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.

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.