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.
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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.
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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.