The picot stitch is a simple decorative technique that creates a delicate, pointy edging. You’ll often see it in snowflakes, doilies, lace borders, shawls, and other elegant crochet projects.
How a Picot Works
A picot is essentially a tiny loop made by slip‑stitching a small chain (usually ch 3, sometimes more) into a circle. Patterns will tell you where to slip stitch, and that placement affects how the picot sits.
Slip Stitch Placement
- Slip stitch into the last chain from the hook → The picot sits between the stitches of the row.
- Slip stitch into the base of the previous stitch → The picot sits on top of that stitch and doesn’t shift sideways.
In my patterns, I prefer the second method because it creates a neat, centered point.
How to Make a Picot (My Preferred Method)
Picot: Ch 3, insert the hook under the front loop and the bottom vertical bar of the previously made stitch, yo, and pull through all loops on the hook.
This anchors the picot directly to the top of the stitch, giving you a clean, stable point.
Below are two video demonstrations in this technique:
- Picots worked into the base of sc
- Picots worked into the base of dc
- Plus a left‑handed version
