Purlbed

Hand knitting › Shaping and edges

Applied i-cord edge

A round little cord along the edge of a piece, as if a knitted tube were sewn on, but knitted onto the edge as you go. 3 or 4 cord stitches are knitted, slid back to the other end of the needle without turning, and the last cord stitch is knitted together with one stitch picked up from the edge.

What you work it with

Hand knitting · Tools: Two double-pointed needles or a circular needle; a crochet hook to pick up edge loops.

Symbol chart

One or two repeats of the stitch pattern, drawn as seen from the right side.
123456SSK (left-leaning decrease)KnitRead from the bottom: every round right to left.

Steps

  1. Pick up the edge stitches on a circular needle.
  2. Cast on 3 or 4 stitches at the start.
  3. Knit all but the last cord stitch; ssk the last cord stitch together with the next picked-up stitch.
  4. Slide the stitches back to the other end of the needle (the left-hand needle); do not turn.
  5. Repeat 3–4 to the end.
  6. Cast off the cord stitches, or graft them to the start.

The full card

What it looks like
A round little cord along the edge of a piece, as if a knitted tube were sewn on, but knitted onto the edge as you go.
How it behaves
Firm and neat; it stops the edge from curling and adds no stretch.
How it works
3 or 4 cord stitches are knitted, slid back to the other end of the needle without turning, and the last cord stitch is knitted together with one stitch picked up from the edge. Each row the cord eats one edge stitch.
Tools
Two double-pointed needles or a circular needle; a crochet hook to pick up edge loops.
Parameters
3–4 cord stitches; pick up about 3 stitches for every 4 rows along a side edge, one per stitch along a cast-off edge [inference].
Steps
1) Pick up the edge stitches on a circular needle. 2) Cast on 3 or 4 stitches at the start. 3) Knit all but the last cord stitch; ssk the last cord stitch together with the next picked-up stitch. 4) Slide the stitches back to the other end of the needle (the left-hand needle); do not turn. 5) Repeat 3–4 to the end. 6) Cast off the cord stitches, or graft them to the start.
Charting
Every row is worked from the right side (the stitches are slid back, not turned), so the chart is read like rounds: right to left every row. The ssk square joins the cord to the edge.
Limits and common problems
Picking up too many edge stitches makes the cord ruffle, too few makes it pull. Pull the yarn firm across the back after sliding.
Combines with
Garter stitch, Stocking stitch (stockinette), Brioche stitch, one colour
Pieces and assembly
Cardigan fronts, blanket edges, necklines; a separate i-cord makes ties and handles.

Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.

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