“A picot is a loop of thread created for functional or ornamental purposes along the edge of lace or ribbon, or crocheted, knitted or tatted fabric. The loops vary in size according to their function and artistic intention.” Definition Source: Wikipedia
When a needle pattern calls for a picot, it is first important to remember that when it refers to a picot, the number of double stitches indicated in the pattern doesn’t include the picot itself. The picot only refers to the loop itself and is not considered in the stitch count of any pattern, unless otherwise indicated on a pattern-by-pattern basis.
How you make your picot is actually just by using your finger or an object as a spacer just before you make your next double stitch. You can also simply try to eyeball the amount of empty thread and attempt to make the picots the same size that way.
Using your finger or another object (such as a coffee stirrer, small paper clip, or other object that has a width measuring half the size of the picot (loop) that you want to create), or by just simply eyeballing it, make a space of empty thread on the needle after the last double stitch you just did, right before the picot. Depending on the design of what you are tatting, picot sizes will vary.
Hold the last double stitch and the extra thread firmly, and then make a double stitch on the other side of the space of empty thread. Finish the double stitch. The image below shows a picot in between double stitches.
Once the double stitch is finished on the other end of the picot, and it is secure, slide together the double stitches before and after the empty thread, which will cause the picot (loop) to form.
One important thing I must again note is that you should never count the picot itself as one of the double stitches indicated in the pattern…all the picot is, is the loop between the double stitches count in the pattern.