I-cord: how to knit a cord
An i-cord is a small knitted tube made on two double-pointed needles: knit, slide, don't turn. Learn the technique and its uses, from drawstrings to edgings.
By Sofia AkramiKnyt Co-founder and editor
An i-cord is a narrow knitted tube, really knitting in the round on just a few stitches, made by knitting a short row, then sliding the stitches back to the other end of the needle and knitting again without ever turning. The yarn pulled across the back closes the tube. Simple enough that Elizabeth Zimmermann named it the "idiot cord"; useful enough that it shows up everywhere from drawstrings to designer edgings.
How to knit an i-cord
You need a double-pointed needle or a short circular (anything where stitches can slide out both ends):
- Cast on 3–5 stitches: 3 or 4 gives the classic slim cord; 5 is the practical maximum before the tube won't close.
- Knit across all stitches.
- Do not turn. Slide the stitches back to the other end of the needle.
- Bring the working yarn firmly across the back of the stitches and knit across again. Give the first stitch or two an extra tug. That's what closes the gap where the yarn travelled.
- Repeat steps 3–4 until the cord is the length you need, giving the cord a gentle lengthwise pull every few rows to even it out.
- Bind off and thread the tail down through the centre of the tube.
The whole trick is "slide, don't turn." Turning out of habit is the number-one error: you'll get a tiny flat strip instead of a tube.
What i-cords are for
Drawstrings and hood ties, bag handles, hat cords and top-knots, shoelace-style ties on baby garments, decorative loops. Structurally, the same mechanic underlies applied i-cord edgings, the i-cord cast on and the i-cord bind off: a rounded, professional border knitted directly onto an edge.
Common mistakes
- Turning the work: slide, don't turn.
- A ladder up the back: the travelling yarn wasn't snugged; tug the first stitch or two of every row.
- Wrapping the yarn around the work instead of stranding it straight across the back.
- Too many stitches: past five, the gap won't close. A baggy 5-stitch cord usually wants to be a 4-stitch cord.
- A limp cord: go down a needle size or two; cords like firm tension.
Frequently asked questions
What does i-cord stand for?
"Idiot cord": Elizabeth Zimmermann's own name for it, because the technique is almost impossible to get wrong once you know not to turn.
How many stitches do I cast on for an i-cord?
Three or four for a classic slim cord; five at most. More than five and the tube won't close at the back.
Can I knit an i-cord without double-pointed needles?
Yes. Use a circular needle and slide the stitches along the cable back to the other tip, or slip all stitches purlwise back to the left needle after each row on straight needles.
Why does my i-cord have a loose ladder running up it?
The yarn carried across the back is too slack. Pull it firm and give the first stitches of each row an extra tug; a gentle lengthwise stretch every few rows evens the rest.
Co-founder and editor of Knyt. Avid knitter!
