Knitted I-Cord
An I-cord is a tube of three or four stitches knit on double-pointed needles in a way that produces a continuous round cord. Used for drawstrings, ties, edgings, and decorative cords.
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Method
Cast on 3 or 4 stitches on a DPN. Knit across. Without turning the work, slide the stitches back to the right end of the needle. The working yarn is now on the wrong side of the work. Knit across again, pulling the working yarn snug to close the gap.
Why it forms a tube
The combination of knitting only the right side and the working yarn travelling across the back closes the work into a tube as you knit. After 3–4 rounds, the cord clearly forms a small tube.
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Uses
Drawstrings for hoodies and bags. Decorative ties on hats. The "applied I-cord" technique creates a finished edge along blankets and shawls. The "I-cord bind off" creates a built-in I-cord border.
Tension
The first 2–3 rounds are loose; pull the working yarn extra tight on these to close the tube. Once the tube forms, normal tension takes over.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DPN | double-pointed needle |
| k | knit |
Tips
- Use a DPN — a circular needle is too long.
- Pull the working yarn tight on the first few rounds to close the tube.
- For a thicker cord, cast on 4 or 5 stitches; for a thinner cord, 3.
In depth
I-cord (short for "idiot cord," coined by Elizabeth Zimmermann) creates a continuous knitted tube without ever turning the work. The technique was popularised in the 1970s and is now a staple of finishing techniques.