How to Make a Beading Picot

Pony beads are often used to crochet little girls' hair ties and accessories.

A picot is a small chain loop, incorporated into the crocheted piece, for ornamentation. The picot appears as a little knob or bump. It is typically used in border designs to create an interesting edge. Picots are also used in crocheted openwork lace. To make beaded picot edging, the beads are strung onto the yarn before you begin crocheting. As you make the picot stitch, one bead is moved to the end of the yarn, where it is incorporated into the stitch.

Things You'll Need

• Beads
• Yarn
• Candle or bar soap
• Crochet hook
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Calculate the number of picots in your project by multiplying the number of picots per inch by the length of the picoted edge. You need one bead for each picot. Hold a candle or bar of soap in one hand. Press the yarn firmly, about 2 inches from the end, between your thumb and the candle or soap. Pull the yarn so the end slides under your thumb, coating the tip of the yarn with wax or soap. This stiffens the yarn, making it easier to thread through the beads. Thread one bead for each picot onto the yarn.

2. Join the yarn for the picot edging onto the crocheted piece by inserting the hook under the top loops of a stitch from the previous row. Yarn over, then draw the hook through the edge. Yarn over, then draw the loop through the loop on the hook. Tighten the knot. Chain one. The picot edge is a series of two single-crochet stitches, then a chain-three picot. Do one single crochet stitch in each of the first two stitches.

3. Chain one. Slide one bead up to the hook. Yarn over, with the bead positioned on the yarn wrapped around the hook. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, capturing the bead in the second chain stitch. Chain one. Insert the hook in the next edge stitch. Yarn over. Draw the loop through the edge. Yarn over. Draw the yarn through both loops on the hook.

4. Continue crocheting the beaded picot border along the edge of the crocheted piece by alternating two single crochet stitches, then one picot. At the end of the row or edge, tie off the yarn and weave in loose threads.

Tips & Warnings

• Its a good idea to make a practice swatch of the picot edge, without beads, before you

• add it to the crocheted piece. This swatch serves as your stitch gauge. Crochet a chain, about 4 inches long. Crochet the picot border onto the chain, alternating two single crochet stitches, then one picot. Count the number of picots in a 3-inch space. Divide by three to calculate the number of picots and beads per inch.