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how to knit an icord edge

How To Knit I-Cord Edges

I'm currently knitting the Nightshift Shawl by Andrea Mowry, it's a worsted weight shawl, with mosaic colorwork, featuring an i-cord edge. And it got me thinking about i-cords.

 

OH MY GOODNESS THERE ARE  A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO KNIT AN I-CORD EDGE!

 

This is what I consider to be the simplest and most consistent way to knit an i-cord edge- it works perfectly for stockinette stitch and wraps both edges around to the WS of the knitting. Thank you to VeryPink Knits for their very informative video.

Right Side: Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, work across row to last three stitches, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1

Wrong Side: Slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, work across row to last three stitches, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front

But What Would I Use I-Cord Edges For?

I-Cord Edges are neater and more stable than a plain knit, edge, they can give your knitting extra tidy edges, and if you're doing colorwork, you can carry your colored strands up the side within the i-cord to keep them hidden.

Other Methods for I-Cord Edges

Each i-cord edge will take up 3 stitches to knit, so depending on your pattern, you may want to add 6 stitches to each row if you are modifying a pattern that doesn't already include an i-cord edge. Both of the below methods create more of a tube than the method above.

With these two methods for i-cord  edging, every row is treated the same there are two ways to do it, but both result in the same knitted effect on your I-Cord Edge.

Method 2)
RS: First 3 stitches slip purlwise with yarn in back, then work your regular row- whether you are doing garter, stockinette or whatever, and then the last 3 stitches knit.

WS: First 3 stitches slip purlwise with yarn in front, then work your regular row- whether you are doing garter, stockinette or whatever, and then the last 3 stitches purl.

Method 3)
RS: Knit 3, then work your regular row- whether you are doing garter, stockinette or lace, and then the last 3 stitches slip as if to purl with the yarn in back.

WS: Purl 3, then work your regular row- whether you are doing garter, stockinette or lace, and then the last 3 stitches slip as if to purl with the yarn in front.

Both of these methods will create an i-cord on both sides of your piece, and the edges will wrap around to the wrong side of your work. If you are just working a plain stockinette the i-cord will blend seamlessly, but if you are working a pattern then the i-cord edges will stand out in contrast to your row pattern.

how to knit an icord edge that wraps around to the back side of my knitting

If you only want an i-cord edging on one edge, as is the case for a sideways knit beanie, or sleeve, you can just add 3 stitches to the end where you want your I-Cord edging.

 

Watch our video below to see how to knit an i-cord edge.