How Much Yarn Per Row?

A simple rule of thumb to estimate how much yarn you need per row:
Spread out your work to get the full width of the piece. With your remaining yarn, loosely extend it across the work 3 times. If you have enough yarn to do that, you have enough to knit the row. The only exception is if you have yarn gobbling features like bobbles or cables. If you are binding off, you'll need at least four lengths as this procedure takes that much more to do it properly.

Stretchy Bindoff

Use Elizabeth Zimmerman’s stretchy bind off if you end up with necks being too tight after binding off the stitches for bottom-up sweaters, socks, etc. After you finish the row, cut the yarn so it’s about 3 times the length of the edge you have to bind off. Thread on a darning needle. Then sew forward (to the left) through two stitches, and back (right) through only the right-most of the two stitches. Slip the right-most stitch off the needle and continue. Forward two, back one, drop, forward two, back one, drop, etc. If you are knitting in the round and want to use this bind off, slip the first stitch to the right needle and make it the last stitch for an even finish.

To watch a video of how it’s done, use the link in the title.

Yardage Per Row, Last Stitch Bind Off

If you are getting close to the end of your skein of yarn and aren’t sure if you can make another row, check to see if the remaining yarn is about triple the width of what you are knitting. If so, then you’ll have enough to complete the row. Once you’ve bound off the row and you have one loop left on both the left and right hand needles, knit through both the left needle stitch and the stitch below it by picking up the loop of the stitch below and bind off all three together. Then you don’t end up with the little point on the corner of your work.

Stretchy Cast On Edge

For most knitters, it’s easier to make a stretchy bind off than cast on edge so if a tight cast on is a problem for you, try this. Use a provisional cast-on, then come back later, pick up those stitches and bind off.