My Favorite Neat I‑Cord Edge Increases for PetiteKnit’s Sophie Scarf, Hood & Shawl

Originally published on December 15, 2025

Creativity and confidence in knitting

One of the things I love most about Elizabeth Zimmermann is how she encouraged us to think for ourselves and become truly confident knitters, instead of following any pattern blindly. When I buy a new pattern, I don’t see it as a set of strict rules, but as an empty canvas I can fill with my own colours, and little experiments. That mix of creativity in knitting and gentle rule‑breaking is what keeps this hobby so magical for me.
Recently, I had exactly that feeling while knitting the Sophie Hood and Sophie Scarf by PetiteKnit. I adore her designs. They are modern, clear and have brought so many younger knitters into our world of wool and needles. Her patterns are beautifully written, but part of growing as a knitter is noticing when a tiny tweak might make a project feel even better in your own hands, and gives you the confidence to gently customise your knitting patterns.

For the best side‑by‑side comparison, I chose to knit both swatches with the same yarn and needle size.

Why Modify Knitting Patterns?

On the Sophie Scarf, Hood and Shawl, the increases and decreases along the I‑cord edge are beautiful design details, but on my needles the edge sometimes turned out a little uneven. The I‑cord stitches look slightly enlarged, especially right where the increases happened. My theory is that slipping the edge stitches on one row and then working a kfb increase on the next stretches that stitch more than the stitches around it. This extra tension is what can make the I‑cord stitches look larger or uneven, sometimes with little steps in the edge or, depending on the yarn you are using, even tiny holes.

So I started to experiment a bit. I don’t want my knits to look like they were made by a machine, but when we spend so much time and money on yarn, it feels wonderful when our handmade pieces have tidy edges and an intentional, polished look. These little adjustments are simply my way of customizing knitting patterns so they fit the way I like to knit and the kind of finish that makes me smile when I bind off.

This swatch was knitted with a cotton–merino blend.

Neat increases for the Sophie Scarf, Hood and Shawl

For the first increase between the I‑cord edges, I like to use the backward loop cast‑on. It adds a new stitch with a small bump that mimics the look of garter stitch and sits between the two I‑cord edges.

When you reach the point where you need to work your first increase between the I‑cord edges,...	...instead of working a kfb into the third I‑cord stitch, I like to make a backward loop cast on. Simply form a little loop with the yarn...	...and place it onto your needle.

You’ve now created a new stitch directly between the two I‑cord edges	On the wrong side, just knit this loop as a normal stitch (it can feel a little tight on the first row, and that’s okay)	As you can see, this gives very neat increases without disturbing the I‑cord edge at all.

After that, I work all further increases as a knit front and back (kfb) in the first stitch right after the I‑cord edge. Keeping the kfb one stitch after the edge means the I‑cord itself remains undisturbed, while the Sophie Scarf, Hood or Shawl grows wider row by row. On my swatches, this simple change gave a much smoother, tidier I‑cord edge. I also like to place stitch markers before and after the I‑cord stitches. This little trick reminds me to slip the last three stitches and helps prevent me from accidentally knitting them instead.

Right after the I‑cord edge,...	...work a kfb increase into the first stitch	This way, you add another stitch without disturbing the I‑cord edge.

Softer decreases for a smooth edge

When it is time to decrease, I actually prefer to use a k2tog. For my taste, this decrease looks smoother and less fussy than “knit one, slip one, pass the slipped stitch over,” especially in garter stitch next to an I‑cord. The shaping line feels softer and the edge flows more nicely into the rest of the fabric.
Again, there is nothing wrong with the original decreases at all - they are just a different style choice. This is simply the version that makes me happiest when I look at my finished Sophie pieces.

Knit the first three i-cord stitches,	then work a knit2tog over the fourth and fifth stitches.	I worked this decrease all the way to the end of the pattern.

For the last decrease, I am using the same steps as the pattern. I only switch the SKP to a knit2tog. I knit the first two i-cord stitches and then work a knit2tog over the third and fourth stitch.

Knit the first two i-cord stitches	then work a decrease over the third and fourth stitch.	Now you are at 6 stitches again and can work the last rows in the pattern.

Why Yarn Choice Matters for Your Increases

The yarn you choose can completely change how your increases look. Merino wool, for example, has a beautiful natural elasticity that lets the stitches sit nice and even. When you block it, those increases smooth out and become barely noticeable. It is one of the reasons I love merino for patterns like this. But if you use a yarn with no stretch, like cotton, those increases will stay exactly where you knit them, and that means they will not soften or blend in after blocking. This is why it is so important to cast on a little swatch and block it before you decide which increase you want to use. You need to see how your yarn behaves. A kfb increase might look messy in cotton but nearly invisible in merino. So take the time to test it. It saves so much heartache later.

In this picture, you can see the where I did all the increases.The blue garter stitch texture looks really nice.	in the picture, you can see where I’ve been doing the decreases. I popped a little paper label above it just to make it super clear.

Personal Taste, Honest Reviews and Enjoyable Knitting

All of this is just my opinion and my way of knitting. You never have to change a thing if you love your Sophie Scarf, Hood or Shawl exactly as PetiteKnit designed it. When I started this blog, I made myself two quiet promises: no sponsorships or ads, and always being honest. For me, that means sharing my real thoughts about the yarns, patterns and needles I use, and passing on the tiny tips and tweaks that have helped me - just in case they make your own knitting time a little more enjoyable too.

Sharing these small details - like alternative increases, or simple ways to tidy an I‑cord edge - is my way of supporting other knitters who might be looking for the same refinements. If even one of these ideas helps you feel more confident modifying knitting patterns such as the Sophie Scarf by PetiteKnit, then the spirit of creativity and confidence in knitting is being passed on, one project at a time.

Until then, happy knitting!

I worked the increases on the right side all the way up. You can click on the image and zoom in for a closer look, if you'd like. Another option would be to work invisible increases after the three I-cord stitches, which might give an even better result. However, in my opinion, the KFB looks really neat, and the I-cord stitches remain even throughout the Sophie scarf.

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