Icord trouble

How-to Questions
1

I’ve found out about the phenomenom of an Icord about 3 weeks agoo and knitted quite a few since. I can use the ones I knit, but they aren’t perfect.

For starters, you can always see (sometimes quite clearly) where the seam is. I tried taking a picture of this, but it just doesn’t show on the pictures :eyes: And no, it is not just in my head :stuck_out_tongue: I showed it to a neighbour who then tried to knit one and hers looked quite a bit better.
She knits less tight then I do, but when I try to loosen up - the seam just gets wider. I use the same yarn, the same #needles… :???: :think:
ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THIS?

Secondly, I tried knitting one around a wire but this is just a disaster. I tried a different amount of stitches, different needles, different yarn - it just doesn’t work. The back just looks like this:

I did look at some videos, but they just don’t give the answer I’m looking for. None says HOW tight I need to hold the yarn or what size needle is most suitable (or how many stitches) :hair:. And I had a nice idea for a bracelet with wire in it to shape it like this. :cool:
Right now, this is what the front looks like:

presentable (not even though), but I really need the back not to show…

Thirdly, I would like to try using different colours. I do get how to do this by using double yarn,

but as soon as I try to switch between colours things start to go (more) awry :help:

2

What method are you using? i.e., how many stitches, what do you do with the needles, what kind of needles, etc.?

3

Are you trying with too many stitches? DPN seems to work best for me. You only need two.

4

Usually I-cord works best with 3 or 4 sts. You can try it with more sts but it’s easiest with 3-4. I’m a loose knitter so I always have to pull [I]slightly[/I] on the first stitch to prevent a ladder.
Would it be easier to knit the I-cord and then insert the wire? I’m thinking that maybe for that thickness of wire, you might need another stitch in the I-cord.

5

Method: DPN

How many stitches: I tried 2 till 6, but always get that strange seam. It does disappear sometimes when I roll the cord between my hands in an efford to even out the stitches.

Indeed Salmonmac, 3-4 is easiest in my experience.

Insert the wire afterward… that’s an idea, thanks - I’ll try.

And I’ll try knitting more loosely. Not that easy though, I really have the urge to pull that thread tight! :stuck_out_tongue:

Thank you all for your input. I guess I’ll just have to keep on trying and gain experience - if there was a trick to it I would have found it by now.

6

I think if you work on knitting looser you’ll like the result. If you get in the habit of not pulling it tight, lots of things will likely be easier and less stressful on your hands and wrists.