The picot stitch edging does one thing extremely well, it turns a finished-but-unfinished blanket into something that looks deliberately designed. It is suited to makers who already have a completed project in hand and want a border that adds delicacy without complexity. The picot is not a structural stitch; it is decorative, and it works on granny square blankets, solid panels, or anything with a reasonably even edge.
Crochet Picot Stitch Edging
The technique itself is straightforward: foundation rounds of single crochet to square up the edge, then a repeating sequence of single crochets and small chain loops that form the picot points. No specialty skills required beyond basic single crochet and slip stitch.
Materials and Tools
- Crochet hook (5.5 mm used in the original tutorial match to your yarn weight)
- Yarn of your choice
- Scissors
- Darning needle
Abbreviations
- ch — chain
- sc — single crochet
- sl st — slip stitch
- st — stitch
The Pattern
Foundation Round — Smoothing the Edge
The first rounds are not decorative. Their job is to create a clean, even surface for the picot round to sit on. Working directly into an uneven blanket edge especially one made of joined granny squares will produce a wobbly picot border, so this step is worth doing properly.
- Work one single crochet in every stitch around the blanket.
- At each corner, work three single crochets into the same stitch to turn the corner without pulling or rippling.
- At granny square joins, simply work single crochets across the join to keep the edge straight and uninterrupted.
- At the end of the round, slip stitch into the first sc to join. Chain one. Cut the yarn.
Keep corner stitches consistent in every foundation round inconsistent corners are the most common reason a border starts to ripple or pull.
- Just starting out with crochet? The video tutorial below is a great place to begin, or challenge yourself with the written pattern below!
Repeat this single crochet round as many times as needed to reach your desired border width before beginning the picot round. Check periodically that the blanket lies flat. If the border starts to ripple, reduce stitches slightly in the next round. If it pulls inward, add a few extra stitches in areas where the tension is tight.
Final Round Picot Edging
- Attach your yarn and work one single crochet into a stitch.
- Work one single crochet into the next stitch.
Create the picot:
- Chain 3.
- Insert your hook through the two loops at the base of the chain.
- Yarn over, pull through, and work a slip stitch to close the picot.
Continue the pattern:
- Work 3 single crochets.
- Work 1 picot.
- Repeat this sequence — 3 single crochets, 1 picot — around the entire blanket.
Keep your chain stitches uniform. Loose chains produce floppy, inconsistent picots. The goal is each picot point the same size, facing outward from the edge. If yours are flopping inward, the chain tension is too loose — tighten up slightly on the next repeat and it will correct itself.
To finish:
- Once you have worked all the way around, slip stitch into the very first stitch to close the round.
- Chain one. Fasten off.
- Use a darning needle to weave in all loose ends.
Customization Ideas
- Border width: The number of foundation rounds before the picot round is entirely up to you. One or two rounds gives a minimal border; four or five creates a substantial frame. Any width works — the picot sits cleanly on top regardless.
- Yarn weight: A lighter weight yarn than the blanket body creates finer, more delicate picot points. Matching the blanket yarn gives a bolder, more integrated look.
- Color: Work the foundation rounds in the blanket’s main color and switch to a contrast color for the picot round. The picot points will pop. Alternatively, a tonal contrast — same color family, different value — gives a subtle, elegant effect.
- Spacing: The pattern uses 3 single crochets between each picot. Adjust this to 2 for denser picots or 4 for more spacing. Just keep it consistent around the entire blanket.
FAQ
1. Do I have to do multiple foundation rounds, or can I go straight to the picot? You can go straight to the picot if your blanket edge is already very even and you are happy with the border width. The foundation rounds exist to smooth uneven joins and add body to the border. Granny square blankets almost always benefit from at least one foundation round because the joins create slight irregularities that will show up in the picot row if left unaddressed.
2. My picots are flopping inward instead of sitting upward on the edge. What is wrong? This is a tension issue with the chain stitches. Chains that are too loose do not hold their shape, so the picot collapses rather than standing out. Tighten your tension on the chains slightly — not so tight that the slip stitch at the base is difficult, but firm enough that the chain holds its curve. A smaller hook for just the picot row can help if you crochet with naturally loose tension.
3. Can I use this edging on projects other than blankets? Absolutely. This edging works on anything with an edge — dishcloths, scarves, the hem of a garment, the opening of a bag, the cuffs of a cardigan. The foundation round approach is especially useful on projects where the main fabric has irregular tension, because it gives the picot something even to sit on.
