Cast On, Bind Off (62 page)
Authors: Leslie Ann Bestor
Getting It Right
⢠You can use only 2 stitches for a very small I-cord or 4â6 stitches for a bigger I-cord.
⢠You can work this in reverse stockinette as well; simply purl the added stitches instead of knitting them. This version looks especially good with garter stitch garments.
The Picot 1 Bind Off
creates a delicate, decorative edge for pieces that will not be seamed. It looks beautiful on the edges of scarves and afghans, and many people love it for edging baby garments. It adds elasticity to the edge, making it well-suited for lacework. This method of working a picot edge is simple and flexible â you can vary the size of the picot and the distance between picots simply by changing the number of extra stitches cast on and the number of stitches bound off in between each picot.
CHARACTERISTICS
⢠Decorative edge
⢠Elastic edge
⢠Uses more yarn than most other bind offs
GOOD FOR
⢠Edges of lace shawls, cuffs, and hats
⢠Matching Picot Cast On (
page 70
)
⢠Baby garments
Knit the first 2 stitches and bind off 1 using the Traditional Bind Off (
page 148
).
Transfer the remaining stitch from the right-hand needle to the left-hand needle and use the Knitted Cast On (
page 31
) to cast on 3 stitches.
Bind off 5 stitches. (These are the 3 stitches just cast on, the 1 you worked in step 1 and transferred back to the left needle, and 1 more.)
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until one stitch remains.
Cut the yarn and pull it through the last stitch.
Getting It Right
Picots can be spaced farther apart by binding off more stitches between the cast-on stitches. Take care not to place them too close together, or the edge may ripple or flare.
Here is another way to do a Picot Bind Off.
It also creates a decorative scalloped edge, though the picot is a bit more understated. It is more fiddly than Picot 1 Bind Off because it involves turning rows twice for each picot. Try both to see which version produces the effect you are looking for.
