Liven up your crochet projects! Crochet borders are perfect for finishing anything. Dishcloths, blankets, cushions, you name it.
Read on for the best ones to try and how to do a basic one.
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Table Of Contents
Best Easy Crochet Borders And Edgings – Free Crochet Patterns To Try
Here’s a list of the best easy crochet borders. They’re excellent for crochet blankets!
Note: All the stitch patterns are in US terms.
Abbreviations
rnd- round
sc- single crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
st – stitch
ch- chain
Single Crochet Border
This border is probably the most basic out of crochet borders. But it’s lovely.
Stitch Pattern
- Repeat single crochet stitches as many times as necessary
Tutorial from Winding Road Crochet
Shell Crochet Border
The shell stitch border is one of my favorites. I love the pretty waves.
Stitch Pattern
- One slip st
- One sc in the same stitch
- *skip 1 st
- Work five dc in next st
- Skip 1 st
- Work 1 sc in next st
- Repeat from *
Tutorial – Shell Crochet Border with Tamara from Moogly
Crab Stitch Border
I used crab stitch on the edge of my crocheted beret. Crab stitch’s other name is reverse single crochet. (You learn something new every day!)
Tutorial – Learn How To Do The Crab Stitch With Marly Bird
Camel Stitch Border
It makes a lovely, uniform border with neat rows of stitches.
Stitch Pattern
To Start
- Ch many as needed stitches
- Ch 2 extras for turning.
Row 1
- In 3rd ch from hook, work one hdc (half double crochet)
- Work 1 hdc in every chain until the end of row
- Ch 2
- Turn
Row 2
- One hdc in 3rd loop
- Repeat from * till the end of row
- Ch 2
- Turn
It’s continued in the video below.
Tutorial – Learn Camel Stitch By Bella Coco
Slip Stitch Border
This is a simple border, and it looks wonderful.
Stitch Pattern
Rnd 1
- Ch 1
- Work 1 sl st in each stitch around
- Join to ch 1
Tutorial from YarnHookNeedles
Lacy Crochet Border
There are many lace crochet borders out there, but I’ve picked an easy one from Blossom Crochet for you to try.
Stitch Pattern
- One rnd sc
Row 1
- Ch 5
- Skip two sts
- One sc in 3rd stitch
- * ch 4
- Skip 2
- 1 sc in third st
- Repeat from * until the start of rnd
- Sl st into the first ch
- Row 2
- Sl st into chain space
- Ch 5
- Sc in next chain space
Tutorial by Blossom Crochet.
Rebekah is from the UK, so she uses UK stitch terminology but also gives the US terms.
Triangle Border
This is a fantastic border, as a picot border. Tamara Kelly from Moogly shows you how.
Stitch Pattern
Rnd 1
- Ch 1
- 1 sc in first st
- Skip two sts
- Work two dc in next stitch
- Ch 1
- 2 sc around the second dc post
- In next stitch work one sc
- Skip two sts
- Work two dc in next st
- Ch 1
- 2 sc around the second dc post
- In next st, work one sc
- Keep making triangles around
- Sl st to first sc.
Tutorial from Moogly.
Picot Crochet Border
This pattern is a gorgeous triple picot border.
Stitch Pattern
Rnd 1
- Ch 1
- sc in each stitch
- In corners, work three sc
- Join with sl st into first sc
Rnd 2
- *Ch 5
- In the same stitch work one sc
- Ch 5
- Work one sc in same space
- Ch 5
- Work one sc in same space
- Ch 4
- Skip five stitches
- Work slip stitch in next stitch
- Repeat from *
Tutorial by Bella Coco.
Puff Stitch Border
It’s one of the cutest crochet stitches and this edging pattern adds vibrancy to your crochet patterns.
Stitch Pattern
Round 1
- Ch 2
- 1 hdc in same st
- *Sk next st
- 1 hdc in next st
- Hdc3tog around hdc post
- * repeat between * * around to end
- Sl st to top of 1st hdc
- Hdc3tog around 1st st
Begin Puff Stitch
- *Yo
- Insert hook
- Yo
- Pull up a loop
- * Repeat between * * 2 more times (7 loops on hook)
- Yo
- Pull through all loops on hook
Round 2
- Sl st to next st
- Ch 1
- *1 sc in each st to corner
- (1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc) in the corner,
- * repeat between * * to end
- Sl st to 1st st
Tutorial by Tonya Bush from Nana’s Crafty Home
Scalloped Crochet Border
A scalloped border is a shell stitch. Here’s a variation of the shell stitch. It’s called the double-shell stitch!
Stitch Pattern
Here’s Naztazia’s written-out pattern in PDF format. https://naztazia.com/download/4529/
Tutorial by Naztazia.
Ribbed Double Crochet Border
The ribbed crochet border is beautiful. It works great as a border for anything.
Stitch Pattern
Row 1
- Work a DC into any corner
- Work four more DC into that corner, working down the side of the row
- Work a DC into each ST until you reach the next corner
- *Work 9 DC into the corner, working down the side of the row,
- Work a DC into each ST until you reach the next corner
- * repeat from *to* 3 times
- When you reach your first corner, work four more DC into it
- SLST to the first DC
Row 2-7
- CH2
- FPDC into the same stitch as you SLST to
- BPDC in next ST
- *FPDC in next ST
- BPDC in next ST* repeat from *to* around the blanket until you reach the beginning of the row
- SLST to the first FPDC.
Tutorial from Winding Road Crochet
Reverse Shell Stitch Border
This border is exactly what it sounds like, a reverse shell stitch. It’s like working the regular shell stitch but backward.
Tutorial from Heart Hook Home.
Chain Border
There are many borders with chains, but here’s one called the chain loop border. It looks beautiful, and you use different colors from each loop.
Stitch Pattern
To Start
- Ch 1
- 1 sc
- Ch6
- Remove crochet hook
- Place chain forward
- *With another color, sc in the next stitch
- Ch 6
- Place chain forward
- Repeat from * for the number of colors you want to put in.
- (3 colors, three chain repeats, four colors, four chain repeats.)
Tutorial from Naztazia.
Moss Stitch Border
This crochet border crochet looks like moss on a forest tree trunk. It’s lovely!
Stitch Pattern
Round 1
- Attach yarn in any corner space
- Ch 1 (doesn’t count as st) sc in same corner space
- Ch 1
- Miss a st
- *Sc in next st
- Ch 1
- Skip a st
- Repeat from * to next corner space.
- **(sc, ch 2, sc) in corner sp
- Ch 1
- *Sc in next st
- Ch1
- Repeat from * to corner space
- Repeat from ** twice more
- Dc
- Ch 2 in corner sp
- Join to first sc with sl st
Round 2
- Ch 1
- Sc in same corner space
- Ch 1
- Miss a st
- *Sc in next ch-1 sp
- Ch 1
- Miss a st
- Repeat from * to next corner space
- **(sc, ch 2, sc) in corner sp
- Ch 1
- *Sc in next ch-1 sp
- Ch1
- Repeat from * to corner space
- Repeat from ** twice more
- Sc
- Ch 2 in corner sp
- Join to first sc with sl st
Repeat round 2 until you reach your desired depth of border.
Tutorial from Bella Coco.
Herringbone Crochet Border
This crochet border crochet looks like it’s made of mini dots all looped together on a chain. Neat and uniform.
Stitch Pattern
- Work 1 rnd of sc.
Row 1
- In corner
- Sl st
- Ch 1
- 2 herringbone hdc in same corner space
- Work one herringbone hdc in each stitch across
- Work 3 herringbone hdc in corners
- Mark middle stitch
- Work 1 herringbone hdc in the same space of beginning 2 herringbone hdc
- Sl st in the first stitch.
Row 2: Repeat row 1.
Note: for the corners after row 1, work the three herringbone hdc in the middle stitch you marked.
Tutorial from Winding Road Crochet.
Looking for something else to try? Look at vintage fan crochet edging. Here’s a tutorial.
How To Crochet Borders For Beginners
Yarns For Crochet Borders
You can use any yarn for borders!
Keeping Your Crochet Border Even
A border is hard to keep even. Making a granny square blanket isn’t as challenging, but rows are tedious and tricky. Here’s how to crochet evenly around your blanket.
Make a base round of single crochet in the blanket’s primary color. The crochet border looks nicer this way.
Make three sc in each corner!
Evaluate your progress. Too far apart stitches pucker, while too close together stitches ripple. Crochet through the stitch rather than around the raw edge of your blanket.
Keep your single crochet base edge even with the last stitch of the row.
If the last stitch of the row ends with:
- Single crochet – 1 single crochet through that stitch
- Half Double Crochet – 3 single crochets over three rows
- Double crochet – 2 single crochets
It doesn’t always work perfectly, but it’s an excellent place to start.
Tips for Making Crochet Borders
- Use a stitch marker to keep track of your rows.
- Keep your yarn tails short so they don’t get caught in your stitches.
- When working a border, always work into the same side of the chain at the beginning of each row.
- Always make sure that you’re crocheting into the same side of every chain.
Q&A
How To Crochet Borders Around A Corner
You usually need to add more stitches in the corners. Your pattern will tell you what stitches do in the corners.
How Do You Crochet Borders And Edgings?
Check out the videos above to see some crochet border tutorials!
Why Should I Add a Border to a Crochet Blanket?
Adding a border to your work is the perfect way to hide mistakes on the edges. Besides, it makes your project prettier!
How To Apply Crochet Borders To Fabric
Janie Crow teaches you how to add crochet borders to the fabric. She shows you a sewed chain stitch technique and blanket stitch as a foundation for your crochet.
How To Crochet Neat Borders
To crochet a good edge, make sure you keep your tension even! If something goes wrong, check out this video to learn how to fix it.
Learn how to fix edges with Ahsel Anne by Felicia
How Do You Crochet An Easy Border?
Here’s a video of 4 easy borders from Mode Bespoke.
Why Should I Add A Border To A Crochet Blanket?
Borders are a great way to add another little detail to your blankets. They’re also good at hiding mistakes in the edges and making them immaculate.
What Kind Of Border Should I Use?
It’s your preference! I think a lacy border would look great around a solid piece of fabric. If you’re looking for something more simple, use a more basic edge like the moss stitch of the sc border.
How To Crochet Borders For Baby Blankets
All the borders in this article would be excellent for baby blankets. If you have a suggestion for a baby blanket edging, please share it with me!
How To Crochet Borders On Afghans
ALWAYS start with a round of sc. That makes the edging so much nicer and tidier. Then all you have to do is crochet the edging, and you’re done!
What Is Crochet Edging?
A crocheted edge! I’ve seen it done two ways.
- Crocheted by itself to add on to other projects
- Crocheted directly onto another piece of crochet.
How Do You Crochet A Pretty Border?
I think the prettiest type of border is lace. What’s your favorite border? Comment below!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this round-up of some beautiful crochet borders. Please let me know if you have any other cool edges for beginners, and I’ll add them to this post! Thanks for reading. 🙂
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