Picot Chain Cast On

When you need a flexible cast on that stretches and moves with your fabric and still looks tidy, the Picot Chain Cast On is a great one to know!  When you're working with lace or decreases that are aligned, the fabric pulls in, tapering to a smaller size.  As it does this, it causes the cast on to flare out in order to adjust for the center row of decreases which will push downwards as the sides angle inwards. You'll find this when working Herringbone stitch too, or any stitch pattern where decreases are stacked.  

This cast on is also good for top down sweaters that need to stretch over your head, yet bounce back into place for a good fit.  

Here's how to do it:

Set up:

• Form a slipknot with 6” tail on LH needle.  Knit one stitch but leave it on the needle. 
• Turn RH needle clockwise, insert tip of LH needle into the loop from left to right, and slip the stitch to LH needle.   

Working Steps:

• With yarn in front, slip 1 stitch purlwise from LH to RH needle, and knit next stitch on LH needle (this creates a yarn over to the right of the stitch you just slipped).  With your thumb, hold this yarn over in place, to the far right, with the same amount of space between the slipped stitch and the yarn over.   The stitches will be lined up from right to left as follows:  yarn over, slipped stitch, knit stitch.
• Lift the slipped stitch (lies in the middle) over the knit st and off needle.  Turn work.

Repeat last 2 steps until the number of loops along one side equals the number of stitches to be CO. 

These steps form a loop on one side, then you turn and they form a loop on the other side.  Once you have the correct number of stitches to be cast on on one side, stop.  Don’t make the corresponding loop on the other side.  The last remaining stitch left on the needle will become your first CO stitch.

Next:

• Slip 1 stitch purlwise from LH to RH needle, move yarn to back, knit the next stitch on LH needle, lift the slipped stitch over the knit stitch and off needle.  One stitch remains on needle.  

Your cast on is almost done!  Now you just need to place the stitches properly on your needle so you can begin to knit.  

• Turn work on its side, with the side holding one less loop facing up.
• Insert tip of RH needle from front to back through the 1st picot loop and knit through this loop.  Continue picking up and knitting 1 stitch in each loop.    Now you're ready to work from your pattern.  

You can see how this cast on just flows around the edge without tightness.  Yet it's not too "loud".  It's a neat stretchy cast on with so many pretty uses.