Watch how to knit an i-cord (video & written instructions)

If you are crafty, chances are you have quite a few small balls of leftover yarns. Some of them are sitting in boxes or baskets, others are scattered around your house making your cat (if any) happy, and the rest of the family not so much. Here’s an easy way to make use of all that yarn by knitting a cord that could be used in so many different ways.
The cord I’m talking about is called an i-cord. It is a simple cord that can be braided into a necklace or a scarf. It can be woven into a rug. It could also make a cute skipping rope, or just a drawstring to a hoodie. Not to mention numerous amazing craft projects you can do with a cord like that.
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DIY Everywhere
Now you know how useful this cord is, and here’s a simple way to make it:
Materials
any weight of yarn (use up the leftover yarn you have). I used wool yarn in worsted weight.
2 double pointed needles in the appropriate size for the yarn used. I used 5mm needles.
wool needle for finishing
scissors
Pro tips
- If you want your cord to be tight, use smaller size of needles.
- To make a narrow cord cast on 3 stitches, for a wider cord cast on 5 stitches.
- Don’t make the cord on more than 5 stitches to avoid having loose strands at the back of the cord.
Abbreviations
st – stitch
sts - stitches
Written pattern
1. Cast on 3 to 5 sts on one of the double pointed needles. For this tutorial I cast on 4 sts using backward loop cast on.
2. Slide all sts to the right tip of the same needle. Don’t turn your work!
3. Knit the first st. Pull the yarn a bit to close the gap between the last st and the first st. Knit the rest of the sts. Pull the cord down to redistribute the sts.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make the cord as long as you wish.
Once you are happy with the length of the cord and you want to finish it off, cut the yarn leaving a 10cm / 4” tail. Thread the tail into a wool needle. Run the wool needle through all sts. Take the knitting needle out. Pull the yarn tail to close the top of the cord. Secure the yarn. Hide the tails inside the cord.
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Resources PurlSoho and Fiber Flux