Picking Up Stitches Along an Edge
Picking up stitches along an edge is the foundation of any pick-up-and-knit construction: button bands, neckbands, sleeves picked up from the body. Done well, the picked-up edge is invisible; done poorly, it puckers, gaps, or stretches.
Method
Insert the right needle into the edge from the right side, wrap the working yarn around the needle as if to knit, and pull a loop through. The new loop is one picked-up stitch on the right needle.
Pick-up rate
For stockinette: 3 stitches for every 4 rows along a vertical edge. For garter: 1 stitch for every ridge (every 2 rows). For a horizontal edge (the cast-on or bind-off edge): 1 stitch per stitch.
Spacing
Distribute the pick-ups evenly along the edge. For a 100-row edge with a 75-stitch pick-up rate, pick up 3 stitches in every 4 rows (skip every 4th row). Use stitch markers every 25 rows to keep the spacing even.
Tension
Pick up loosely. Tight pickups produce a band that pulls the body in. If the body puckers after pickup, the rate was too high; rip back and pick up fewer stitches.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Tips
- Pick up 3 stitches for every 4 rows in stockinette; 1 per ridge in garter.
- Use stitch markers to keep pick-up spacing even.
- Pick up loosely — tight pickups pucker the body.
In depth
Picking up stitches along an edge is one of the most-used techniques in seamless knitting. Every button band, neckband, and picked-up sleeve depends on it. The standard rates (3 for 4 in stockinette, 1 per ridge in garter) are starting points; adjust based on the specific yarn and pattern.