Crochet Borders: Easy Edgings for Blankets, Clothing and More

Crochet borders and edgings are one of the easiest ways to transform a project from handmade to polished and professional. Whether you’re finishing a blanket, granny square, garment, scarf, or home décor item, the right crochet border can neaten uneven edges, add decorative detail, and even increase the size of your project. In this guide, you’ll learn how to crochet borders and edgings using a variety of beginner, intermediate, and advanced patterns. From simple single crochet borders to decorative shell, picot, puff, and lace edgings, you’ll find plenty of ideas to give your crochet projects the perfect finishing touch.

What are Crochet Borders

A crochet border or edging is a row or several rows of stitches around the finished item. It will neaten the item and make it look more professional. In items such as blankets, it will frame the main part, making it look more like a work of art. Crochet border patterns can be subtle or bold in color and texture.

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 your item a finished, professional look.
• 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!

The choice of border can dramatically affect a project’s overall appearance. Some popular crochet border patterns include:

• Round of Single Crochet Edging: Great for beginners and for a subtle finish.
• Shell Stitch Edging: Offers a decorative, scalloped edge that’s more ornate. Popular on scarves, shawls, afghans, and baby blankets.
• Picot Stitch Edging: Creates small, looped details for a delicate finish.
• Lace Edgings: For a vintage or delicate effect, ideal for heirloom pieces or feminine garments.

How to Crochet Borders (Step by Step)

The following are 4 of the easiest crochet patterns for borders and edgings.

Single crochet is the absolute easiest border to crochet. It is one of my favorites as it gives a solid edge to blankets that straightens out the edges.

Basic Crochet Borders

Double Crochet, Simple Border

This uses simple stitches, such as sc and dc, to create a crochet border.

3. Shell Crochet Borders for Beginners

If you are working on a granny square item with built-in spaces, the shell stitch makes an attractive border. This edging looks delicate on baby blankets and on feminine clothing. Here is how to crochet a shell stitch border:

4. Picot Crochet Border Tutorial

This is one of the quickest and easiest borders, but it still gives a nice ‘finished’ look to your item. Read more about the picot crochet 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 your picots are well-spaced.

Intermediate Crochet Borders

Here are more intermediate edgings you can use on blankets.

5. Puff Stitch Border

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

1. Join your border yarn anywhere along the edge, with a slip stitch.
2. Work sc all around the edge with 3sc into each corner.
3. Chain 2, half double crochet into the 1^st stitch, skip 1.
4. Hdc into next stitch, hdc 3 together into the gap you have just made by skipping a stitch. Chain 1 to close the puff stitch.
5. *Skip 1, hdc in next stitch, Hdc 3 together into that space.
6. Repeat all the way around your item. Your puff stitches should appear to be lying on their sides.
7. To work corners, place 2 half double crochet and 2 puffs into each corner.
8. Slip stitch into 1^st chain of the round to complete the round.
9. You can leave this border as it is, or you can work another row of single crochet into each stitch.

6. Lace Crochet Border

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

1. 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.
2. Round 2: Ch 3, (counts as 1 dc), 1 double crochet into the next sc *Ch 1, skip 1, 1 double crochet into next 2 stitches. Repeat from * all around. In corner central sc, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc). End round with slip stitch into the top of a 3 chain.
3. Round 3: 5 chains, (counts as 1 dc 2 ch), 1 single crochet into next space. * 4 chains, 1 single crochet in the next chain space. Repeat from * to last 2 stitches, 2 chains, slip stitch into 3^rd chain of the starting chain.
4. Round 4: 1 chain, 1 single crochet into the first single crochet. *Work 5 double crochet into the next 4 chain spaces, 1 single crochet into the next 4 chain spaces. Repeat from * all the way around. Work 7 double crochet into the corner chain space. Finish off with a slip stitch. Fasten off.

7. Shell Granny Square Borders

This, to me, is the most classic crochet edge. The scallops are perfect for any Granny Square type pattern.

8. V- Stitch Border

Another easy edging uses the crochet v-stitch that works well with granny squares, but can be used on any base. If you are not working into granny squares with spaces, simply V-st into the next st, ch1, sk 3 along your solid edge.

V-stitch: Work [dc, ch1, dc] all into 1 stitch

9. Pom Pom Crochet Borders

10. Block Stitch Border

11. Dc Picot Border

12. Ribbing Borders

13. Moss Stitch Border

Advanced Crochet Border Patterns

If you are now feeling confident, it is time to try some of these more advanced edgings.

Crochet Border Tips

When crocheting edges, it is wise to start with a row of single crochet. This will give you a neat row of stitches in which to place your new border stitches. A single crochet row is especially important when your edges look a little uneven or rough.

Always plan out the spacing so it works evenly into an edge and a corner. Corners are usually made by making multiple stitches into them or adding extra chains.

Best Yarn for Crochet Borders

Your yarn weight and hook should ideally be the same as those used for the main item. Here’s a guide to help you select the best yarn for your crochet borders:

• Ensure that the border yarn has similar care requirements to avoid shrinking or stretching discrepancies when your item is washed.
• Using the same weight as the main project is a safe choice. If you change the border yarn weight, make sure you adjust either your hook size or tension.
• Your choice of yarn color for the border can completely change the look of the finished item. A border in a contrasting color can make a bold statement and frame the project, while a border in a matching color will blend in.
• It’s always a good idea to swatch with your border yarn and the stitch pattern you plan to use to see how it complements the main project.

Troubleshooting Crochet Borders

Below is a table of troubleshooting tips for common issues encountered with crochet borders.

Crochet Border FAQs

In Conclusion

Bear in mind that edgings and crochet 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 afterward, or you can use a very fine, sharp hook and work a row of single crochet 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!