Why I Dislike i-cord CO and What I Use Instead

This is a demonstration on how to work i-cord cast on, plus 2 alternate methods. It is in conjunction with a full tutorial on i-cords on my other Channel - Suzanne - Off the Cuff
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[@momgrandma5496]

So, the # of stitches we pick up from the i-cord needs to coincide with our project gauge, which reinforces the importance of determining your gauge, the comparison sends it home for any nonbelievers. Great series Suzanne.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Exactly. Swatching, swatching, swatching. I love swatching, and knitting my final piece to perfection.

[@lukaelliot4830]

I dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I somehow forgot the account password. I would love any tricks you can offer me

[@benjay5655]

@Luka Elliot instablaster :)

[@lukaelliot4830]

@Ben Jay I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm trying it out now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@lukaelliot4830]

@Ben Jay it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much you really help me out !

[@kMeijer]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am especially grateful to know how and/or why something does or does not work, which you explain in terrific detail. For me, that is the difference between mimicking and learning. Thank you again!

[@SuzanneBryan]

You are very welcome, Karen! Thanks so much for watching and for the great feedback! ❤️

[@agold35]

Perfectly said!

[@simonederobert1612]

You are an excellent teacher. Many of us can become experts at doing a given task, but are not good at teaching that task. A good teacher can break the given task into individual steps. The excellent/exceptional teacher can explain why each step is done as instructed and result of each step if done otherwise. Thank you.

[@lakesidedachs]

Thanks for the video! Novice knitter who needs all the help he can get. I love learning new skills, techniques, and “the why” of it all. Being asked to like, comment, and subscribe is such a small price to pay for these virtual lessons in the hobby I love. Keep it up Suzanne!!

[@Ursaminor31]

lakesidedachs with such expert tutorials you will surely be an experienced knitter soon. So many good channels out there. Suzanne is a king the best.

[@SuzanneBryan]

😀

[@kerriebarney5823]

The depth you went into here was so helpful! Thank you!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@feeberizer]

Thank you again! This also explains why the horizontal braid stitch also gets that elongated first row since it's basically a one stitch i-cord.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Exactly. Happy knitting.

[@ruthstubens3812]

Great explanation! Another bonus to starting with an i-cord and picking up stitches, is you can use a contrasting colour for the i-cord if you like.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Very true!

[@EllenMackler]

Thank you, Suzanne! This was so helpful to me, you have no idea. :D I have picked up and knitted on an i-cord before, but not like this!!! I love your video tutorials so much! The way you explain the whys and wherefores gives me a new understanding and love of knitting.

[@SuzanneBryan]

You are so welcome!

[@deborahs.fleming6464]

Suzanne, thank you so much for this valuable information. Your explanation turned on 💡 for me. Best available tutorial by far.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you so much!

[@lizastabler]

Thank you so much for the clarity of all (and I mean ALL) your video demonstrations and explanations.

[@SuzanneBryan]

What a lovely thing to say, Liza, thank you! ❤️ And you're very welcome!

[@TheSuzberry]

I love re-watching your videos.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Glad you like them!

[@charlenesabin9746]

This is very helpful. I love your attention to detail. It confirms that I am not just a nerdy knitter, or if I am im in good company !

[@SuzanneBryan]

Yay! Join the nerdy knitters! 🧶

[@TheSuzberry]

I love your videos. I know I can click the thumbs up as soon as it arrives.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you!

[@SquintyBubbles]

Perfect! Just the video I was looking for. Thank you 😊

[@melissadobbelaere8427]

Hey Suzanne I am a big fan of yours, you have no idea how much you have helpt me! Great greatings from Belguim

[@SuzanneBryan]

Happy to help!

[@ccpperrett7522]

Thank you Suzanne. I love your instructions. You always explain the why. 💖

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thanks so much! 😍

[@kathrynb130]

Great timing, I am just about to start a pattern that asks me to make an icord then pick up. I though ew, that’s so much picking up, and searched for an alternative. Now, watching your video, I decided not to be lazy.

[@SuzanneBryan]

You can do it!

[@kittenknit-2025]

It's much faster than an i-cord cast-on.

[@chavak3497]

Thanks for all your videos... I find them easy to follow...if not so easy to "do" -- trying to get accustomed to English knititng after watching you knitting both English and Continental in order to knit with two colors. It's so hard to do the English! In knitting the moss st, continental is much less movement with hands.

[@gwenwren]

suzanne you are just brilliant! thank you for sharing so much knitting knowledge with us. i love your explanations... fab!!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you so much!

[@priscillawild4219]

Thanks for the clear video.. I love the first cast on with these modifications... I use a provisional CO for the first 4 stitches, then work the cast on a needle 2 sizes smaller than the work to be place upon it..That takes care of the arching and "big stitch row". Also I work my increases by inserting my left needle tip from left to right into the stitch below and knitting it. This makes a very smooth increase, no horizontal bumps and keeps the row/stitch gauge much truer..

[@SuzanneBryan]

Great tip!

[@CarolHalford2025]

This is just brilliant!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, God has gifted you amazingly!!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Wow, thank you!

[@gailochoa5227]

Thanks for video. Beginner knitte r. I would not have understood the difference until you demonstrated.

[@SuzanneBryan]

You are very welcome, Gail, I'm glad my video was helpful! Please consider joining my Facebook page (same name), it's filled with supportive knitters of every level and we love to help beginners! ❤️

[@xtina22e]

Thank you for this!! I am about to start a top with a 2 stitch icord cast on, and it's so darn tight and difficult to even knit the last stitch 🤣

[@knitcrochettiger361]

omg....thank you, Suzanne, for this.....i i-cord co, i-cord bo and knit-as-you-go i-cord edging.....i love lining my works with either i-cord or garter stitch....in my opinion, i-cord and garter stitch feels masculine...so they add a little masculine design while the body of your work can be feminine like adding bullion roses or any kind of lacey stitching....the i-cord and garter stitch can help balance the look of your piece if you are going for little of both worlds

[@SuzanneBryan]

Wonderful, so glad to help, K&CT!

[@juliadunn155]

The same problem with enlarged first row stitches happens with a cable cast on, which I avoid by using needles one whole size smaller for the cast on, then switch to the working needle size from the first row onwards.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thanks for watching, Julia!

[@rebeccaloudermilk2574]

Great job....Very detailed work....just what I needed.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Wonderful Rebecca, glad it helped!

[@TheKnitwit]

Thank you so much!! I have been fighting the I-cord CO for days. This is by far better!!!!!!!

[@SuzanneBryan]

You're welcome!

[@satsumamoon]

I dont like making icords so the only time Id use them would be when a project suits a machine. Made icord. It does make a lovely edge . It was very interesting that it makes a difference where you pick up your stitches from , that had never entered my head!

[@redredwine1277]

Thanks again🌷 Merry Christmas ❤️🎄🎄

[@SuzanneBryan]

You are very welcome, RRW! Merry Christmas to you as well! ❤️

[@onetouti]

Love your tutorials, so clear

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you onetouti! Happy knitting.

[@lesleyoliver5582]

I have never used an I cord yet but interesting to learn these points from yourself. Thanks from Australia 🐨🐨🦘🦘

[@SuzanneBryan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nz-nz]

Excellent tutorial and explanation!

[@arzoofatimah6]

Oh it’s really great I learnt it today I’ve never seen or heard before

[@SuzanneBryan]

Wonderful!

[@GrandmaMarlayne]

This was a wonderful and very useful video. Thank you!

[@SuzanneBryan]

I really appreciate that, Marlayne, thank you! ❤️

[@teresaharp]

Thanks Suzanne great details!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thanks for watching!

[@cigdemcayoglu7002]

I am glad to meet your channel👏

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thanks for coming

[@patytrico]

First time I see the icord cast-on AND the first row made as you worked in the beggining, I am a tight knitter, impossible to me... I usually make the icord and then use it as base chain :) It depends the look that we want in the end :)

[@SuzanneBryan]

I don't care for the i-cord cast on either. I usually go back and add it as the bind off later on. Looks much better and easier to do.

[@cyrilberg1]

Great video Susan, thank you learned a lot.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JenniferLeeJohnsonInc]

This is fantastic. Great explanation too!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Glad you liked it! 🧶

[@rebeccasenko6956]

Another awesome tutorial. Thanks

[@SuzanneBryan]

My pleasure!

[@fritzifrey2908]

This is very helpful 🤩🤩 Thank you so much ✨✨

[@denisenico2889]

Hi, this looks so much better than what I've gotten by actually casting on that i-cord. I need to CO 126 stitches...how do I keep track of how many stitches I've made? I hate to undo what I've already done but that first row of stitches is too tall and looks strange. Is there a way to "fix" what I've got so far without tearing it all out and starting fresh with just an i-cord? Thanks!

[@Donna_child_of_God]

Well that is interesting. I'm getting ready to do a brioche scarf that uses an icord cast on. I may be doing this.

[@karenarnott387]

Going to try this out.

[@Nicola_Torrington]

I am confused about the three-two 'pass one' pickup from the icord (your preferred method). How do you know how many stitches the icord has to be in order to get the number of stitches you need to pick up from it, for the body of your work, since you're not picking up every v of the icord? Doesn't the icord have to be (more stitches) longer than the body. I hope my question is clear. Your resulting

[@SuzanneBryan]

The real bottom line is that you need to swatch to see how it works for you. It depends on your stitch and row gauge. And that can change from yarn to yarn, needle to needle and knitter to knitter. I hope this helps. let me know if I can be of more help to you. 🧶

[@lisasweet2536]

@@SuzanneBryan I have the same question, and I see your answer. To be clear, if I am planning to cast on 200 stitches in stockinette for the bottom edge of a sweater, would I check the gauge by making an I cord, working with 10 or 20 stitches of stockinette until I find the correct ratio of ICord stitches to stockinette? Then I'd multiply by 20 or 10 (respectively) to get an idea of how long the I cord should be for the full 200 stitch. I really appreciate this tutorial -- you anticipated a big issue with the Icord cast on and helped me avoid it.

[@lisasweet2536]

I have two questions related to gauge and stitch quantity; an earlier viewer mentioned this. I have picked up the stitches on the I cord, at the ratio of 3 stitches, skip 1, 2 st., skip 1, which is that gauge in your demo. (1) how does one determine one's gauge of I cord with respect to a 4 x 4 swatch? (2) If my project calls for 144 stitches cast on, do I count only the stitches I pick up or include the ones I skipped, or do something else? Many thanks for this and all your instruction!

[@SuzanneBryan]

If you are picking up along the edge, from rows, you would use your ratio. If you are picking up along the top or bottom, you would work a stitch for a stitch.

[@DanielWSonntag]

Such a good detailed instruction!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you, Daniel!

[@saraopie3677]

Really great video, thank you so much 🙂

[@SuzanneBryan]

My pleasure! 🧶

[@r.mcd2921]

Excellent, thank you!

[@FaerieFenergles]

Looks heaps better, thank you!

[@SuzanneBryan]

You're so welcome, Angela, I'm glad it was helpful!

[@jhupes3]

Suzanne, how do you stop the knitting from curling? Even if blocked it will curl again, wool has memory. So, I guess you would garter stitch, or seed stitch, however I wonder how that would effect the I cord? I think the stockinette space above the i cord sets it off. So. maybe stard with a knit row then garter? Also garter and seed have the same gauge, but. garter is larger. Does. this make a difference? Thanks.

[@SuzanneBryan]

This is a very common concern. In this instance I would make swatches and try the various techniques and see which I prefer. Each yarn has its own characteristics. Such as fiber content, twist, superwash vs non-superwash and stitch details. The only way to answer your questions is to swatch.

[@niamhydoo]

this works great! thank you

[@SuzanneBryan]

Awesome, and you are most welcome! Thanks so much for the feedback! 😊

[@plm1611]

Can you please explain how I sew 6 stitches that remain, after doing an I cord on the neck of a cardigan that meets an I cord edge coming up from the front, at the shoulder? It is not clear to me how I can make them disappear as they are in a noticeable place...3 stitches from the neck I cord and 3 stitches from the top shoulder seam, along tbe left front side. Thank you for your help❤

[@SuzanneBryan]

You need to make a mitered corner - on your in process 3 sts, work 3 rows of your i-cord without attaching them to the project, then kitchener to the remaining 3 stitches. 🧶

[@kittenknit-2025]

Grafting i-cord: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmG6aJqDhMyjmrM

[@bsfb3ar]

Suzanne would you advise using I-Cord bind off on the armhole with out using ribs.?

[@ninetiles]

Hi Suzanne! What I find super hard is how to make this all work in a round 😅

[@SuzanneBryan]

Are you talking about grafting the two ends together?

[@judithtaylor6916]

Hi Suzanne, the 1st demo where the next row of stitches after the icord are larger. This also happens when doing a Latvian braid row. In the middle of the knitting. Is there away to overcome the row of larger stitches after the Latvian braid row?

[@nicolejosan6364]

Picking up 3 skip then pick up 2 skip on seems terribly arbitrary. Wouldn't it be a better solution to use a smaller needle to make the I-Cord so it matches my swatch? Or a bigger so I get pick 1 skip 1 or something?

[@SuzanneBryan]

It is really a matter of what works best for you, I like to offer alternative solutions. Thanks for watching, Nicole! 😊

[@suzycolombo]

You're a genius. Thank you!!

[@gailklise4715]

I like your video - nice to see up close and slow….. do you also have a M1pl or r … video? Wonder if I can substitute knit in front and back / purl in front and back !!!

[@tailleachb-mv7819]

so - if I'm swapping out a crochet cast on for a two stitch I cord - pattern says to CO 84 stitches - my gauge is 19st x 26rows per 4" - how do I exactly know how many stitches to CO for the I-Cord?

[@SuzanneBryan]

You would cast on the same number of stitches. Try it on a swatch first.

[@tailleachb-mv7819]

@@SuzanneBryan - so if I'm understanding this correctly - similarly to what another viewer commented....and what you had said in the video the I cord represents the rows or row gauge?

[@SuzanneBryan]

Yes. but swatch first. Better to have fore knowledge.

[@AmandaComeauCreates]

I always knit stitches through the back loop, is that 'wrong'? Should I have been going through the other way? Or is it consistency that really matters? I'm self taught.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Do you knit all of your stitches through the back loop or just i-cord? If the front of your work looks good and the stitches are not twisted at the base, you are fine. If the stitches are twisted at the base, then you have a problem. Let me know.

[@MarinellaLandau]

What happens if you pick up both legs of each stitch instead of front or back leg?

[@terrigriffin4249]

such a useful video thank you, Ive been looking at cast on and offs, Ive bought some cashmere wool to make a scarf and want to carefully plan ! Im going to use a fishermans rib variation K1K1b with a 2 stitch icord edge. so looking at your videos would I be better off casting on from an icord and spacing to get a good row gauge as the rib will be stretchy and bouncy? but how do I then make sure that each end of the scarf looks the same ?

[@kerrywright8950]

The computer screen on the page Join Team Joe ...all politics I could really do without when I come to relax, other than that, love your talent. 🤩👍👍👍

[@SuzanneBryan]

Hi Kerry. Unfortunately I have no control over what ads play during my videos, or even what ads pop up on my computer screen as I navigate. I would definitely prefer non-political or hot-topic adds, to be sure. Thanks for watching!

[@kitmair]

So do you cast on more stitches in the I cord to accommodate the stitch count of 5?

[@SuzanneBryan]

I always swatch first and check my stitch and row gauge. And then work according to my ratio.

[@kayintong6099]

the cord is beautiful!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you.

[@lenkirtland2755]

How do you do button loops for babies cardigans

[@Keldertrapje]

I saw this technique, or had to apply it about 15 years ago in a design from Hanna Falkenberg, a Danish designer. Did you get that from the Danish knitters? And i did not know your basic I cord cast on.

[@SuzanneBryan]

I am familial with Hanna Falkenberg and love her designs, but this is just from understanding the mechanics of knitting. Thank you so much for commenting. Happy knitting.

[@Keldertrapje]

@@SuzanneBryan Never saw it after that pattern was done. I real like your description, well done.

[@SuzanneBryan]

😀

[@grannynurse17]

Thanks for this great video Suzanne! I’m about to start a top down summer T with an icord cast on. Since I want the neck opening to be pulled in a little should I pick up one stitch in each leg or do the other way by skipping to have the row gauge match the stitch gauge?

[@jannmcrock]

Do you have the cast on in written direction form? If so, where might I get it??????

[@SuzanneBryan]

I don't have it written out. But any provisional cast on will work.

[@Monique-TheYarnCurator]

Wonderful • thank you for teaching us •❤︎• How will we do this in the round ? If i wanted to knit a top down sweater and use this i-cord cast on as the neck ? Do you have a tutorial, please ?

[@SuzanneBryan]

I don't have a video showing how to graft i-cord, but am adding to my video todo list right now. Thank you for the suggestion. In the mean time, you can kitchener the two ends of the i-cord together.

[@Monique-TheYarnCurator]

thank you ♡♡@@SuzanneBryan

[@E_LithaBeth]

I'll bet you see a lot of "neon lights" as knowledgeable as you are!! It must take some real skill to come up with positive comments to make when you see them. What do you say to a knitter who is halfway through a scarf with garter stitch borders that are much too short for the body of the scarf where your solution of adding short rows would be just the thing? Or someone who has obviously not done a gauge swatch because the beautiful yarn they are using is being squeezed into a gauge much too tight to let the yarn breathe? I usually keep my mouth shut because I know I have so much yet to learn and the knitters are usually so enthusiastic about their projects. But I always highly recommend the great KZbin videos done by Suzanne Bryan and suggest they check them out!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thanks so much for the feedback, E Mc! I love knitting and I love teaching, and of course, I swatch every time I start a project. I really just want to help knitters reach their potential, so it's definitely a labor of love. 😊

[@ske1313]

Brilliant!

[@chapmak1000]

Love your videos

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you, Kathy, I appreciate that!

[@arzoofatimah6]

Can u guide for how to learn how many stitches for diff ages of sweaters I can’t make it the shaping of sweaters also

[@SuzanneBryan]

There are two really good books for knitting sweaters of all sizes and ages. They are both by Ann Budd. The Knitter's Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters and The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. You will find the answers to all of your questions in those two books. Happy knitting.

[@arzoofatimah6]

Knitting with Suzanne Bryan thank you so much for sharing book names I live in Pakistan but nowadays with my daughter and grandchildren in Australia so don’t know really from where to get this book from need your help

[@SuzanneBryan]

Do you have access to Amazon? That is a good place to start.

[@laurasharp7955]

do you always knit the first stitch or would it be better to slip it?

[@SuzanneBryan]

What a great question! In this case you would want to knit the first stitch. Make a sample and try it both ways. Then you can see how it looks.

[@TrudySchwartzBurrill]

I have a question please. If you make an i cord co, but you don’t need all of it or the beginning was too tight. Is there a way to not use all of it and still not have to remake it in order to start knitting your project and basically have to restart and make a new one?

[@SuzanneBryan]

Yes, if you start knitting on the i-cord from the working end (not the cast on end) and you get to the point where you want to stop, you can take out your slip knot for the cast on (or not if you did not make a slip knot) and undo the i-cord up to the point you need. Alternatively, you can cut the i-cord a half inch or so past the point you are using it and then undo the last few rounds. this will give you enough of a tail to weave in. Let me know if this works for you. 🧶

[@gwendawoodbury9743]

Maybe watch the Stephen West video on the i-chord cast on method….much easier! 😉

[@SuzanneBryan]

Ah, I have. What he is doing is not really called i-cord cast on. I actually can't stand the traditional i-cord cast on because of the problems that I show in this video. Working the i-cord first and then picking up stitches is a great work around, yes. I love it and would rather use it than the i-cord cast on. Thanks for sharing.

[@marciacaniatoferraz5418]

Love you from Brasil São Paulo!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you!

[@sarawackadoo]

I'm glad to know I wasn't doing my icord wrong. The big stitches are such an eyesore. If I get the right row gauge in the beginning will it block out to match the rest of the project?

[@SuzanneBryan]

Unfortunately, the big stitches do not go away. Ask me how I know.

[@orionlottering7349]

You are an engineer

[@SuzanneBryan]

😀

[@lisagatti4514]

Quero muito aprender seu método estou prestando atenção para não esquecer detalhes importantes e úteis que fazem adiferença

[@SuzanneBryan]

Obrigada, Lisa! Eu sei que você terá sucesso, isso só requer prática. Se necessário, você pode diminuir a velocidade do vídeo para visualizá-lo em um ritmo mais lento. ❤️

[@knittingknut]

11:06 is where her favorite method starts.

[@marypfeffer997]

Nice!

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@geenbeens]

Hi Suzanne! This is very interesting - I have a knitting pattern that will be released on Ravelry that calls for an i-cord CO. Would it be ok to include a link to this video in the pattern PDF? If you prefer that I do not, no problem! Love your tips and tricks! Gina

[@SuzanneBryan]

Absolutely Yes! Good luck with your pattern. Share your link here when it is ready. 🧶

[@suje8032]

Haven’t seen your beautiful face in a while. Hope you are ok health wise ❤️

[@SuzanneBryan]

I am good, thank you. Happy Holidays.

[@annofgreencables]

I prefer that the word Hate was not in anyones’s vocabulary.

[@SuzanneBryan]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@pamyclark1263]

You’re kind of knit picky and rude about other peoples knitting, aren’t you?

[@healersofhumanity]

I found this insulting the 5 minute how to hit like and subscribe intro was excessive -assuming all of us are either from another planet or born yesterday- is offensive.

[@liete2012]

Why make it SO bloody complicated????? 😂

[@SuzanneBryan]

Happy Holidays.

[@BR54niner]

Ohhh no. Not “Team Joe”. 🫣