Picot Cast on

The picot cast on is a way to cast on stitches that results in an edge with picots (or loops) in it. This cast on technique is great for adding a decorative edge to your knit projects. There are a couple of different ways to do the picot cast on. You can either use the knit picot cast on, which works the stitches directly onto the needle, or create picots in a chain and then work these onto the needle when you have the desired amount. Either way, it is helpful to have some basic knowledge of knitting before you get started, such as how to cast on normally, knit, purl, and bind off.

Steps

Using the Knit Picot Cast On

  1. Create a slipknot. Start by making a slipknot in your yarn about six to eight inches from the end. To do this, make a loop in your yarn, and then pull a second loop through the first one.[1] Then, slide the slipknot onto your main needle. This is the needle that you hold in your left hand.[2]
    • Tug the end of the working yarn to tighten the loop.
  2. Cast on four stitches normally. Next, use the regular knit cast on method to cast on four stitches. To do this, insert your working (right hand) needle into the slipknot, yarn over, and then pull through and slide the slipknot off the needle as you do so. Then, loop the yarn over your main needle and insert the working needle through the loop. Yarn over and pull through again to create another stitch.[2]
    • Continue casting on with the regular knit method until you have four stitches total on your right hand needle.
  3. Bind off two stitches. Once you have five stitches on your working needle, you will need to bind off two of them. First, place the needle with the stitches on it into your opposite hand. Then, knit into the first stitch. Next, insert the main needle into the first stitch on the working needle and loop it over the second stitch. This completes your first bind off stitch.[2]
    • Bind off a second stitch by knitting one and then binding off in the same manner as the first.
    • Return the last stitch to the main needle after you finish binding off two stitches.
  4. Repeat the process. To repeat the process, cast on four stitches again, and bind off two stitches. Keep going until you have the desired number of picot stitches on your needle.[2]

Using the Chain Picot Cast On

  1. Make a slipknot. Start by making a slipknot about six to eight inches from the end of your yarn. To do this, loop the yarn around the needle or around your finger twice and pull one loop over the other. The, slide the loop onto the main (left hand) needle.[3]
  2. Insert your working needle into the slipknot knitwise. Insert your right hand needle into the yarn as if you are going to knit it. Then, loop the working yarn over the end of the needle and pull it through the slipknot, but don’t slide the slipknot off the needle.[3]
  3. Place the new stitch on the main needle and switch hands. Pull out the yarn with your working needle to provide some slack and then turn the loop around and slide it onto the main needle. Then, tighten the loop by tugging on the working yarn. Now, you should have two stitches on your main needle.[3]
  4. Insert the working needle purlwise. Next, position the yarn as if you are going to purl. This means that the yarn should be in front of the needle instead of behind it. Then, insert your working needle into the first stitch on the main needle purlwise, as if you are going to purl the stitch, and slide it onto your working needle and off of the main needle.[3]
  5. Knit the next stitch. Loop the yarn over your working needle to the right of the stitch you just transferred to the working needle. Then, knit into the stitch that is on your main needle. By doing this, you should end up with two more stitches on your working needle.[3]
  6. Insert the main needle into the center stitch and bind off a stitch. Next, you will need to bind off a stitch. To do this, insert your main needle into the center stitch on your working needle. Then, pull the loop over the stitch to the left (nearest the tip of the needle).[3]
  7. Keep making the chain. Continue to insert the needle purlwise, knit a stitch, and bind off a stitch. Keep continuing this pattern until your chain is the desired length. Then, you can transfer the chain over to your main needle and knit as normal.[3]
  8. Transfer the chain to your main needle. To transfer the chain, insert the needle into the first loop on the chain. Then, yarn over and pull through to work the chain onto the needle. Keep going until the entire chain is on your main needle.[3]
    • After you have transferred the entire chain, then you can begin knitting as usual.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.simple-knitting.com/slip-knot.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://sweetgeorgiayarns.com/tutorials/picot-cast-on/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 http://newstitchaday.com/picot-cast-on/

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