Pick up stitches by putting the tip of the right needle from front to back in between edge and next stitch, OR into the center of bind off stitches, wrapping or picking the yarn as if to knit and bringing the loop through to the RS.
In Jill Wolcott Knits® patterns, I often use the term “pull up” in place of “pick up” as I think the term is clearer, because you’re pulling up the thread to work it.