Category:
Bind-Offs
Video: I-Cord Bind-Off
Member Video
This video is available to customers of the following class(es):
Purchase the class above to get instant access
OR
Become a KnitFreedom Member
and get this and over 450 premium knitting videos for just $12.99/month.
If you own this class or are a KnitFreedom member, please LOG IN to watch.
Characteristics: stretchy
Difficulty: Intermediate
This is a great intermediate bind-off that puts a round decorative column along the edge of your stitches to be bound off.
The nice thing about this bind-off is that not only is it decorative, it’s also pretty stretchy.
Instructions
For a thinner or thicker I-cord, cast on more or fewer stitches. To do so, substitute the # of sts you want for the “X” in the instructions.
- CO 3 (X) sts using the Knitted Cast-On.
- K1. Do not drop st off L needle.
- Place new st back on L needle, moving front loop to back. Repeat steps 2-3 three (X) times.
- K1 twice.
- K2togtbl.
- Pass st from R to L needle three times. Working yarn is 3 sts down on the needle.
- Repeat steps 3-5 across.
- BO last 3 sts using the Standard Bind-Off.
I-Cord Bind-Off - Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Restricted Content
This content is available to customers of the following class: I Love Bind-Offs
Click here to learn more about I Love Bind-Offs OR
Join our KnitFreedom Premium now and get this and every other content we sell FREE.
If you own this class or are a member of KnitFreedom Premium, please LOG IN to view.
Animated GIF: I-Cord Bind-Off
If GIF doesn't play immediately when clicked, wait 20-30 seconds. It will play. Click the GIF again to stop.

More Information
It does sort of help to know how to make an I-cord, but you don’t really need to because I explain it all to you in the tutorial below.
Options: You can work this bind-off in a contrasting color. In order to do that, just work the last row before the bind-off (the WS row) in the contrasting color and then do the bind-off in the contrasting color.
You can also make the I-cord as thick or thin as you want, and I include instructions below on how to do so.
One reason to make a thinner I-cord is to create a matching bind-off for the popular Chinese Waitress Cast-On. A 1-stitch I-cord bind-off is not a perfect match but it does match a lot of the characteristics.
A 3-stitch I-cord is shown in this tutorial.