3 Ways to Crochet a Picot
A crocheted picot edging adds a delicate and decorative touch to any project. But did you know there is more than one way to crochet a picot? I’ll show you three popular ways to crochet a picot so you can try them all and choose your favorite.
What is a Picot?
A picot is essentially a little loop of chain stitches closed with a slip stitch. They are most often used as a decorative border along the edge of a piece, but some elaborate stitch patterns incorporate picots as part of the pattern. For the sake of comparison, all the picots shown here were made with three chains and were worked in every fourth stitch. You can, of course, customize your picots. Use more than three chains to make a bigger picot. Space your picots closer together or farther apart. It’s your project—you decide!
How These Methods Differ
The difference in these three methods of crocheting picots lies in where you place the slip stitch that closes the loop of chains. Let’s dig into the details.
Method 1: Slip Stitch into the Same Stitch
This is the method described in The Crochet Answer Book by Edie Eckman. It was used for the two picots on the right in the photo at the top of this article.
1
Single crochet (sc) to the spot where you want the picot. Sc in the next stitch (Photo 1).
2
Chain (ch) 3 (Photo 2).
3
Slip stitch (sl st) into the same stitch as the sc you made in Step 1 as follows: Insert hook into sc, yarn over (yo) and draw loop through (Photo 3), then;
4
Continue to draw that loop through the remaining loop on the hook (Photo 4). Continue working single crochet to the spot where you want the next picot.
I find that this method makes a nicely rounded picot, but the left-hand side of the picot seems to dip down just a bit.
Method 2: Slip Stitch into the First Chain
This is the method described in A to Z of Crochet: The Ultimate Guide for the Beginner to Advanced Crocheter. It was used for the two picots in the center of the photo at the top of this article.
1
Sc to the spot where you want the picot. Sc into the next stitch, then ch 3 (Photo 1).
2
Sl st into the first of the chain sts by inserting hook into the side of the chain (Photo 2), then;
3
Yo and draw the loop through both the chain and the loop on the hook (Photo 3).
This method makes a slightly smaller picot, but it does sit nicely on the edge of the piece.
Method 3: Slip Stitch into the Single Crochet That Starts the Picot
We learned this method from our friend Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts. It was used for the two picots on the left in the photo at the top of this article. Check out her demonstration on Instagram:
And here are the instructions step by step.
1
Sc to the spot where you want the picot. Sc into the next stitch, then ch 3 (Photo 1).
2
Sl st into the sc at the base of your chains by inserting the hook down through the top of the stitch and under the left-hand leg of the stitch (Photo 2).
3
Yo and pull loop through all loops on the hook (Photo 3).
This method makes a nicely shaped picot that sits tall on the edge of the piece.
Make it Your Own
Which method is the best? I recommend you do as I did. Make a little swatch and try all three methods. See which one gives you the best balance of being enjoyable to work while creating an attractive result. Then experiment with varying the number of chains in your picots and changing the spacing. You’ll soon come up with an edging you love that is entirely your own!
Andrea tried out all three methods—take a look at them in action:
Which method do you prefer? Do you have a new favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Thank you to Ancient Arts Yarns for providing the yarn used for this swatch. This sample was made with Herlig.
Sandi Rosner is the technical content editor for all things yarn at Interweave. When she isn’t knitting, she usually has her nose in a book. You’ll find new technical content from Sandi nearly every week at www.interweave.com.
Picots and More
Usually when I’m making crocheted picots it’s for the tops of the little granny stitch stockings I make each year for my grandchildren. I like to vary the design I do around the tops and have played with different ways to do the picots. I’ve done both of the first two but never thought to do the third, so I’ll have to remember that one. Another way I’ve done them not shown here is to sc into each stitch around with 2-3 ch between each sc. This makes a bit more loose picot that gives it a soft lacy looking edge.