Crochet Borders - 5 Easy Borders for Beginners

Learn to make crochet borders! Well now you have completed your lovely crochet blanket, throw, or afghan, and you are justifiably proud of yourself! Give yourself a pat on the back! Time now to decide on a crochet border pattern to finish it off neatly.

Why Do I Need Crochet Borders?

You may be really glad to have completed your crochet item, and just want to be finished with it now! But even if your pattern doesn’t call for a border, you may decide to add one for any of the following reasons:

• It gives a finished, professional look to your item.
• It covers up any imperfections- for example, if your sides are not perfectly straight.
• It can add a contrasting color or texture to your blanket.
• It is useful to add size to your project if it didn’t turn out quite as big as you expected it to!

Borders are not only for blankets, but can be used for anything, such as hats and sleeve cuffs as well.

Materials

Your yarn weight and hook should ideally be the same as those used for the main item.

Abbreviations

All instructions are written in US terminology.

• sc= single crochet
• dc= double crochet
• ch= chain stitch
• hdc= half double crochet
• tog= together
• sk=skip
• st(s) stitch(es)
• sl st= slip stitch

How to Crochet Borders

1. Shell Crochet Border

This, to me, is the most classic crochet border. It is perfect for any Granny Square type pattern.

Shell Crochet Borders on Granny Squares

• Join your new color of yarn for the border with a single crochet, which is placed 2 spaces from any corner.

• Work 7 double crochet stitches into that space.
• Then do a single crochet into the next space.

• When you get to the corner space, work 9 double crochet into it.

• Work a single crochet into the next space.
• Work 7 double crochet into next space.
• And 1 single crochet into the following space.

• Continue in this manner all the way around your item, always working 9 double crochet into corner spaces.
• Join with a slip stitch to your starting single crochet.

Shell Crochet Borders not on Granny Squares

If you are not working into a granny square item, which has spaces built in for you:

• Skip 3 stitches between each 7 double crochet clusters and every single crochet.
• Work all 7 double crochet stitches into one stitch from the row before.
• Work 9 double crochet into one corner stitch.

2. Simple Picot Crochet Border.

This is one of the quickest and easiest borders but still gives a nice ‘finished’ look to your item.

• Join your border yarn into any space or stitch. Join it with a single crochet 2 spaces from the corner.

• Chain1.
• Single crochet into the same space.
• Chain 3
• Slip stitch into the first chain. This creates the little bump, known as a picot.

• *Skip one st, sc into next st, ch3, sl st into 1^st ch.

Repeat all the way around your item. If you want sharper corners, work 3 picots into each corner stitch.

Even if working on a granny square type pattern, with large spaces between clusters, it is better to work into every second stitch, rather than working into spaces with this border. This ensures that your picots are nice and closely spaced.

3. V- stitch Border:

Another easy border that works well with granny squares, but can be used on any base.

Round 1:

• Join the border yarn in any corner.
• Chain 4. (Counts as 1 dc, 1 ch.)
• Double crochet in the same corner sp.

• V-stitch, chain1 into each space along the edge. (To make a V-stitch: Work [dc, ch1, dc] all into 1 stitch.)
• When you reach the corner, V-stitch, chain 2, V-stitch into each of the corner spaces.

• When you get to the last corner, where you started, work 1 V-stitch, chain 2, and then slip stitch into the top of the chain 4.

Round 2:

• Single crochet into each stitch all the way round.
• Join with a slip stitch.
• Fasten off.

• If you are not working into granny squares with spaces, Simply V-st into next st, ch1, sk 3 along your solid edge.

4. Puff Stitch Border

This makes a nice solid, but still decorative border. It uses half double crochet stitches and half double crocheting 3 together.

• Join your border yarn anywhere along the edge, with a slip stitch.
• Work a row of single crochet all around the edge of your item. This gives you a good, even base to work into. Work 3 single crochet into each corner.

• Chain 2, half double crochet into the 1^st stitch.
• Skip 1.
• Half double crochet into next stitch.

• Half double crochet 3 together into the gap you have just made by skipping a stitch. I have placed a needle in this gap so you can see where to work into. This makes a puff stitch.

• Chain 1 to close the puff stitch.

• *Skip 1, half double crochet in next stitch.
• Half double crochet 3 together into that space.
• Repeat all the way around your item. Your puff stitches should appear to be lying on their sides.

• To work corners, place 2 half double crochet and 2 puffs into each corner.

• Slip stitch into 1^st chain of round to complete the round.
• You can leave this border as it is, or you can work another row of single crochet into each stitch.

4. More Complex Lacy Border.

This one is a little fancier than the previous borders, but still not too elaborate and complicated.

Round 1: 

• Join border yarn anywhere along the edge.
• Work 1 single crochet into each stitch all the way around, with 3 single crochet into corners.

Round 2: 

• 3 chains, (counts as 1 dc),
• Miss 1^st single crochet,
• 1 double crochet into the next single crochet,
• *1 chain, miss 1 single crochet, 1 double crochet into each of next 2 sinbgle crochets,
• Repeat from * all around.
• Work extra repeats into corners.
• End round with slip stitch into the top of a 3 chain.

Round 3: 

• 5 chains, (counts as 1 dc 2 ch) ,
• 1 single crochet into next space,
• * 4 chains, 1 single crochet in next chain space,
• Repeat from * to last 2 stitches,
• 2 chains,
• Slip stitch into 3^rd chain of the starting chain.

Round 4: 

• 1 chain, 1 single crochet into first single crochet,
• *work 5 double crochet into next 4 chain spaces,
• 1 single crochet into the next 4 chain spaces,
• Repeat from * all the way around. 
• Work 7 dobule crochet into the corner chain space.
• Finish off with slip stitch.
• Fasten off.

5. Simple Straight Border

If you are not a fan of lacy-looking borders, here is an idea for a more solid-looking border.

• Round 1:
  • Chain 1,
  • Work a row of single crochet all around your item, to level up your edges and give you an even base to work into. For this leveling round, use a color which blends into the rest of your item.
  • Work 3 single crochet into each corner.
  • Finish round with a slip stitch into the chain1 at the start.
  • Fasten off.
• Round 2: 
  • Change color.
  • Insert hook into any stitch on another side of the blanket. If you change your starting position each time, your joins will be less obvious.
  • Chain 3, double crochet into the next stitch, and each stitch all the way around.
  • To work corners, make 3 double crochet into the central single crochet of the previous corner.
  • Slip stitch into the 3^rd chain of your starting chain.
• Round 3: 
  • Chain 3,
  • Double crochet into the same stitch,
  • Double crochet into each stitch around, working 3 double crochet into the corners again.
  • Join with a slip stitch and fasten off.

• Round 4: 
  • Change color.
  • Insert hook into any stitch on a different side of the item.
  • Chain 1, single crochet into the next and each stitch all the way around, making 3 single crochets into corners.
  • Slip stitch into first chain. Fasten off. Weave in end of yarn.

Crochet Border Widths

If you are using any of these borders to enlarge your crocheted item, and the width of the border is still not enough, simply work as many rounds of single crochet as you need before doing the final patterned part of the border.

Crochet Boders - In Conclusion

Bear in mind that edgings and borders can also be made for household items such as tablecloths, placemats, towels and pillowcases. If using a border for a linen item, you can start with a foundation chain and sew the border on afterwards, or you can use a very fine, sharp crochet hook and work a row of sc directly into the folded edge of the fabric. These borders are usually made with fine cotton yarn and a very small crochet hook.

I hope you have enjoyed these ideas and have found a suitable crochet border for your project!