Knitted cord (sometimes called “i-cord”) is handy for drawstrings, bag handles, applique type details (faux cables, for example), and more unusual applications like jewelry. It’s one of those things that tends to baffle some while they’re starting to learn it, but once you wrap your head around it you’ll find it to be very easy (and, at least for me, kind of addictive.)
Supplies:
-2 double pointed knitting needles (sized for your yarn) or 1 long flexible double pointed needle
-yarn
Cast on 3-6 stitches. I’m using 4 here, I think that’s a really good number, especially to start with.
I used a long tail/one needle type cast on. Cast on whatever way makes you feel comfortable.
However you cast on, keep the front/pretty side of you knitting toward you, and make sure that your stitches are on the right end of your needle (for those knitting right handed. If you’re a lefty, do the opposite.)
Bring your yarn around the back (if you need to) and knit the stitches on your needle.
Your stitches will, again, be on the left end of the needle.
Slide them to the right end.
Bring the yarn around the back, and knit those 4 stitches again. Knit the first stitch in the row more tightly than you usually would – you’re trying to pull up the slack from bringing the yarn around the back.
This is what the back looks like without pulling up the slack in that first stitch. (It’s going to look like this for a row or two either way, don’t worry about it looking good for at least 5 rows.)
This is the back of the work when you’re keeping your first stitch tightened. It also helps a lot to pull down on the cord from time to time – that evens out the cord.
Continue doing the exact same thing – knit the row, slide it to the other end of the needle, knit the row, slide it to the other end of the needle…
When your cord is as long as you want it to be, cast off.