Let's talk about I-cord

 

Not sure how well any non-knitters can see it, but to the right side of the needles, the knitting on the sock yarn blanket is sporting the first few inches of an I-cord edge.  This technique makes a little 'rolled tube' over the edge of the piece that reinforces the edge and gives a lovely even finish rather like the binding on the edge of a quilt.

"Unvented" by the late, great knitter, Elizabeth Zimmermann, I-cord can be applied to edging - either a finished edge or as a bindoff.  It makes nice ties, buttonholes and toggle button loops and basically I use it anywhere a neat, reinforced edge is needed. 

This is the LAST round of the blanket!  But while I-cord is wonderfully useful, it is not a fast technique.  There are five stitches needed for every stitch on the edge.  Worth it, though.