Draft
Picot Bind Off
A bind off with small points along the edge.
6 min videoGood for decorative edges, baby things, shawls
The picot bind off finishes an edge with a row of small points. You cast on a couple of extra stitches at the start of each picot with the knitted on cast on, then bind them off again along with a few of the row’s stitches, so each point stands up from the edge with a little eyelet hole underneath it.
Cast on two stitches for a small picot, or three or four for a longer one. The difference is subtle, but you can mix sizes along the edge for a wave. The same size all the way across looks as good.
It is a frilly, decorative finish for the cuff of a sleeve, the top of a sock, the hem of a sweater, or anywhere you want a little more at the edge.
1 Cast on two stitches
At the start of the row, cast on two extra stitches with the knitted on cast on. Knit into the first stitch, draw the yarn through with a little slack, and place the loop on the tip of the main needle. Do it again.
2 Knit the two new stitches
Knit those two stitches you cast on.
3 Pass the first over the second
Lift the first stitch on the working needle over the second and off, the same as a plain bind off.
4 Knit and pass over, three more times
Knit the next stitch and pass the first over it. Do that two more times. That makes a little frill standing up from the edge: the picot.
5 Slip back and cast on again
Slip the stitch on the working needle back to the main needle, then cast on two more stitches and repeat.
6 Cast on more for a bigger picot
For a longer point, cast on three or four stitches instead of two. Then bind off one more stitch for each extra one you cast on. The difference is subtle but you can see it.
7 Then keep going
Repeat across the row until all the stitches are bound off. Keep every picot the same size, or mix two, three and four for a tiered wave.