In most cases, we don’t add any edgings to garter stitch. The natural bead-like side edges look nice and are consistent with the rugged texture of the garter-stitch fabric.
But when we frame garter stitch with sleek chains of stitches formed by slim i-cord, we elevate this humble stitch pattern to a totally new level. Our projects look more like gorgeous designer items than plain beginner knits.
Here’s how we can make this (almost) magical transformation step by step.
If you prefer to learn from a video tutorial:
SETUP
This edging is worked over two stitches at each side edge of the project. If you plan to add slim i-cord to both sides of the fabric, add four stitches to the number of stitches you cast on.
If you add this edging only to one side of your project (for example, front of a cardigan), add two extra stitches, then work steps 1 and 6 to add this edging to the right side of the fabric, and steps 3 and 4 to add it to the left edge.
ROW 1 (RIGHT SIDE)
STEP 1
Knit 1 stitch.
Keep the yarn at the back of the work as you insert the tip of the right needle from right to left into the next stitch, and then take the left needle out, slipping that stitch purlwise to the right needle.
STEP 2
Knit all stitches one by one until you get to the last two stitches of the row.
STEP 3
Keep the yarn at the back of the work as you slip the next stitch purlwise to the right needle.
Knit the last stitch of the row.
ROW 2 (WRONG SIDE)
STEP 4
Bring the yarn to the front of the work and slip the first stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle.
Purl the next stitch.
STEP 5
Bring the yarn to the back of the work and knit all stitches, but stop when you get to the last two stitches of the row.
STEP 6
Purl the second last stitch of the row.
Keep the yarn at the front of the work as you slip the last stitch purlwise to the right needle.
When we repeat these two rows, we not just see a lovely edging forming at the sides of the project, but also understand the simple logic behind this method – in row 1, we knit the edge stitches and slip the stitches next to them, and in the next row, we slip the edge stitches and purl the stitches next to them.
Once we know how slim i-cord works, we can add this edging to any project without using any written notes.
But if you do prefer to have a quick reminder on hand, I highly recommend using the quick reference cards provided in the book“Neat Side Edges”. I use them all the time.
The slim i-cord edging forms a chain of elongated stitches on one side of the fabric, and a chain of elongated twisted stitches on the other side.
I like this subtle difference. It makes the projects more interesting. But if you’d rather make an edging that looks exactly the same on both sides of the work, knit stitches through the back loop in steps 1 and 3.
Slipping every other stitch of the edging brings several benefits – the stitches look bigger and nicer, the edging neatly wraps both sides of the fabric, and, most importantly, slipped stitches make the gauge of the edging almost the same as the gauge of the garter stitch itself. That means that the edges of your next garter stitch scarf or blanket won’t flare or pucker even after you work many, many rows.
SAVE IT FOR LATER:
This and 41 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #6.
