I-Cord | Purl Soho

The I-cord is a tube knitted in the round with two double-pointed needles.  Elizabeth Zimmermann named it the Idiot Cord in honor of her accidental discovery of the simple technique. The I-cord is a perfect example of her attitude toward knitting: let it be fun, free of needless complications, and full of discovery. In this picture from The Opinionated Knitter, a wonderful collection of her newsletters, Elizabeth wears an I-cord attached to her glasses.  Once you learn to make one with our I-Cord Tutorial, you’ll be searching around for anything that might be improved with an I-cord: drawstrings, ties, laces, handles, lanyards… and of course, eyeglass straps!

Cast On and Knit

To begin, cast on 3 (or more!) stitches onto one of your double-pointed needles. Knit these 3 stitches normally, from the left needle to the right.

I-Cord | Purl Soho

I-Cord | Purl Soho

I-Cord | Purl Soho

I-Cord | Purl Soho

The Slide

Now all 3 stitches are on the right hand needle and the yarn is attached to the left stitch. Without turning your work, slide the stitches from one end of the needle to the other like this:

I-Cord | Purl Soho

I-Cord | Purl Soho

The Trick of The I-Cord

Without turning the needle, place the needle in your left hand.  The yarn is coming from the far left stitch. Pulling the yarn across the back of the work, knit the 3 stitches. Everything is normal EXCEPT the yarn is coming from the last stitch in the row instead of the first when you begin knitting this row.

I-Cord | Purl Soho

When you have knit all 3 stitches onto the right needle, slide the stitches from one end of the double-pointed needle to the other. Repeat these steps, pulling the yarn snug at the beginning of each row to insure even stitches.  Bind off normally.

I-Cord | Purl Soho

Mastered our I-Cord Tutorial and need more knitting help and inspiration? Explore all our knitting tutorials and beautiful yarns and cast on!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!