Knit in Public Week: Day 5
I-Cord Edging Tutorial
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Special thanks to Mark Rougeux for today’s photo tutorial!
The i-cord is an attractive way to finish the edge of a piece of knitting. Scarves look particularly nice because the i-cord is made from slipped stitches, which creates a nice edge made up of stockinette chevrons. It can also create a more substantial edge to sew in the zipper of a cardigan. If you don’t want the cuff or the bottom edge of a pullover to be too form fitting, the i-cord will give you a tidy edge and keep the sweater from pulling in at the waist or wrist. This article presents three i-cord methods in order of difficulty, from easy to moderate.
Abbreviations for all three methods.
K = Knit
P = Purl
CO = cast on
Sl = slip as if to purl
wyib = with yarn in back
wyif = with yarn in front
CO 16 (10 cast-on stitches + 3 for each edge where you want the i-cord) for each method. This will make small swatches for you to use while practicing.
The first i-cord edge in this article will provide similar chevrons on the right and wrong side of your work. Essentially, no matter which stitches you place between the edges at the beginning and end of each row, the i-cord is knit in stockinette stitch. All samples in this article are done with garter stitch between the i-cord edges.
All rows: Sl3 wyib, K to last 3 stitches, P3. Turn.
When you turn your work and begin the repeat, do the slip stitch with normal tension. After the 1st & 2nd stitches, give the working yarn a firm tug to keep the i-cord stitches uniform. Without the tug, the i-cord tends to get a bit sloppy on one side. In the above picture, you will notice that the left edge isn’t as tidy as the right edge. This might be a good i-cord to do on just one side. For example, when making an opening for a zipper on a cardigan.
Note: The i-cord edging will become more evident and uniform after an inch or two of knitting.
The second i-cord edge produces similar results. There is no need to tug on any stitches in this method as things stay nice and tight. I actually like this i-cord method the best.
Right Side: K1, Sl1 wyif, K1, K across row to last three stitches, K1, SL1 wyif, K1.
Wrong Side: Sl1 wyif, K1, Sl1 wyif, work across row to last three stitches, Sl1 wyif, K1, Sl1 wyif.
Note: When knitting this method, always have the yarn in the back for knit stitches.
The third i-cord edge has a more pronounced i-cord look because it follows a more traditional i-cord pattern.
Row 1: K3, K across row to last three stitches, Sl3 wyib pulrwise
Row 2: P3, K across row to last three stitches, SL3 wyif purlwise
All three methods create very nice i-cord borders. Practice them all and find one that suites your needs and feels right for you.
Have fun!
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What is your proudest knitting achievement?
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My proudest knitting achievement was finishing my first sock. I have been knitting since I was about 5 (now 57) my nan taught me, but knitting a sock was the most difficult thing I ever tried and after lots of attempts and lots of “throwing my toys out of the pram” I mastered the dreaded turning of the heel. Now I am knitting socks everyday during my lunch breaks at college with some of my colleagues. My best pair where the lighthouse gansey socks (pattern on Ravelry) http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lighthouse-gansey-sock.
Megan Ratcliffe
I just learned how to knit in the round using double point needles and just finished my first ever pair of socks!!
I combined parts of 3 different patterns to knit my grand-daughter’s bunny/lovey just the way I wanted it!
A cowl. The color is gorgeous and I used handspun yarn. Or maybe it’s that lace shawl I finally blocked. Hmm… so many things I’m proud of!
a tree of life throw I made for a friend
learning to knit at all. Took about 4 starts before I got the hang.
A riding sweater I knitted for my daughter when she was around 11 that she still has and won’t part with.
The hooded scarf that I made for my mother.
My proudest knitting achievement is not the production of an individual item. I am 82 years old and have been a teacher all my life although my first day of official classroom teaching did not happen until I was 38 as I had to defer university until later in lifer. My knitting achievement which gives me the most pleasure is being able to apply my natural bent for teaching to helping others as they acquire their skills in this satisfying avocation.
I recently made a nice top that uses short rows to shape the bottom into a nice wave. I am very proud of it and only wear it when I need to dress up.
Finishing my first lace shawl, Montego. It’s big and beautiful and I absolutely love it. I’m working on an even more complicated lace shawl now but Montego will always hold a special place in my heart.
My first pair of knitted socks!
I am working on a cable knit tree skirt! I have 4 of 7 panels done and this is my first project doing cables, I am self taught and just learned to knit last spring!
The first hat and scarf set I ever made!
Love the finished look of icord!
Just being self-taught is one thing, but probably all the things I”ve been able to knit for Mom (slippers, sweaters, blankets and bedspreads, other home dec and kitchen items, and two floor length dresses!). She is in her 80s and always seems to need some extra warmth. Every day when we talk she let’s me know which dress or how many sweaters she is wearing, or when she has to change from the light weight bedspread to the heaviers one.
My proudest achievement? I made a Swallowtail Shawl..was beautiful..made it for my fantastic Mother in law Coralee. I just love knitting, but the finished project brought tears to my eyes that I cold make a project as beautiful as that shawl. Then the look on her face when she was the recipient of that project, it took my breath away.
I’m amazed at how each of my projects turns out, but I was especially proud of the way my knit potato chip scarf turned out. It actually curled and looked like a more complicated project than it actually was. I also figured out on my own how to follow the pattern since I had to knit a few to one needle and than knit them back on the other needle before continuing to make the pattern. Wow!
Many, many years ago I knit my brother a ski sweater! It was complicated but done with love. Unfortunately he was killed in an accident the next spring. My sister in law returned the sweater to me.
Finishing my second pair of socks! It took me about 3 years to get the first pair done, and about 6 months for the second pair, Unfortunately, I gave the #2 pair to my sister, and she promptly lost them. Guess who’ll never get another pair from me?
Socks! Socks! That’s my pride in knitting so far !
Was seriously just pricing ball winders. Sick and tired of having to go to the knit shop and not be able to purchase craft yarns online!!!!!!!
Making my first cardigan sweater
My proudest achievement is each time I find the time to knit. Whatever I knit, I’m always proud of it!!!! <3
knitting something i designed myself
Since I’m so new to knitting, I haven’t completed very many projects. But to this date, I’m most proud of my Winter is Coming shawl, that will be my mother’s birthday gift.
Knitting my first lace shawl with beads.
My best achievement was my first lace shawl. It was knit with a very fine slippery rayon!
lace scarf with beads!
I am most proud of the knitted Christmas stockings I make for new babies in the family.
I knit a purse with ribbon yarn once, it was pretty and classy enough to use going out. I gave it to a friend that likes those things.
My first cowl!
My best knitting project was a baby sweater for my little one. I put ruffles on the sleeves and crocheted a rosette for the front. It came out so nicely. I was amazed. And it fit her well till she out grew it.
It was the first lace sweater. I was sure it would be a total disaster, but much to my amazement it came out very nice.
My wingspan out of zauberball.
Finishing my first project (socks) which didn’t require me to frog and start over even once!
I was really proud when I finished my first sweater. It was a very simple pattern, but the largest project I had done up to that point.
Proudest knitting moment was sitting down with the 1st knitting book I ever bought at 12, with some inexpensive yarn and needles and teaching myself to knit. It’s brought a lifetime of pleasure.
My proudest knitting achievement would be knitting over 100 blankets to donate to the SPCA for dogs & cats!
My proudest moment was completing my first lace project. I was so intimidated by the pattern but worked through it, learned a lot, and wear my lace pieces with pride.
My first sweater was my pride and joy. I wore it for a few years before it almost fell apart.
My greatest knitting accomplishment was knitting a hat with earflaps using four colors of yarn. I had only been making scarves. The pattern I used was Toasty Ears from the book The Yarn Girls Guide to Beyond the Basics by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Now I am trying different patterns and not just making scarves.
My proudest knitting accomplishments were some of the patterns I created. I love my Little Hearts pattern and so do many others, but I also love the little stranded pig I created for a friend who found me online.
My proudest knitting achievement was afghan for my boys. I have done things that were more complicated, but knitting for my boys was the best.
Knitting my first pair of i-cord-finger gloves. Franklin Habit described them on his blog. Suddenly, I could envision the entire process in my mind – and finished my first two in less than an hour. I felt like a genius!
Designing an Entrelac baby blanket
A cupcake baby hat, it is just so adorable! Of course my worst was a sweater for my then boyfriend, I was in college and never thought to measure him or it, just followed the directions, needless to say, it didn’t fit, and he never wore it, but I did
So many projects…We sleep each night under a full-sized bedspread that took nearly a year to finish, and I’m quite pleased with that. Equally pleased with the tiny little fish toys that my cats love to bat around, done in an afternoon. Guess what I’m most pleased about is places like this, where I can connect with fellow knitters!
I was extremely proud of the vest I made when I learned to knit and I have been proud of every item I have made since, except the first mitten I made without a pattern and looked like a cactus! I am probably the most proud of the items I have made after designing my own patterns or designs–like a sweater jacket with a horse on the back or the sweater with the little girl on the back with 3D braids.
I have been knitting since I was 8 but never anything big for myself only for my kids so the first Icelandic Jacket I knit for myself was my proudest moment at the time. Then I did my first fair isle sweater with more than 3 colors it had 13 and came out beautiful! Wish I had copied the pattern but at time thought it was the last time I would use that many colors at the same time! LOL They were made almost 30 yrs ago and have made many similar items since but will never forget those first ones!
Learning to knit so I could give my hats, blankets, or scarves to anyone that needs them. I have donated to hospitals, cancer centers, children’s organizations, Veteran clinics, the homeless and will continue to do so. Knitting brings a sense of peace within myself and in turn allows me to bring smiles and comfort to others which makes knitting my proudest achievement!.
When I was pregnant with my second child, I wasn’t able to be very active so I spent a lot of my time on the couch, knitting. About a month before my daughter was born, I finished a beautiful cabled onsie sweater…sadly, my daughter only got to wear it once before she was too big for it!
Recently I actually knitted something for me, the bamboo wedding shawl pattern. Have made so many other things for other people which fills my heart with joy. And now I have a gorgeous shawl that makes me feel extremely proud as well as cozy.
I was very proud of my first pair of socks! They fit and are so cozy.
I think I’m the most proud of the doll (and her clothes) that I made for my granddaughter’s birthday the year her brother was born — both because it came together well and quickly (although the yarn I used for the party dress was a bear to knit with, very slippery!) and because she really seemed to like it.
I’m most proud of the Christmas stockings that I knit for my granddaughter and myself. They used Intarsia and duplicate stitch, both of which were firsts for me.
The first best thing I made was my first sweater. I made it for my husband right after we got married. It was a fisherman pattern and he still has it
I made a knit poncho that everyone asked me to make for them. It made knitting something cool to do for them.
I am an experienced knitter, but have no idea what C3B, T4B, T4F in your Cabled Yoke Pattern is – part of the cable stitch with B as held in back and F as in held in front,. Would appreciate some clarification on the directions thank you so much. I do not have a Facebook account, so answer has to come to my email address – Patricia