ends.

Infinite miles of
Labored, minute decreases
Reap lasting beauty.

Cast on: potential
Endless endless lace; knit bound
Complete, block, marvel

Very good challenge. Nice one Janet.

the longest cast-off
edge is knitting's torture for
a big job well done.

Joy! It's done! It's done!
Now to just do the bind-off...
It's not really done.

Cast on, passion builds.
Knit and knit and knit and knit.
Bind off, whats up next?

I'm in a bind now
No time remains to finish
Woe, endless edging.

Great idea for a contest!
Karen

Kitty waits for yarn
Patiently while I bind off
Then destroys my work

cast on hopes and dreams
knit and tink and knit, repeat
bind off complete with mistakes

Oh, cast off, why do
You take so darn long to do?
I want my shawl NOW!

Started as a gift
With to many f-ing purls
Kept for my own self

cast on hopes and dreams
knit and tink and knit, repeat,
bind off with mistakes

Sure, I would like you to think that my post above had a mistake to make a point, but no, I just lost track of my syllables.

Well Stephanie, they seem to have about covered it. I know they made me smile.

Stitch over a stitch;
Lovely edge on finished work.
Too bad it puckered.

Yes I remember
I cast on so long ago
Goes on forever

cast on (do count twice)
join into one round (twist free)
knit on (with a grin)

One grain of sand, one
Blade of grass, one tiny loop.
The work is finished.

Soft wool queues in loops
As the needle dances through-
Joy in casting on.

Bind off, not so bad
At least I remember it.
Much worse, Kitchner Stitch!

Endless battleground
Enemy soldiers standing
Slowly Falling Down

I wrote two cause I couldn't decide which I liked more!

Kelp like it flows off
Needles dancing amidst green
Hope, it dawns anew

Bind off forever
Will it ever be complete?
A shawl of my dreams

cast on. knit. purl. knit.
knit more. purl more. increase, too.
count. hope. pray. bind off.

always casting on
thrill of new yarn new stitches
bind off in next life

A thought, A dream dreamt
A start with life's disruptions
Bind off-dream fulfilled!

Cast on, the Starting Line
Jogging, panting, sweating knit
Bind off- Celebrate!

Possibilities
Cast on with new hopes and dreams
Done, gift created.

Hoping to finish
I am so close to ending
Drat! No more yarn left.

Knit purl knit purl knit...
Life's never ending ribbing.
Curse you, dropped stitches!

Cast on, cast away
Get it done, do not delay
Bind and on your way

Time to bind off now
But I’m not distraught at all
More yarn awaits me!

Knit one; pass stitch over
Binding off is such a chore.
Oh dear, where's my beer.

Can't wait to finish
I'm finally done. I think.
Interminable.

Cast on: potential
Endless endless lace; knit bound
Elegance in warmth

Long-awaited end,
Yet final row takes longer
Than each row before.

Nearing completion,
Cast off, stitch by stitch by stitch,
Close, but not there yet..

A design unfolds,
but the yarn tail is dwindling.
The moment of truth.

Yarn, needles, pattern
Enthusiasm, commitment
Self-satisfaction

Best way to cast off?
Could I be losing my grip?
Think, I dropped a stitch.

Cast on, bind off string
Beauty anticipated
Warm, wearable love.

Sometimes you cast off
to find your count was wrong all
along. Keep going.

Ahead of you lie
A few hundreds of stitches
Enjoy binding off

I know, that's kinda cruel. But the long bindoff is the only thing between you and the magic of beautiful finished lace. You're so close!

Binding off sucks up
my time and my energy
spits it out, complete.

Another ending
elastic edge in pattern
What do I knit next?

Casting on again
Joyful new pattern knitting
Binding off again

Which cast on to choose?
Knit away, knit away, wheeeeeee!
Which bind off to choose?

oh standard cast off
you are not stretchy enough
i will kbl

ok -- i know this was a cheat to claim "i will kbl" (i will knit through the back loops) is 5 syllables, but having just discovered that casting off by knitting, then sliding two stitches back onto the holding needle, then knitting them together through the back loop, provides a supremely stretchy cast off, i was unable to resist.

congrats on your progress! it's beautiful!

Single loops so small
Left alone they slip away
Knit and slip, they bloom

So cold, must finish
When will this finally end
Knitting must go on

stitches dropped again
another pattern misread
who said this was fun?

choosing my cast on
builds the proper base to knit
thru to bind off, hurray

last stitch of last row
at last I cast off, darn it
that boy has grown big

cast on one, two, three
knit, purl, knit, purl to the end
three, two, one, all done!

Stitch by stitch by stitch
Too tight? Too loose? No, perfect.
Finally finished.

By the fireplace
The loops have stopped
Empty,I cast on

A beautiful birth.
My first finished creation
Get it the f*ck off

First it was all you
Now its all about the others
Your time has ended

Click click clack click...
Knit2 quickly purl slowly
End with a flourish

Bind off loosly, or
Your big head will not fit through
The small neck opening.

Casting off in life,
Like knitting, is best when done
One step at a time.

Hours with needles
Love, knit with fingers and wool
Completion is near

As a knitter I think this idea is fun. As a 7th grade English teacher, I am in LOVE! Thanks for the fun, creative inspiration.

So many stitches,
How will I get them all off?
Sigh, one at a time.

Anticipation,
Cast on, knit, knit, knit, oops, tink,
Knit, cast off and smile.

To cast on, which one?
Choices that make or break it.
Oh no, can't choose a bindoff...

Casting stitches off...
Rejection? No, acceptance
Of the completion.

The waves of purling
Cannot be stopped so quickly.
Patience! Low tide comes.

If knitting needles were cognizant and could write poetry:

Our work is soon done
We knit two, slip, pass over
Repeat, repeat, sleep.

Always needs more yarn
than in your unraveled ball
And then you rip. Shit!

Finally finished
I am so proud of myself
Ack, too tight again

One add one add one
knit knit knit and knit each stitch
then done...done...done--Done!

Two Haiku for You:

Start with just one loop.
Cast on more. Knit. Knit some more.
Cast them off. Wear. Ahhhh!

(Here's my personal favorite. I wrote it about 8 years ago.)

The urge to knit hits.
Where are my wallet and keys?
Yarn store...I'm coming!!!!

Cast off live stitches
Come back ashore, neat binding
The net is knitted.

Fall, winter, spring: a -
binding off I go, drinking
coffee all the way

All the knitting done
Casting off is all that's left
Fingers might fall off

I love the color you are using.

Imaginary
shawl, much better than the truth:
Alas, I can't count!

Laminaria,
Your bind-off edge is freaking
long. Love, Stephanie

It seemed so simple
starting with only one stitch.
Yet, magically grew.

Casted on fifty
Distracted by tonight's game
Cast off forty-nine

In September I
Was mad at casting off so
knit from bottom up

Three days binding off
Laminaria can wait
While Saroyan grows.

Twist and turn 'round
Till the snake eats its own tail:
Knitting's death spiral.

Binding off: such pain
I'd rather be drinking now
Not a good idea

At knitting's end I
Labour ceaselessly hoping
My bind off is right.

All stitches bound off,
ready to put on my hat!
Wait, now it's too small.

This happens to me more frequently than I care to admit.

'Til eternity,
I will be finishing this,
Or until I die.

Cast on, knit, bind off.
Dreaded second sock awaits.
Cast on, knit, bind off.

Worked on this for ages!
Can almost feel the comfort.
Casting off at last.

I've knit this all year.
Now I just have to bind off.
So close, yet so far.

A crocheted bind off
Can make a lovely shawl edge -
But crochet's no fun.

Cast on, knitting well
Darn,tink,rip,try it again
Bind off have a drink.

Beautiful project.
Knit on and on forever.
Bind off, bind off, Done!

I want you finished
Where did these stitches come from?
Love it! So pretty.

happy at the start
when the knitting gods are smiling
beautiful project

or

agony is here
I have finished my project
pics on Ravelry

Casting on, what joy.
Hundreds of stitches to go.
Socks, my knitting bliss.

Cable, long-tail, e.
Great starts all. (except for e)
Done? Cast Off Silly!

I would love to win
One of those two lovely books
Thank you Yarn Harlot!

Behold! A glimpse...
Bind that edge stitch by stitch.
Tedious glory.

Knit, pass stitch over
Endless loops on needle tips
Not too tightly now

measure once, then twice
anticipation, it mounts
glorious object

Shawl's final finish
Hours have passed in creation
At long last, it's done.

Cast off loose, looser,
Or the edges will gather
Like balloon pants hem.

It softly ends now
Binding off can be such joy
Sweet, sweet, victory

Seemingly endless,
Knit one, pass slipped stitch over,
What joy when it's done!

Meow cat has yarn
Pulling ball towards me to start
Kitty pounces ouch!

There go my stitches.
Locked now, over each other.
Disappearing act.

Now the end is near
And the yarn softly whispers
"Non, ne me quitte pas..."

Aaaah, knitting, knitting
Knitting...oh! I'm binding off!
What will I do now?

Hopeful creation,
Go forth spreading love and warmth!
Cut umbilical.

A haiku

Casting off begins
and goes on until the spring
Laminaria

Another:
A glass of red wine
Stitches complete one by one
A joy to be done

Knit two together
Click! I'm binding off
The project is done.

I’m tired of this yarn
The pattern thrills me no more
Get off my needles

Knit, knit, slip, knit, slip,
Knit, slip, knit, slip, knit, slip, knit,
Oooooh!? Write poem? Ooops!

Binding off is long
Fingers are so numb and sore
Knitting, never a bore

Time to say goodbye?
Done the making, now the start
of showing it off!

Casting off into
the push and pull of blocking,
then relax, being.

To finish this shawl,
billions of casting off stitches,
zen doesn't help much.

This shawl takes too long
stretchy bind off annoying
I should have knit socks

Lacey tedium,
Stephanie will persevere!
Leap-frog those stitches.

Just like in knitting, I can't count!!

Try again.

Binding off is long
Fingers are so numb and sore
Knitting, never bores.

Jeez!

The Harlot was right
Transition, delivery,
Now, the afterbirth.

Sorry if that's too much for anyone. Just running with the analogy. (almost as dangerous as doing so with scissors) :)

It's that time again.
Bind off: too tight, too loose, ugh!
Into time out, you.

Binding off, the end.
A thing of beauty finished.
Casting on begins.

This is a great idea! Haikus are such fun, even more when there's a chance for such great prizes! The shawl is gorgeous too.

I love to knit lots
Stockinette is very slow
Binding off worth it!

Faster with a hook
But I do it with needles
Or I feel dirty

:)

Knit purl knit purl knit
Never thought I would bind off
The damn thing is done

Cast off one row forever
Beer calling my name
Three draughts later do-over

Stitches play leap frog
So many loops become one
Now the game is done

I have reached the end
Here's the cast-off row at last
Happiness supreme!!

will there be more beads?
each one adds weight and beauty,
but really, more beads!

Oh, good fun on a crap day: thank you!

lady impatience
watching stitches on and off
fabric filling lap

Binding Off

The joy of knitting

is often interrupted

by the binding off.

I cast on to start
The best fun is in between
It never ends fast.

circles have no end,
I repeat "Cast on, Cast off.
Don't forget to breathe."

(Yeah, I can totally see Mr Miyagi knitting!)

First is done swiftly,
great sense of accomplishment,
thousand more to go.

Elizabeth says

Always cast off by sewing

It will be stretchy

Zen tranquility
Abruptly disappearing:
New ball mid cast-off.

No way around it.
Can't knit until I cast on.
Knit Purgatory.

repetition rules
binding stitches haunts her dreams
until fingers bleed

There is no feeling
in the whole world quite like it
Knit.Knit.then Bind off.

Every stitch a prayer.
Wrap the yarn, under and through.
Bound off just for you.

Binding off, I'm done.
Should I be happy or sad?
I might miss the fun.

Needles and wool work
Magic together to
Create edge finish

It's finally done,
Except for the binding-off.
Now, or in three years?

Used up all the yarn;
finished, now I must bind off--
Oh, wait. Nevermind.

Delicate leaves
Biding over the snow
Casting is over

binding off
how the shawl gets done
now I try it on

I love to bind off
It gives me a sense of joy
and a job well done

The knitting is done.
The dreaming is over.
To gift or to keep?

Binding off is slow
Like waiting for woodpeckers
To eat our suet

Delicate leaves
Floating over the snow
Binding is over

Binding off at last
This sweater took forever
Please god let it fit.

Careful casting off
Using extra large needles
Ending still too small

Anxious glee cast on,
Soaring Knitting gift of joy.
Grinding binding off.

Casting on, yarn flies
Binding off is filled with woe,
interminable!

Nothing takes longer
Than binding off Hemlock ring
Knit thirteen, lose six!

Christmas races nigh.
Knitting, ripping sprint to the
finish line! Cast off!

Stitches - tiny birds,
One by one they fly away
From their neeedled perch.

Casting off large shawls
Is very satisfying
Look how much it grows!

Drinking a Sleeman's --
Cast on...how many you say?
Cast off...already?!?

No really, I would never do that as a knitter!

I cast on and on.
Forever, it seems to me.
Too many. Rip out.

::sigh::

Knit two together.
Slide back onto left needle.
Repeat forever.

and another just for fun (I haven't written haiku in years; forgot how enjoyable it was):
Blog is down, oh woe!
No way my haiku can win.
Franklin. sob. Franklin!

A light at the end:
Ten stitches left to go!
Nope, must start over.

Winter is here, and
cold little hands say, "Dear mom,
to bind off is blessed."

Oh my; good gracious
never again will I ask
For Haiku poem

For the Harlot write
the haiku of Binding off--
Quicker than the act!

Soft yarn slips freely
Tucked 'round the needle below
Hugs close to finish.

5AM bind-off:
Where'd all these stitches come from???
Damn my ambition.

A haiku is not
Long enough to entertain
During long bind-offs

so random, haiku!
a nifty poem format
helps poem-challenged. :)

Green like the spring leaves
a winter shawl to warm you
cast off, and be done

Just felt compelled to comment on how many wonderful readers you have and how many took the time to compose such wonderful haikus! It's incredible!!! It can't be the contest - must be true knitting comrades. You are a lucky lady!

Cast off, so simple
But Everybody I know,
Finds it tedious.

The last few stitches
Knitted albatross of wool
Thank God it's finished!

(The shawl is lovely)

Binding off at last,
The final push to the end.
Soon I'll wear my shawl.

I absolutely LOVE that color :D

And now:

Almost to the end
Eat a piece of chocolate
Then continue on.

Casting off is dull
Not as bad as warping looms
You too, casting on.

Devious, bad yarn
Falling off my red needles
While I curse bad luck

Whew, I'm at the end.
Knitting is finally done.
Cast off, one by one.

Elizabeth

Another one done
To my stash I now retreat
My quandary... what's next?

Such a joy to end
But bittersweet to finish
I cast off again

Casting off a shawl
One project ends, another
Ready to begin

to cast-on is bliss!
the knitting is ecstasy!
binding off, it sucks.

or

casting on is hope
woolly possibility
binding off, a death

(I think I could do this all day)

"EZ haiku"

cast on, knit on, with
confidence and hope, through all
crises, then bind off.

(sorry, i couldn't help myself.)

Casting off is hard.
Sometimes it doesn't make sense.
Refrigerator.

(With my apologies to the Internet.)

Ooh what talented
Poets the Harlot's readers are!
I just can't compete!

Here are three haiku.
They are like potato chips.
I guess this is four.

Two become as one.
Ah, sweet mystery of life:
Three-needle bind off.

Stitches on needle ...
Knit-one, purl-one bind off done!
Very nice for rib.

So many stitches ...
Lace shawl is finally knit.
Cast off neatly now!

Does it ever end?
Patience is thus rewarded
With first drape of shawl.

Title: Casting on
A blank slate
Like new school supplies
Evokes endless possiblities

First I knit a loop,
Then I knit the second loop,
Then a loop was gone.

Task with no ending,
Shove it into the closet,
Bind-off takes too long.

Almost done, oh joy!
Now all that's left is to... Beep!
I made a mistake.

casting off a stitch
around and around I go
this could take all year

Cast on, so much fun.
Casting off takes forever.
But now, almost done!

Cast on my wood tens.
Drop another stitch, increase.
Tear it out again.

an early frost --
binding off the first sock

=========

As an honest-to-goodness haiku poet (yes, there are such things), I'm going to point out that the syllable scheme really only applies if one is writing in Japanese and, since I'm not, my haiku doesn't have to have the 5-7-5 thing going on. (Well, neither does anyone else's, for that matter. The best English equivalent is two stressed syllables/three stressed syllables/two stressed syllables. Roughly.)

If anyone is interested, haiku should also have a seasonal reference and, in general, should attempt to crystallise a single moment in time.

Starting, casting on
endless posibilities
Happy potential

Vicki

Never knit a shawl
The cast-off is too daunting
Stick to baby stuff.

Almost done; last row
completion; satisfaction
Look, it is finished!

Shawl begone with you -
I have more things to now knit
which are not just green!

Here I sit
All broken hearted
Came to Knit
But only started

Casting off: It is time.
Leap frog stitches! Go, go, go!
Don't run out of yarn...

How can you read them all???

Hold up-admire!
bound off, something is calling
Itching to start new

wind round and around
casting on with confidence
oops! i miscounted

where are my scissors?
tug, tug, but nothing happens
crochet chain cast-on

Knitting forever.
Casting off, so very close.
Oh at last, the end.

Distant cast off row,
a single lonesome mitten,
Christmas day too near...

Knit two. Bind off one.
There! A satisfying start,
To a great finish.

Cast on two stitches
Increase here and increase there
Cast off a billion

I think there's at least a good book's worth of poetry here... More time for you to knit!

Anticipation
as I cas on my stitches
joyous-they bind off

Beautiful shawl, glad it didn't take a life time.

Bind off? What's the fuss?
Project will soon be finish'd.
Just get on with it.

time is so precious
bind-off ever so safely
stitch in time saves nine

To perceive concept
of perpetual motion then
begin your cast off.

It's been fun to write even if not strictly correct.

In three stanzas:

In the beginning,
possibilities excite.
Newness motivates.

Around the middle,
fatigue sets in and boredom
must be overcome.

But hope is renewed
as we reach the bind off row.
Proud of my F.O.

Lovely, lovely yarn
Loops of beautiful sheep's wool
Tears to see the end

Hal-le-lu-ee-yah!
All done! Over! Finito!
Casting off begins!

knit two together
thru the back loop, holy (bleep)
will it never end?

cast on lovely shawl,
knit for you with joy, hope, tears.
Cast off, warm soft love.

Tail guesses - repeat.
last rows so calculated
never leftovers.

The Zen of knitting
Binding into every stitch
Peace Protection Love

binding off - oh my
off and off and off and off
when will it end? sigh

Click click casting off,
when will this ever get done?
Now, cast on anew!

Haiku as contest
Reading Yarn Harlot is fun
Knitting is pure joy

Main body is done!
My smile quickly fades away
I still must bind off

Drop the stitch and curse
Pass the stitch over again
Swear I'm good at this

Cast on tail too long
Ignore the swishing yarn tail
Time to bind off..... crap

Everyone hates them
Those super long bind-offs
we want our knits now

knit two pass over
over and over repeat
cast off forever

Last stitch of pattern
I thought that the end was near
Nope still casting off

Cast off: one last kiss
to and from my knitting bliss.
Fly off my knit wish!

What a huge relief
And yet I'm a little sad
Poor naked needles

One stitch at a time
Leaves the needles to dangle,
Thoughts turn to new yarn.

Don't choose your projects
Based on how much to cast on
But stitches cast off.

the end is so near;
stitches are playing leap frog;
at last, final loop.

Tiny loops glare at me,
knit one off, one by one,
finally all done!

casting off the old
makes a free pair of needles
to cast on the new

casting on with hope
the rhythm of the bind off
blocking spreads its wings

This row never ends.
I'm loosing the will to live.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Ruffle, I hate you!
You must be redone, twice more.
Oh, Bind Off, come soon!

So long since cast on
Knit fabric from living loops
Genie back in lamp.

you thought you were gonna be working on it ... FOREVER. and you managed to FINISH it like a blink later?!? my forever is alot different..lol

Casting on is fun
But then I procrastinate
So I don't cast off

I need little elves
With quick hands and sure needles
To bind off my shawl

Can't wait to see it post-blocking!

good god i'm done here
no way will i ever win
three needle bind off

Posted before I read the 835 others, in order to not be influenced by all the poetic greatness out there...okay, I've got some reading to do now...bye!

Knit, Knit, Slip Over
routine cadence of the soul
wisdom handed down

Binding off is fine
All you need is a glass of wine
It will take no time.

fiery love cools
farewell now my woolly friend
each stitch says goodbye

Saying "fond farewell"
to a project that captured
my heart and my hands

project nearly done
skeins in closet beckon me
but I must cast off

One stitch, two stitch, slip
Many, then there's few, now slip
The lovely last stitch

Okay, that's lame but hey, it's late! Off to read what everyone else wrote.. Your shawl looks beautiful

I just read the instructions on proper haiku writing given by Jen, the honest-to-goodness haiku poet, at 10:12, and therefore, would like to change mine.

Ruffle, I hate you!
It rains and I must re-knit.
Bind off eludes me.

Casting on Stitches
Counting, frogging, counting more
Binding off, cast on

One, two, over, off
Loosely lest it start binding
lovely slip-stitch edge.

Casting on is hard
Not in the action itself
I just can't count well.

Casting on with yarn
Exciting potential 'til
It's something. Bind off

We face with dread that
darkness before the bright dawn
when we must bind off.

Yarn is almost gone:
Bind off faster and hope that
you will not run out.

The hat was so small
how long could this last bit take?
Argh, now it's too tight.

Fullness of autumn
stitches cast off fall like leaves
against winter cold

you can't escape it
a shawl knit from center top
has a long bind off

Binding off at last
Thought this day would never come
Laminaria

And, I'm completely unable to read directions!

Second try:

Casting off excites
So much potential after
The act is complete.

Now the end is near
Savour the final moments
Let go loop by loop

Slip over and off
Remember, not too tightly
The end is in sight!

Oh so many loops
I must persevere so I
May finish in time

Knit one, knit one more
Remove one stitch from needles
Repeat forever

I am casting off
Feeling happy, and sad, too,
Lovely thing is done.

Casting off is fun
It means your garment is done
Oh but now to block.

Laminaria.
Beautiful a shawl, you are,
Way to persevere.

Like running downhill
gaining momentum binding
off addictively!

Three needle bind off.
Oh, the symmetry! Such bliss.
Tomten hood is done.

Binding off the shawl!
Always socks in the background,
Waiting to be knit!

Casting on boring
made better with nice red wine
knitting more fun now

Knit slip and again
Repeat Repeat til the end
Weave admire oh joy

Too many stitches
Why did I knit this damn shawl?
I better look fab.

Pour a little wine
Million bind off stitches left
Pour a little more.

Knitting casting off,
A knitting necessity,
A pain in the arse.

Binding off loosely,
Seems an impossible task,
Tight cuffs all around.

It's time to cast off
Do I have enough yarn left?
Pray for one more skein.

Most tedious task
Casting off a giant shawl
My mind is boggled

Knit, slip stitch over
Repeat again and again
Not too tight, loosely

Knitting is all done.
Binding off is tedious.
Red wine always helps.

Binding/Casting Off
Both sides of the planet/coin
Bliss/Pain in the arse

(I get to meet Franklin this weekend - the history of lace, whee!)

I knit at twilight
As spiders finish their webs
Soon I'll be done too!

Where is my haiku?
I think the server ate it.
Must be time for beer.

Binding off the shawl
Takes from fall until springtime.
Too hot to wear it.

In sight of the end
stitches stretch as far as I see
shawl for my dear friend

Anatomy of a Shawl

Oh sweet beginning!
Such fun, the knitting. Cast-
off? Neverending.

Hemlock Ring Blanket
I so enjoyed knitting you
Cast off took too long

Crud, I messed up my syllables!

Anatomy of a Shawl

Oh sweet beginning!
Such fun, the knitting. Cast-off?
Ugh! Neverending.

I have yet to find
the perfect (for me) bind-off.
Plus, my haiku sucks.

Leaves turned fall colors,
Now trees cast them off - F.O.'s,
in their own fashion.

Stitch by stitch she goes
Forever casting off now
Lovely shawl is born.

Casting this thing off
takes forever -- no, wait, done?!
Why was there not more?

Grab larger needles . . .
Keep it loose, keep it even,
Hallelujah, done!

Knitters post haiku
Hundreds of them, all at once
Duplicates abound.

knitting Omega,
Satisfaction imminent,
fiber leapfrog done.

The end is in sight
enough yarn left to cast off?
Drat! yarn mojo fails!

Stitch on right needle
Jumps over next knit stitch with glee
Binding off frees me

A knitting Haiku Pair

Joy in casting on
New yarn, excting project
grows in tedium

Endless stockinette
Yarn no longer fresh and new
Casting off in Joy

Barely enough yarn,
but I finally bound off...
Oh hell it's too tight.

Casting off? This thing
you speak of, it is only
a rumor, no more.

winter chill, cast on
what is the worth of one stitch
if not united

Why bind off that shawl?
Fresh yarn, new pattern right here
Let's cast on instead.

Laminaria
On you, not on your needles!
Let's bind off now, 'kay?

I cast on with tens
But bind off with nines-OH NO!
Who says size don't matter?

Casting off seems slow
But there's rhythm as you go
Ends in sight! All done!

cast on all day long
bind off for at least two weeks
the shawl will warm you

Anticipating
That final loop slip leaves me
Quivering with joy.

I made a small version of Laminaria and just loved it. I have been considering making another larger one.

Starting is more fun.
To dream, to choose, to buy.
Finishing is hard.

knit one, knit one more
pass first stitch over second
satisfaction nears

Will it ever end?
Binding off can bring me joy
If it ever comes.

Yay! I am finished!
Except for the next seven
years while I bind off.

Haiku Headache! lol!!!!

stitches are ready
hopping over each other
free from the needle

An endless black hole
Filled with stitches to cast off
Refrigerator.

which bind-off to choose?
Grumperina saves the day -
Have a happy sock.

I love to knit stuff
but binding off is a drag.
Next time I'll crochet!

new stitches and old
live in fingertips always
another lace shawl

the last row beckons
calm repetitions lay still
hope the yarns holds out

Cast off lines endless
A journey finished today
Knitting not the sea.

Oh dear, almost done
Fine'ly started liking it
What will I do next?

(Okay, it's kind of a cheat on the second line, but who pronounces all the syllables in "finally" anyway? :)

I'll miss you, sweater,
You'll always be in my heart.
Ooh! A shawl pattern!

Binding off. Again.
Last time. I mean it. For Reals.
Won't fix any more.

my five year old girl
executes on her own
a perfect cast-on

Knit. Knit. Knit. Knit. Knit.
Is it time to bind off, now?
Almost. Knit, knit, slip.

(whew.)
Basho has nothin' to worry about.

Into each loop one
then it slides off the needle,
a whole and still part.

Another, different theme:

So many stitches.
I'll never finish without
more beer. Please, one more.

dishes may pile up
and dust bunnies roam free
I am bound to bind

the end is here so
cast off out away - all
to cast on anon

Casting off forever
I will die here doing this
When will the end come?

I got no haiku, but I have respect for everyone here who responded with such beautiful and funny poetry. Bravo.

casting on can be
exciting journey begun
cast off fond good-bye

~margaret

Twisting thread of life
Draw within, above, beyond.
Closure nigh; cast off.

Casting on with hope
Knitting up dreams of greatness
Casting off with love

just one more minute
and one more glass of red wine
and a heavy sigh

Knitters and poets:
who knew how much overlap
bind-off would inspire?

Or should that be 'contest could inspire'?? The shawl is gorgeous - thanks for the giveaway!

Yarn...hands...time...process.
Stitch by stitch; loop on. Loop off.
A lapful of love.

Luscious yarn compells
To cast on, loving each stitch
Savor 'til bind off

Casting on some yarn
Knits and purls and wraps and turns
Binding off it's done

Stephanie: The purpose of rules seems to escape me, so I wrote this poem about you instead:

I am as happy as can be
I practice yarn polygamy.
Some cashmere here, merino there,
Handpainted sock yarn everywhere.
I'm passionate, I cannot stop,
Because I am the Yarn Harlot.

To knit; not to knit.
This the question is. Answer:
Knit! Make pretty things.

Knitting live long days
I will bind off all night long
Sun up comes; oh frog!!

Knitting forever
and ever, now done:) Now
I need to bind off:(

casting on with hope
it's starting; it is ending
binding off with joy

I cast off a shawl
three hundred sixty seven
stitches unraveled

Endlessly cast off
lovely laminaria
Then send it to me.

Casting off is loss
Miss the project you lived with
Onward with the new.

cast on: hope abounds
infinite options become
FO at bind off

Knit, knit, now bind off.
Never reaching finish line.
Triangular shawl?!!?

To make an ending
Is simply to start anew
Another project

Casting off the shawl
Wish it wouldn't take so long
Need a bloody beer

Cast off the stitches
Then later you can cast off
The garment you made.

I seem to remember that there should be an observation of nature in haikus as well? :) Anyway, here are my attempts. I couldn't help myself, I had to write two.

Sound of busy hands
needles clicking, like the boat
reaches the shore

Geese travelling south
Shaping their skein like I shape
the edge of this shawl

It's time to bind off
Knit knit pass knit pass knit pass
I want to cast on

Purgatory feels
like forever casting off
a mobius strip

I am forever
Casting on and casting off
wishes, dreams and joy

A finished object
takes time and care when binding
off. Pain in the a**.

Progress stitch by stitch
Leaving a long bind off snake
Watch out for its fangs

Can't wait to wear it
Almost finished, but not quite
Please, please, no mistakes!

damn! i have finished
this great big beast of a shawl
really??? is it done???

On and on it goes
Never ending, mindless, dull...
Oh look! Now it's done!

Knit, over and off
Perhaps too tight, try again
Knit, lift, off, complete!

First knit two stitches.
Then pass the first stitch over.
Continue to end.

Treasured precious stash,
Turning slowly to compost..
Just let me finish.

not too tightly now
place lovely loop over loop
now on to the next!

Casting & stitching,
Pretty motifs knit throughout,
Time to wear it out!

Casting on my yarn
Dreams of stitches completed
A wish to finish

Cast on forever
Knit along a while in peace
Bind off forever

Knit two together, repeat.
Knit two together, repeat. Or just
Throw project away.

(I find casting off so boring - the only thing more boring is blocking!)

Knitting is finished
The bind off takes forever
Totally worth it!

bind stitch upon stitch
make them secure, then let go
set your knitting free!

before I can wear
knit, knit, pass first stitch over
this lovely green shawl

Working on knitting
Always starting something new
Never casting off

Shawl light as bird wing
Yarn flying free from needles
Cast off your fetters!

stitch by stitch by stitch
floating free from the needles
knit becomes alive

knit and slip over
over over and over
does not unravel

Cast off and cast off,
(I crave Franklin's calendar)
Cast off and cast off.

XOXOX

Happy to cast on
Excitement begins to wane
Cast off means the end

casting off? don't fret.
eternity is really
only two days long

Cast off, cast away,
Sail upon a world of use,
Little knitted ship.

Casting on new dreams
The long journey has ended.
Dreams bound together.

Time at last to cast
off! Knit,pass stitch over, friend
onwards, stoic. End!!

knit beautifully
enjoy the pattern and yarn
cast off and enjoy!

Binding off has come.
Next to the "to be blocked" bag,
My endless lace friend.

On Binding Off

I do love knitting
Yes, I really love knitting
Yes I do, sob, sob.

Cast on, count, recount
Count, recount. again, again
Cast off, no counting

unending
casting off a shawl...
kill me now

wooden needles click
tiny loops slip off away
the weight is gone. joy!

Knit, pull stitch over
Reddo, ad infinitum
Robus numerus

(Knit, pull stitch over
Repeat forever
Strength in numbers - all translated horribly by someone who knows hardly anything about latin).

Will this ever end?
Cast off this sucker, pronto.
I need more wine now.

Yarn loops in and out
A new project comes to life
Hope springs eternal

or

Casting on's a joy
Why do I feel so guilty?
Unfinished projects

Binding off frees the
knitting from its creators:
my needles, my hands.

Casting off no fun
When it takes you all month long
BUT, the shawl is DONE!

Casting on is fun
Casting off even better
Beware of the points

dropping a stitch,
while binding off, is its own
particular hell

Knit one, slip over
Final stitches seem endless
Finally it's done

cast off my stitches
the end is now close at hand
endless boredom reigns

Cast on is so fast
Just a few little stiches
Bind off goes on forever.

My husband interrupted me and I boo-booed.

Cast on is so fast
Just a few little stiches
Bind off forever

Can't wait to bind off
Like pregnancy, then labor
Wait! I changed my mind.

Starting is easy-
the project will be perfect!
And then it is not.

The end approaches -
So soon will I be done!
I hate finishing.

What will yo do then,
After you've bound the thing off?
Laugh? Sigh? Smile? Weep? Dance?

Anticipation
Tension, must match cast-on now
Knit-slip, knit-slip, done!

Work that has lived on
these needles drops away now.
I made this fabric.

Binding off Haiku
Knit Pass over knit
Ever receding finish
So close to the end

Am not a haiku gal but...I amused myself knitting a shawl this weekend by making myself finish a part of it, then get up and do something (but not until then) etc. I got a lot of laundry and cleaning done and a lot of shawl done.

Of course, when it comes to binding off I'll be weeping and gnashing my teeth.

wait.

of course, when it comes
to binding off I'll be weep-
ing and gnashing teeth

ha.

the shawl starts with one
after all the knitting, bind
off and off and off

Knit two together now
So that it does not unravel
One joyful knitter

Lynn B

Counting the cast on
Knit along with no mistakes
Bind it off, you're done!

I tried to post these yesterday, but get getting error messages. Probably too late for the contest, but I'm trying again anyway.

{Stephanie ~ high school English teachers everywhere must be astounded by the number of poets you have created by means of a simple contest!]

Here are two haiku for you:

Knit, knit, slip over
Endless task takes forever
Then suddenly ~ done!

Knitting is my life
Until it's time to cast off
Then it feels like death

to close these stitches
relief that brings sweet sorrow
not done yet. to block...

Another one:

Presbytera says:
Why is this not Joe's gansey?
Conscience-prodding friend.

It has taken time.
That time is gone now, it's done.
Cast off, keep warm girl!

It's lovely, by the way - well worth all the time you spent on it!!

Conflicted feelings:
Will it EVER end!? Yet, still...
Excitement building!

Stupid pattern-thing
Always with the wrong stitches...
I know it's not me!

Crochet chain bind-off.
Make five chains, single crochet.
Repeat until end.

What will this become?
This treasure that I cast on ...
Possibilities.

three hundred stitches
cast on...worked...then, one by one
dropped into softness.

Always casting off,
When will I be done? Oh, wait-
I'm a process knitt'r.

the best part about
binding off a sweater is
starting the next one

Loop another loop
Loop after loop after loop
Will it never end?

Lift and separate
No Wonderbra needed here
Success in my lap

Lifted up, dropped down
There's a metaphor in here
Shawl, we're breaking up.

A crush to cast on
Inevitably leads to
A bunch of cast off

Begin counting tens
Knit purl counting many
Bind off gratefully

Casting on my shawl
Stitch after stitch after stitch
Won't someone shoot me?

- - -

Casting off my shawl
Life of measureless knitting
Sideways borders suck

I hate binding off
It takes ages and ages
It makes me go mad!

Casting off my yarn
Project is nearing an end
Time to buy more stash.

knit knit slip over
ho hum, ooo, what's that new thing
hmm, I'll be right back

Final row knitted
Slip one, knit one, pass over
Get the pins and block

Endless stitches past
Light in the tunnel ahead
Finishing in joy

Happens every time
You would think I'd learn by now
Go back to the books

Cast on three, just three!
Bind off is beginning now
And will never end...

The bind won't unwind
this time. Promise forever
Cast offs now or never

I yearn for sweet warmth
Will this bind off never end?
Snow in my garden

so much knitting left
considering that this is
supposed to be done.

Knitting is over
Loop after loop, one by one
Binding off is done

Finally I'm done.
I've already moved on, yet
I must finish you...

Winter is near and
In order to be cozy
I keep binding off.

Binding Casting off
Monotonous but needed
Too stretchy just right

Looking to cast on
To the very next project
This bind off thrills me

It is done, this shawl
The time has come to cast off
What shall I do next?

Cast on seven stitches;
increase, knit, increase some more
bind off, yawn, bind off.

Cast on twenty three.
Knit forty repeats of lace.
Count thirty - Horror!

Sign that finish near
black hole conquered again
cast off project time.

Yarn Harlot knits great
Laminaria is done
Time for a cold one

around and about
needles flying seamlessly
on, off, done, thank God!

Long tail, short again
second try, three feet too long
Join, beware of twist.

cast on to begin
treasuring the in between
Binding off to end

WOW I surprised myself with this one LOL

Loop over again
Will this torture ever end
Sew in the loose ends

I submitted a haiku in the morning, but can´t find it. I wonder where it went. I wonder if I will remember it again. I will try. After all, it was my first haiku ever, and in strange language!!I´m Finnish, see.

Binding off is happy.
Stitch by stitch get it all done,
finally wear my shawl.

and another one, made after submitting the first one:

Binding off just sucks
but there´s one thing even worse,
weaving in the ends.

Knit then up and over
No more counting or purling
Hey! I can have wine

Never ending bindoffs
brings a terrible feeling
to an amazing shawl!

I love your shawl and must cast on for my own!!

Time to cast it off.
This project is fin'lly done!
What to start on next?

Yay! Knitting finished!
Wait… We still have to bind off.
Where did that wine go?

Casting off each stitch
One at a time seems so slow -
One less stitch to go!

Cast off these today:
Stitches, worries, cares -- away!
Then cast on anew.

:-) Lovely shaw, indeed! A touch of lively spring green against the dying browns of autumn. :-)

Big up your needle
Knit two pass first stitch over
Cast off can be zen

Never get it right
A long tail or not enough
Cast on and bind off

Binding off stitches
Knowing the process is done
Ambivalence reigns

laundry chute is clogged
dust bunnies breed in corners
just a shawl in sight

Many hours work
Ruined in a brief instant
Why is this so tight?!

Binding off never ends
It is as bad as seaming
Do laundry instead.

My goodness there are some good poems posted already!

cast off black mohair
on shining silver needles
eye strain

Cast on is too tight
Frogging before I started
This is a bad sign

Needles, size seven
wool, cashmere, silk, alpaca
winter warmth and love

A finished edging
What every knitter longs for
One stitch at a time.

cast on, it begins.
row upon row working slow
cast off, it is done.

To cast on is bliss,
divine anticipation.
Cast off, not so much.

Oh fickle cast-on
Precise counting required
Never the same count twice

One more haiku ~ I'm enjoying reading everybody's poetry

Cast on, knit and knit
Frog, knit, tink, knit, then bind off
Why don't I crochet?

Casting off's not fun
But there is no other choice
To have one more shawl!

Cast-on cast-on five ten more
cast-off cast-off
and out the door.

Learning how to knit
knit, pearl, knit, pearl, knit, pearl, knit
How do I cast off?

Binding off for hours
Five hundred stitches and each
A moment of life

Casting off is not
The end of knitting, it is
The start of wearing!

I'll join in the fun:

Bind-off is painful.
Almost finished - yet so far...
Press onward my friend!

Casting off, project
Done! The homestretch, the finish
near -- Alas! Black hole!

Casting on stitches
Knit a glorious pattern
Then I bind them off.

For me it's always
a little sad to cast off.
I hate when it ends.

It is not the end,
the mind-numbing binding off,
It starts the wear time.

The ending has come
before sleigh bells are ringing.
Another gift done.

This shawl is bound off!
Now the delicious question:
What to cast on next?

It may have seemed like forever, but gosh, I think you're fast!

I am edging a Lizard Ridge afghan (5X7 square - size). I have seamed, and seamed, and seamed some more, and woven in all gazillion ends, and will soon join you in celebrating completion of an endless project.

By the way, my haiku isn't totally honest: I never have fewer than a dozen active/semi-active projects on my needles!

Casting off, it sucks.
You just want to speed it up.
There's always duct tape.

Knitting almost done
I hope my guage is right...
Gigantic Sweater

Casting off, ho-hum
three hundred stitches to go
Where is the stapler?

When one stitch remains
I've come to the finale
Now I can wear it!

The end is so near
So close yet so far away
This long cast off row!

Start with yarn and joy
on the needles go the loops
bind off, whew, can't wait!

Casting off can be
Quite meditative, unless
You make it otherwise.

Start: My Latest Crush
Trudging, Never-ending Beast
End: Love is Renewed

Ode to the Hemlock Ring:

An I-chord bind-off
But six inches from the end
I start a new skein

This stupid cast off,
will it never ever end?
Only for you, Shawl.

magic, elastic
binding off is not the end
blocking finishes

Stitches fall, slowly
changing from string to become
the loveliest thing.

The perfect beginning
Just the right tension for scarf
Too many stitches.

Hopeful beginning
Then slogging through the middle
Dreading the last stitch

it seems like this knit
started much smaller than it
is going to end

One loop over loop.
Loop over loop over loop.
When will this be done?

Six months casting off
Her only topic for blog
Good thing she writes well

Time slowly passes
My needles to the task at hand
It is finished.

Letting go until
Into another project
My needles must go

:-) Beautiful- that one is in my queue

Knitting right along
Come to the end, dag-nab-it
How do you cast off?

I, the Grim Reaper
Kill off the last live stitches
Their demise clothes me.

Laminaria
You are almost finished now,
Laminaria

At last, I cast off...
Drinking slows, language improves...
Husband, kids come home

The bittersweet point
of potential fulfilled: Once
ended, recommence.

i-cord, cable, yes!
the finish is so right there
the end's in sight!! YAY!!

Alas, Cyberspace
It has taken my clever
Poem, lost so sad

Bind off November!
Or even frog. Dank greyness
Clutches. Need new 'wip'!

or

Let's frog November!
Mark it 'ugh'! Rain, rain, rain, rain,
Christmas ads, oh God.

Sorry for the negativity. Here in England the weather has turned from golden autumn to soggy dark November and the rain has settled in for the duration. And we do not have Thanksgiving to look forward to! Can I just sleep until April? I'll try an upbeat one later.

There once was a girl from Toronto,
Who wanted her shawl finished pronto,
She asked for haikus,
but I have bad news,
For I prefer limericks and ponchos.

^_-

Halfway through my first:
Aeolian (bridal) shawl
We sure start small here.

Not about binding off or casting on, but it's where I am, on my first shawl--pure silk and gorgeous.

Lace in November
Bind-off could take me ten hours
Keeps my fingers warm

Hop! Over you go
Nestle down and hold your place
Finite end to Process

yarn over needle
pull through, lift over, repeat
ad infinitum?

Almost completed
Binding off is stressful
Project almost done :)

Mohair is weeping
Needles chase it through the weeds
Long-tail is a bitch

cast on or cast off?
a work in progress or a
new project to love?

Knit Knit. Round I go
Oops! I forgot not to twist
Infinity now

Cast on for me NOW!
Whichever method you please
Just cast on and knit.

knitting's greatest chore
sitting casting off and off
what i'd rather wear!

Where-is-Jane-Austen
I-need-Pride-and-Prejudice
to-savor-this-toil

(I-have-no-spacebar)

cast on and cast off
the tedious details that
surround the fun part

Casting off - a chore
The Yarn Harlot exaggerates
Before spring, is done

Last loop passed; it's done.
'Cast on with me.....' this skein of
soft cashmere whispers.

Laminaria
I once longed to cast you out
Now I cast you off

Stephanie, it will take you longer to read all these haikus than it did to knit that shawl! lol

Yes! Finally done!
But for this blasted bind-off
What? Too tight? Headdesk.

cast on mindlessly
then just keep knitting, knitting...
triumphant bind off

Who can not succumb?
The repetitive stitches
Lull one to slumber.

I cast on to knit
Bind Off to finish the piece
What happens between?

Binding off is fun-
(Until it no longer is)
So good when it's done!

Ann Budd Cast-On-Off
Knitter's Review Retreat class
I await Friday

Bind off and it's done
the wool the effort the time
but will it fit me?

Now I am finished
Soon to wear my creation
Very proud I am

cast off thy stitches now
show thy work to the world boldly
wear thy creation with pride

cast on and bind off
torment of newbie knitter
always done too tight

Binding off a shawl
takes longer than knitting did.
I need magic gnomes.

I'm new to knitting
Cannot bind to save my life
Don't give up on me!

I couldn't figure out one completely, so started a second (which I also started but couldn't finish so started a third) and was only through that process able to finish any of them! Totally not presuming this is three entries ;)

Knitting is a joy
Of which pleasures are many
Binding off's not one

Tension is crucial
Throughout your knitting effort
Even at the end

Nothing satisfies
Like the finish of the work
If tension stays smooth

Cast on with pure hope
Knit, Purl, mistake, re-work, yuck
Cast off with a grudge

I thought I was done
Only one direction left
It's bind off loosely

it's almost finished
one stitch over another
while I meditate

Cast on endless loops
Don't forget to count them all
Wait! Where was I? Dang.

Cast on for the dream
Nimble fingers labour
Bind the dream to wake

Cast-off, and dream of
The next project...a sin to
leave needles unclothed

Why does it seem that
It takes so much longer to
Bind off than cast on?

The Yarn Harlot is
Casting of with Dental Floss
That is a DOWNER!

bind off pattern read
knit slip off the needles now
lovely knitting done

when yarn is cast on
the project's bright promise looms
then boring bind off

It would be nice to
Finish a project and then
Get to bind it off

(I feel like I haven't finished anything in ages...)

Three hundred stitches
Cast on in twelve minutes, timed
Refrigerator

sweater you are done
except the cast off chore
ugh then the sew up

cast off, or bind off?
(liberation, or prison?)
seek your next project!

cast on and cast off
like in "The Karate Kid"
Wax on and wax off

cast on in great hope

loops through loops through loops follow

bittersweet bind-off

The waiting is done,
Time to see how far you've come
End it one by one

Knitting and knitting
The process is the purpose
Cast off? Why bother?

For some reason limericks came to mind for me. So I did that too:
There once was a knitter named Harlot
She loved yarn and fiber a lot
She knit up a shawl
She gave it her all
It took her till Spring to cast off.

binding binding bind-
ing binding binding binding
binding binding GAWD.

So close yet so far,
At least it's not Kitchener --
knit front, purl back... what?!

Cast on. Knit, purl, knit,
purl, knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl,
knit, purl. Cast off. Done.

Casting off can seem
to take twice the stitching time
Persevere with wine.

"Cast-off in pattern."
Will it really matter much?
Cast-off in knit stitch.

What a pain in the...
casting off binding off, bleh.
Just knit on instead.

Casting off slowly,
Carefully, not too tightly,
Will it never end?

Cast on, Cast off, Cast
On, Cast off, Cast on, Cast off,
Karate Kid Knits!

Could it really be?
Am I finally finished?
Ah crap. It's too short.

Pretend the last stitch
is George Clooney at the end
of a long, long hall.

I would have said Li-
am Neeson, but it would not
have fit quite so well.

casting off signals
whether knitting or boating
something new ahead

hubby and i named our humble little fishing boat "casting off" :)

Binding off again
And again and again and
Again and again.

These endless stitches
devouring my time, my life.
Never ending task...

Binding off the shawl.
Try hard not to arse it up!
Lovely Pond Scum lace.