Personalised Wire Names with I-Cord: A Simple DIY Project

Creating personalized wire names wrapped in knitted i-cord is a delightful and meaningful craft project. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Overview: Crafting Personalised Wire Names with Knitted I-Cord

Combining the softness of yarn with the sturdiness of wire allows you to create customized name decorations. By using an i-cord knitting machine, you can efficiently produce the knitted cord needed for this project.

To create an i-cord of the desired length for your name:

🧶 Step 1: Loading the Yarn

Start by feeding your yarn through the two guides on your machine:

Guide One – This is the trickiest. Find the small loop near the top of the machine. Pass your yarn in from the front and then up through this loop.
Guide Two – This one is a simple notch, usually on the side. Just slide your yarn in.

Once the yarn is in both guides, drop it down the center hole of the machine. If the yarn doesn’t fall easily, attach it to a needle or weight—this gives it enough pull to drop through.

🧷 Step 2: Getting Ready to Cast On

When you peek inside the machine, you’ll see four latch hooks. For the first round only, you’ll want to catch yarn on needles 1 and 3, and skip 2 and 4:

Turn the crank slowly and carefully so the yarn catches on hook 1, skips 2, catches on 3, and skips 4.
You may need to use a needle or crochet hook to manually guide the yarn onto the correct hooks.

🧵 Step 3: Add Tension

Tension is key! Make sure you have a weight attached to the bottom of the yarn tail to keep everything pulling down smoothly. Use your hand to gently support and guide the tension at the start so the weight doesn’t yank the yarn too hard.

🔁 Step 4: Keep Cranking!

Once you’ve set up the first round:

Begin turning the crank consistently.
Now, each hook will start catching the yarn, and your i-cord will begin to form.
It might look a bit messy at first—don’t worry! Just keep turning and occasionally give the cord a gentle tug.

🧺 Step 5: Adjust as You Go

As your i-cord grows:

Reposition your weight every so often so it stays close to where the yarn exits the machine.
Keep turning the crank until your i-cord is as long as the name you’re spelling, plus a few extra cm for flexibility at the ends.
When you’re ready to unfasten cut string and continue cranking till the i-cord falls off the machine.

Threading the Wire Through the I-Cord

Once your i-cord reaches the desired length:

Prepare the Wire: Cut a piece of 1mm wire slightly longer than your i-cord to accommodate adjustments.
Create a Loop at One End: Before inserting, form a small loop at one end of the wire. This prevents the sharp end from snagging the yarn as you thread it through.
Insert the Wire: Gently feed the wire through the center of the i-cord, guiding it carefully to avoid puncturing the knitted fabric.

Shaping the Wire into Letters

With the wire threaded through the i-cord:

Use a Template: Print out the desired name in your chosen font and size. This serves as a guide for shaping.
Shape the Letters: Place the wired i-cord over the printed template and bend it to follow the letterforms. Using pliers can help achieve precise bends and curves.
Secure the Ends: Once shaped, Insert a crochet hook into each loop at the end of the i-cord, yarn over, pull through all loops, and fasten off securely.