What is a picot in crochet?

A picot is a small decorative loop or bump made by chaining a few stitches and then joining back into the base with a slip stitch or single crochet. It creates a tiny point or ring, most often used to decorate edgings and lace.

How do you crochet a picot stitch?

The most common picot is made by chaining three, then working a slip stitch back into the first of those chains, or into the stitch at the base, to form a small loop. This creates a little decorative bump that sits on the edge of your work.

What is a picot used for?

Picots are used mainly for decoration. They add pretty points and bumps to edgings and borders, form the little loops in lace patterns, and can create button loops. They give a dainty, finished look to blankets, garments, and doilies.

How many chains are in a picot?

A common picot uses three chains, but picots can use two, four, or more depending on how large you want the loop. More chains make a bigger, more pronounced picot. The pattern will tell you how many to use.

Where do you place picots?

Picots are usually placed along an edge, spaced evenly, often with a stitch or two between each one. They can also sit at the tips of shells or scallops, or within a lace pattern. Even spacing keeps the decorative edge looking balanced.

Is the picot stitch hard to crochet?

No. The picot is one of the easiest decorative touches to learn, since it uses only chains and a slip stitch. The main thing is spacing your picots evenly so the edging looks neat.

Crochet Stitches

How to Crochet a Picot Stitch (Plus What a Picot Is)

Published June 30, 2026

If you have ever admired the pretty little bumps and points along the edge of a crochet doily, blanket, or baby garment, you were probably looking at picots. A picot is a tiny decorative loop that adds a dainty, finished touch to edgings and lace, and it is one of the simplest decorative techniques to learn. This guide explains what a picot is and shows you how to crochet a picot stitch step by step, along with variations and tips. It is part of the crochet stitch library.

What Is a Picot?

A picot is a small decorative loop or bump formed by chaining a few stitches and then joining back into the base, usually with a slip stitch. This creates a tiny ring or point that sits proud of the edge. Picots are almost always decorative rather than structural, used to prettify borders and to form the little loops that give lace its delicate, airy look. Because a picot is made from chains and a slip stitch, both very simple elements, it is an easy and satisfying way to add charm to your work.

When to Use a Picot

Picots are used mainly for edgings and lace. A row of evenly spaced picots turns a plain border into a pretty, decorative edge, perfect for baby blankets, garments, doilies, and table linens. Picots also form the loops in many lace stitch patterns, and a slightly larger picot can serve as a button loop. Whenever you want to add a dainty, finished, feminine touch to the edge of a project, a picot edging is a lovely and easy choice. They pair beautifully with shells and scallops for an extra decorative border.

What You Need

You do not need anything special to make picots, just your project, yarn, and hook. Because picots are usually worked into a finished edge, you will often add them after completing your project, sometimes on top of a plain row of single crochet that gives an even base. A smooth yarn shows the crisp little points best. You should be comfortable with chains and the slip stitch, since a picot is simply a combination of the two.

Step by Step: How to Crochet a Picot

The most common picot, worked along an edge: Step one: work to the point where you want a picot, usually finishing a single crochet. Step two: chain three. Step three: insert your hook back into the base of those chains, either into the first chain you made or into the top of the last single crochet, and work a slip stitch to close the loop. This forms a small picot bump. Step four: continue working stitches along the edge, adding another picot every few stitches. The chains pop up into a neat little point each time.

Picot Variations

Picots are easy to vary. Change the number of chains to change the size, with two chains giving a tiny picot and four or more giving a larger, more open loop. You can close the picot with a slip stitch for a tight point or a single crochet for a slightly different look. You can also space them differently, placing a picot on every stitch for a dense frilly edge or every few stitches for a more restrained one. These small changes let you match the picot edging to the style of your project.

Common Picot Mistakes

The most common mistake is uneven spacing, where picots are closer together in some places than others, which makes the edge look irregular. Counting the stitches between each picot keeps them evenly spaced. Another mistake is joining the picot into the wrong spot, which can make it lean or pucker, so make sure you slip stitch back into the correct base stitch. Working the picots too tightly can also distort the edge, so keep a relaxed tension.

Best Projects for Picots

Picots are perfect for finishing baby blankets, garments, doilies, table linens, and any project that suits a dainty, decorative edge. They also add charm within lace shawls and as button loops. Picots pair beautifully with the shell stitch and the crab stitch for a coordinated decorative border. Explore more edging and finishing ideas in the crochet stitch library, and find projects to decorate in the beginner pattern hub.