How to crochet i-cord

Perfect for playtime fun, the 'Fairytale cape' would also work for a cover up over a pretty party dress. The pattern is ideal for beginners and will help you master the art of joining granny squares. The cape is tied with a length of crocheted i-cord with pom-poms attached - because we all love pom poms!  

The cape can be made to fit any size but please remember that toddlers under 3's should be supervised when playing with capes with cords.  

There's a brilliant tutorial here for making super speedy pom-poms without having to buy a pom pom maker!

How to crochet i-cord

I-cord is a knitting technique that can be used to make lengths of tubed fabric, which is useful for all kinds of things. However, it's easy to crochet too!

1. Chain 3.

2. Insert hook through next ch from hook, yarn round hook, pull up a loop, then insert hook through next ch again, yarn round hook and pull up another loop. There are now 3 loops on the hook.

3. Take the last loops off of the hook. These are now unsupported, so you have to find a way to stop them from coming undone. Holding them should be sufficient, and if you're using a nice sticky wool yarn, this will be a breeze, but with slippery cottons it can be a bit fiddly! There's now only one loop on the hook.

4. Yarn round hook and pull through one loop, then put the first of the two loops you're holding back on the hook. There are now 2 loops on the hook.

5. Yarn round hook and pull through one loop, then put the last loop back on the hook, yarn round hook and pull through one loop again. There are now 3 loops on the hook.  

Continue like this for as long as you need the i-cord to be, it might look flat at first, but as you move further up the chain, you'll start to see that it's actually a tube.