How To: Knit a Picot Hem

Knowing how to knit a picot hem is a good technique to learn.  Usually, at the bottom of a garment you will have a ribbed edge.  A picot hem, as pictured below, is a nice alternative.  It's quite easy and here's how to do it.

• Start by casting on the number of stitches you need for your project.
• Knit 5 rows in stockinette stitch (K one row, purl back).
• End with a K row.
• These 5 rows will be the rows that you will turn under.
• With the wrong (purl) side of the work facing you, knit 1, YO, knit 2 together, to the end of the row. You will have knitted a series of "holes" but still have the same amount of stitches on the needle as you started with.
• Knit the next rows to match. With the right (knit) side of the work facing you, turn the picot edge under.
• Sew neatly into place.

Tips

• You can do this (sewing) after you have finished knitting your project.
• You can change to any pattern stitch once you have made the picot hem rows.

A picot hem gives a nice lacy looking edge which will stay flat and not curl up.  Also, having the extra few stitches that turn under add weight, which keeps the edge in place without curling up.