I published the i-cord edge tutorial a couple of years ago, but I still keep getting questions and emails about it. So, I decided to put together a whole post that I will devote to answering the most popular requests.
Basically, you can use it with ANY stitch pattern. But I would say that the i-cord looks the best next to the textured stitch patterns.
When used next to the stockinette stitch, there are some things to keep in mind.
- The icord won’t stand out as much against the stockinette as it does against the textured stitches.
- If knit too tight, it might start pulling the stockinette fabric. Make sure to swatch before you use it on a bigger project. If you see that the i-cord is puling the fabric, you will have to watch your tension more carefully and make i-cord stitches longer than the ones in the main fabric.
- The edge will stop the rolling of the fabric, but you might have to adjust the number of stitches in the i-cord. Thinner yarns will require more stitches to keep the edge in place, with thicker yarns 3-st i-cord selvage might be enough. The only thing to know for sure what works best for you is to make a swatch.
The i-cord would look and behave perfectly with garter stitch, brioche stitch or any slip stitch textured pattern.
Though I mentioned it in the main tutorial post, I still got some questions, so I decided to cover this question in a more detailed way.
For 2-st I-cord selvage you will add 4 extra stitches to your stitch count. For 3-st I-cord selvage you will add 6 extra stitches to you stitch count.
So, if you have the pattern, let’s say, for the garter stitch scarf that tells you to cast on 60 sts and you want to add the 2-st i-cord selvage to it, you will cast on 64 sts and if you are adding 3-st i-cord selavage, you will cast on 66 sts.
This question cannot be covered in one post. If you are an experienced knitter and can easily modify patterns, here are some tips that can help you:
- You can use the i-cord selvage only when the bands are knit simultaneously with the body or if the bands are knit separately and then sewn on the body of the cardigan.
- If the stitches for the pattern are being picked up and the band is knit perpendicular to the main body of the cardigan, then you should use the i-cord bind off technique.
If you are more confident with following the pattern, The Choice is the knit that uses the i-cord selvage technique when the band is knit simultaneously with the body of the cardigan.
The stitches are supposed to be slipped always purlwise.
This question cannot be covered in a couple of sentences, I will make sure to create a separate tutorial for it!
The i-cord edge is perfect for using with ribbing patterns! As a matter of fact, I have used it in all my patterns with the split ribbing edge. You can find it in different variations in Journey, Ivy, Mohair Flor and The Edge.
Abbreviations
- Sl – slip.
- wyib – with yarn in back.
- wyif – with yarn in front.
- st/sts – stitch/stitches.
- k – knit.
- p – purl.
Double Selvage with 1×1 Ribbing
Double Selvage works great with 1×1 ribbing. The best way to use it is next to the purl stitch on the right side – this way the selvage will blend in with the main pattern and will look like a continuation of the ribbing.
Instructions:
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 wyib, k1; p1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts; sl 1 wyib, p1.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyib, p1; k1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts; sl 1 wyif, p1.
Repeat Rows [1-2] for a double i-cord/selvage with 1×1 ribbing.
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Right Side. Here you can see how the edge is blending in with the ribbing.
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Wrong side
Triple Selvage with 2×2 Ribbing
Just like in case with the double selvage, it is recommended to place purl stitches of the ribbing next to the i-cord edge on the right side.
Instructions:
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 wyib, sl 1 wyif, k1; p2, *k2, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts; k1, sl 1 wyif, p1.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyib, k1, sl 1 wyif; k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts; sl 1 wyif, k1, p1.
Repeat Rows [1-2] for a triple selvage/i-cord with 2×2 ribbing.
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Right Side – the triple edge looks like a continuation of 2×2 ribbing
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Wrong size
Binding off the i-cord is not much different as binding off in pattern any other stitch, but let me walk you through this visually, so you can have a better idea.
How To Bind Off a Double Selvage
(To see a bigger picture, click on it)
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You are about to bind off. The first two sts are the i-cord selvage
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Slip 1 st wyib
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Knit the next stitch
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Pass the first st over the last one – just like in any classic bind off.
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You’ve bound off the double selvage.
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Now you will continue binding off in pattern until two last sts of the row.
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Knit one
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Pass the first st over the last one – just like in any classic bind off.
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Purl one.
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Pass the first st over the last one – just like in any classic bind off.
How To Bind Off a Triple Selvage
(To see a bigger picture, click on it)
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Start with the RS facing you. Slip 1 st wyib
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Purl the next stitch and pass the first st over the last stitch, pull a little bit on it, so the purl stitch completely disappears inside the i-cord edge.
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Knit 1. Pass the first st over the second one – you’ve bound off the
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Bind off in pattern until 3 last sts
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Knit 1. Pass the first st over the second one
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You will purl the next st, again pull on it a little bit to hide it inside the i-cord edge.
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Pass the first st over the second one
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Purl 1. Pass the first st over the second one.
Just one more little tip for the finishing. The i-cord edge is ideal for hiding the ends – just thread the yarn inside the “tube”!
I hope I answered most of your questions and you will successfully use this technique for your projects. I will also copy paste these answers and the link to the tutorials to the main post, where you will be able to find everything in one place.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
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