This video knitting tutorial will help you learn how to knit the picot cast on. This method of beginning your project uses a decorative edge that is worked sideways and then turned to pick up stitches that are knit from. It’s a great way to create a little interest to your mitten, sleeve, and sock cuffs.

Skill: Intermediate

Instructions:

Step 1: Make a slip knot and tighten it onto your knitting needle.

Step 2: Using the knitted cast on, place another stitch on your needle.

Step 3: Turn your work and with the yarn in front, slip the first stitch on your main needle purl wise.

Step 4: Carrying the yarn over your needle and holding it in place with your thumb so it does not cross the slipped stitch, knit the next stitch off your main needle. You should now have three stitches on your working needle.
Step 5: With your main needle, slip the middle stitch over the knitted stitch. You should now have two stitches on your needle.

Repeat steps 3 – 5 until you have cast on all but one of your stitches. Then repeat the sequence once more without the yarn over.

Once you have cast on all your stitches you will need to pick up the stitches through the eyelet holes along the edge of your picot chain.

Example of the Picot Cast On (click for larger)

music in video is from demo 2008 by (Latchxe9 Swing) / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0