Tuesday, November 15, 2011

I heart picots.

There.  I said it.  I absolutely, 100% love picot edges.  Particularly on socks, but put them on a baby something and I think you've tripled the cuteness factor.

I'm sure many of you already know of my fondness for the picot. It started back with the mini-Monkey socks, inspired by Cara. Being friends with Gail, I actually thought everyone loved picots.

And then there was that moment a few months ago where I realized something profound. Not everyone loves the picot edge.

I know, shocking.

Afterall, everyone seemed to love their Cotty socks, picots and all.

But I still remember the moment when I made this discovery.  It was a relaxing weekend at the coast with my bestest knitting friends and I was designing a new sock and I mumbled something about how I really wanted to put a picot on it, but wasn't sure. And then, almost immediately before they realized what they had done, there seemed to be a collective groan. Not one groan, but if I recall, a few.  It may have been the sangria, but then their true confession came out.

"Not a picot!"
"Can't you just do a plain rib?  Not everyone wants to do a picot!" 
"I hate picots."

The groans continued.  I think I was shocked how much they seemed to dislike picots.  Not my beloved picots.  Probably the absolute favorite thing about some of my socks.  My dear friends who had knit those Cotty socks, despite the picots, really, truly did not like picots.

I have to say, I'm glad they told me. Some of you may be very glad they told me.  I know they are very, very glad they told me. Or else Capitola would have had a picot.  And definitely the Honey Badgers would have had a picot.  I mean seriously, go look at these pictures.  Of course, honey badger needed a picot edge!

If your friends can't tell you like it is, who can, right? We still joke about the picots and my crazy love for them.

But they aren't going to knit this next pattern.

My Dearest Picot

And I don't care.  Because the second I cast on this picot, I was in love all over again :)

I'm curious....do you have a favorite knitting technique?  One you despise?  Are Gail and I the only ones crazy for picots?

Happy Picots!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Gail has the best picot cuff tutorial here.  Enjoy!

20 comments:

Unknown said...

I like picots! The picking up part is a little fiddly but it's so satisfying to see the hem come together.

GeniaKnitz said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for pointing us toward the picot tutorial. I love the way picots look, but have been a bit intimidated by them.

With several couples in my extended family growing babies, I do want to learn the technique.

Allison said...

I heart picots too. :) My favorite is twisted stitches...can't get enough of 'em!

Discoknits said...

I like picots too - not love, just like. Bit fiddly, as shoelaceswitcher said, but worth it for the pretty :0)

Jo said...

I have to say that I have avoided picots so far... I'm lazy and will just skip them on socks.

Kelley said...

I love picots! I knit socks from the toe up so the picot ending seems like a celebration. I also think that the extra bit of folded over fabric ensures that the sock will stay up. I think ribbing can be a bit iffy in terms of doing the job of sock lifting.

Peppermint Mocha Mama said...

Not a picot fan.. at all. It gives me fits and never looks as pretty as the photos. I've compared to advanced torture techniques before but what does it say about me that I will always try it?

I'll try the tutorial and see if it can't straighten me out but for now, picots and I don't have the same love for on another that y'all share.

dianne said...

I love picots! They're so pretty. I tend to be a lemming and just follow directions but every once and a while I see that Gail has swapped out a picot edge on a pattern that I know, and I file it away for future reference, or smack my forehead that I didn't think of it myself!

gMarie said...

I love the way picots look. I can never get them stand up while knitting - they flop around for me and they are honestly fiddly to do. But I love the way the work and they are so worth the fiddly bits. Will definately check out Gail's tute. g

laurel bud said...

This post made me smile... I just love picots too, and like you I thought there was only me who gleaned so much satisfaction after finishing a picot edge.

They are simple but so pretty.

My other favourite technique is again a simple one... cables!

I adore cables, I'm working on my own design for a cabled school scarf for my eldest girl in between my other stuff and there is a cable pattern on every alternate row so it's taking a while but I love to just pick it up in between knits and enjoy the cabling.

Neuroknitter said...

Love picots...but I'm thinking y'all knew that already!! LOL!!

p.s. thanks for the kind words and linky love!! :) :)

Audry said...

I haven't tried picots just yet. Not that I'm afraid of them. I just haven't knit a pattern that has asked for them just yet. Maybe that will change in the near future.

sarah said...

I'm neutral on picots but get really tired of seed stitch really quickly. I tend to mess it up at some point and then just get frustrated. Maybe it's just top of mind for me since the pattern I'm making now has seed stitch. ;) Luckily it's just the border!

Sarah JS said...

As for picots -- can take 'em or leave 'em.
Techniques I love? JMCO, JSSBO, and toe-up!
Technique that isn't my cup of tea (at all)? Bobbles.

Mya said...

I love picots, especially on socks! Put them in all your patterns. :)

Zonda said...

I don't mind picots, but the hemming part is fiddly...until you linked me to Gail's hints. Won't be fiddly now ;)

calcairns said...

I love picots! But for my Honey Badgers I tried something different and did the Channel Island cast on which is sort of like picot.
My least favorite part of socks was always short row wrap-and-turns. I could never do them without holes. However, now that I have discovered Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heels; no problem!

Scrabblequeen said...

Yes, well, you know that I'm not a picot fan either, but that won't stop me from knitting your patterns...even if do occasionally skip a picor or 2.

Mrs Dibble said...

Absolutely love the picot...very elegant.....my other favourite stitch is fishermans rib

SpinningLara said...

I dont mind the picot edge, it's cute and sort of looks like a crown. When I wear them I feel like a wool princess!

As far as things in knitting that Im not crazy about - I guess the folded and then sewn hem edge on the bottom of some sweaters. It's fiddley to work and then seems to add bulk. It's sort of like the picot egde but just isn't cool for sweaters.

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