Monica Knits

Picot Cast On After I wrote the picot bind off (cast off) article, there were a number of reader inquiries for picot cast on instructions. Like the picot bind off, you can create a delicate finish of bobbles of good elasticity--ideal for sock cuffs. Also like the related bind off, the picot size is determined by the number of stitches cast on and then bound off together. The picot cast on begins with a cable cast on, then employs a combination of cable cast ons and clustered bind offs similar to the picot cast off. Read more... for illustrated instructions and related links.

The picots are illustrated with a mint green cotton/acrylic (75%:25%) blend yarn, demonstrated with an an infant sock.

Slip Knot 2a 2b 2c

PICOT CAST ON INSTRUCTIONS
The example illustrated below uses a a combination of 5 cast on stitches with 2 stitches subsequently bound off. Being a sock of fingering weight yarn, 2.5 mm circular needles and fingering weight yarns were used.

Part A - Regular Cast On Beginning

The first step is a regular cable cast on, which begins with a slip knot (above) and knitted cast on (images 2a, 2b, 2c) for the 2d st only. Afterwards all new stitches are cable cast ons.


1. Cast on 5 stitches as follows: slip knot, single knitted cast on (2a,2b, and 2c) and 3 cable casts ons. Images 3a and 3b show the formation of the cable cast on stitch and image 4 shows the first five stitches. Click here for full illustrated instructions for the Cable Cast On.

3a 3b 4












Part B - Picot Repeat Pattern

2. Now 2 sts will be bound off pairwise.
   K1 (the most recent cable cast on, 5th stitch of Part A) (Image 5)
   K1 (the next cable cast on, 4th stitch of Part A), bind off one (Images 5 and 5b)
   K1 (the next cable cast on, 3rd stitch of Part A), bind off one (Image 5c)> (total of 2 stitches bound off)
   Return the stitch to the left hand needle from the right hand needle)
3. Cast on 5 sts, using a cable cast on. (Image 5d)
4. Repeat steps 2 to 3 until a the desired number of picots have been created.
5. Add extra stitch(es) if joining in the round. (exact number depends on the number of stitches in the picot pattern).
   I add 2 cable cast ons (2 temporary extra stitches) at the end for this 5 cast on pattern. These are used for joining in the round and balancing the clusters of 3 stitches. On the first knitted round, after the picot cast on, I knit the last st on the 2nd circular needle and the first stitch on the first circular needle together (k2tog) to join in the round. On the second round, I do this one more time and the 2 temporary stitches have been eliminated.

5 5b 5c 5d






Related Posts
Cable Cast On (stepwise illustrated instructions)
Circular Needle - Cast-On (Follow steps 1 to 8. For step 9, substitute K2tog intead of swapping stitches.)
Picot Bind off (stepwise illustrated instructions)
Picot Bind Off - Long Mohair Glove (photo of picot trim)