“How do you come up with all these ideas?” is a question that I am asked over and over. My answer is usually “anywhere and everywhere.” Many times, as I am working in that mindless stage where the pattern is in my fingers, my mind begins to wander and I think, “What if—what if I did this, or what if I did that?” Other inspirations come from an open-minded observation of my surroundings, such as Mother Nature. Occasionally, I am inspired by a colorful photograph or a walk in the woods—anywhere and everywhere!

Recently, while watching an old black-and-white movie, I was enthralled by a dark sweater trimmed around the edges with a two-colored, rope-like trim that one of the stylish characters was wearing. I began to think, “What if I did such a trim as an attached, bi-colored, twisted I-cord bind off?” Being a fan of I-cord bind offs, after an exhaustive but unsuccessful search of my knitting library, hoping to find a technique for just such a bi-colored trim, I eventually put yarn to needles and worked out my own technique. A technique I am arrogantly calling Charles Gandy’s Bi-colored Twisted Attached I-cord Bind Off. I realize that it is presumptuous of me to think that I invented this, so I welcome any references to the technique and will gladly remove my name from “my” invention.

Needing a garment to demonstrate this bind off, I designed this simple hat. The bind off would be great for a trim around a sweater (the original inspiration), atop a set-in pocket, or around the neckline of a pullover sweater. The possibilities are endless…so enjoy twisting away as you bind off. For a further discussion of this technique, see the accompanying article.