How to Knit I-cord

Metal knitting needles with dark green knit i-cord in process on a white background along with a matching ball of yarn, a small brass crescent moon piece, and a knit bag with matching i-cord drawstring. Text on the image reads: How to knit i-cord. Banana Moon Studio.

Learn how to knit I-cord

In this tutorial I’ll share written instructions, photos, and a video to teach you how to knit I-cord. Knit I-cord is a thin tube of knitting that can be used as a cord or string in your knitting and other projects.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for details.

What materials are needed to knit I-cord?

The list of materials is simple and short. You need yarn and knitting needles.

I used Universal Yarn Uptown DK, a premium 100% Acrylic yarn in a 3/light/DK weight. The dark green yarn you see here is #113 Root.

Ideally, you will use double pointed needles (DPNs) to knit I-cord, but if you don’t have them you can use straight or circular needles instead. It will go a little slower with straight or circular needles, but it’s still doable.

I used 8 inch nickel plated DPNs from KnitPicks. I have a set that includes 6 sizes from US 4 (3.50 mm) to US 9 (5.50 mm).

What can you do with knitted I-cord?

There are many knitting projects that use I-cord. I have one free pattern that uses I-cord, the little drawstring bag seen in the photos in this post. Any knitting project that uses a drawstring, like bags, pants, or skirts, could use I-cord.

Knit drawstring bag in white with a dark green I-cord drawstring pulled tight and tied in a bow. It sits on a background of Christmas sayings and images along with an evergreen branch and a wooden snowflake ornament. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Here are few other project ideas that use I-cord:

Second Ave Sweatpants by Briana Luppino

Beloved bonnet by TincanKnits

The Traveler, a cropped hoodie sweater, from Andrea Mowry

How to knit I-cord written instructions

Let’s go through the process of knitting I-cord with written instructions and photos. At the end of these written instructions I will share a tip about knitting I-cord with straight or circular needles instead of DPNs. Then, I’ll share a video with you after that.

First, you will need two double pointed needles of the same size. For the DK weight yarn that I used, I used needles size US 6 (4 mm).

With one of the needles, CO 3 stitches with your preferred cast on method. I used a long tail cast on. You can also make I-cord with 2 or 4 stitches, but 3 is common.

Two metal knitting needles on a white surface with three stitches cast on in dark green. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio. — Figure 1

After casting on, slide those 3 stitches to the right side of the DPN. Then knit all 3 stitches.

Three knit stitches in dark green cast onto two metal knitting needles that are in position to knit the first stitch. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio. — Figure 2

Once you’ve knit all 3 stitches, they will be on your right needle. Slide them to the other side of the needle and change hands so that you are back to Figure 1, above, and ready to knit the 3 stitches again.

Two metal knitting needles on a white surface with three knit stitches in dark green on the righthand needle. An arrow shows that the stitches should be slid to the right along the righthand needle to prepare for the next round of knitting. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio. — Figure 3

You will never turn your work. This way of knitting means that you are actually knitting in the round, but because there are so few stitches involved you can do it this way instead of needing to use the typical methods of knitting in the round.

You will keep repeating these steps over and over to knit the I-cord: knit all 3 stitches, slide them to the right side of your needle and switch hands, repeat.

Two metal knitting needles on a white surface with a matching ball of yarn and a small brass crescent moon piece. There is a 2 inch length of i-cord in progress on the lefthand needle. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

If you are working with straight or circular needles instead of DPNs, you won’t be able to slide the stitches across the needle and knit them from the correct side.

Instead, after you knit the 3 stitches, slip them back onto your left needle one at a time, keeping them in the same order. Then you are ready to knit them again.

How to knit I-cord video

Would it help you to see this process in action? Watch the video below to learn how to knit I-cord with video help.

Two metal knitting needles in the process of knitting dark green i-cord on a white surface along with a matching ball of yarn and a knit drawstring bag with matching i-cord drawstring. A white banner with text reads: How to knit i-cord. Banana Moon Studio. A red and white play button is centered on the image. — Click to watch it on YouTube

And now you have learned how to knit I-cord! I hope you found this tutorial helpful and that you have been successful at knitting I-cord! Please share photos of your progress and your projects with me! You can share on Instagram and tag me, or you can join my Facebook group and share there.

Happy knitting!