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How to Add a Border in Crochet

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So you’ve finished crocheting that blanket and you’re ready to add a border, eh? Adding a border in crochet definitely isn’t on my list of favorite things to do, but many times it is a necessary evil for crochet projects to turn out beautifully.

 

Pin How to Crochet a Border

How to Add a Border in Crochet

There are many different kinds of crochet borders. We could do a simple crab stitch around or a reverse shell stitch repeat. Or, we could do a double crochet or a picot stitch around. It’s all good but there is ONE thing I do before all others when adding a border in crochet and I do it every.single.time.

The trick? Single crochet around FIRST! See the video tutorial for adding to single crochet, double crochet AND for adding a border to c2c below.

With and Without a Border in Crochet
Pin How to Crochet a Border

Why add a border?

If a crocheted border does nothing else, it cleans up your edges and helps to hide minor imperfections. We’re all human, and according to some cultures having at least one mistake (intentional or otherwise) is necessary to remind us that no one is perfect. Now, will I knowingly miss a stitch or make a mistake? Nope – my brain can’t handle that. But if I have two double crochets where there should have been three and I’ve gone several rows past before I realize it? I’ll stick with my mistake, thanks.

How to Add a Border in Crochet
Pin How to Crochet a Border

How to make a clean border in crochet

When finishing a blanket or other project to which you will be adding a border, always start with a single crochet row first. It is the smallest (read: shortest, least conspicuous) of the crochet stitches and if you choose your yarn color wisely, you may not be able to see it at all. All this row does is clean up the edges and prepare for the actual border to follow.

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Note that when placing your border stitches (going up the SIDE of the stitch instead of the top or bottom of the stitch) a single crochet gets one stitch, a double crochet gets two stitches and a triple crochet gets three. And you’ll want to stay as consistent as possible when placing those stitches. If you’re putting a border on a double crochet blanket, for example, you’ll want to place two border single crochet stitches in the same exact spot of each as you go up the side creating that border.

YouTube video

How to choose a color when adding a border

Before starting, you’ll first want to decide on yarn color. Will you use the main color of the blanket itself, or use the color that will be the border? Choosing the color of the single crochet row is all personal preference, but I find that a color as inconspicuous as possible looks best. If my blanket is all one color, I’ll use that same color. I can then go back with blue, pink or green to create the pretty border. If the blanket is striped or uses multiple colors I might choose the most subdued of those colors and go from there.

How to Crochet the Crab Stitch
Pin How to Crochet a Border

Going back through your border

After adding the single crochet border to clean up those edges, adding subsequent rows (in whichever manner you prefer) is easy as pie. Instead of going through with red or blue where you can obviously see the imperfections, that first colored row is uniform and gorgeous. In my son’s Power Rangers blanket for example (pictured above), the first row of gray looks so nice as it is worked into an actual row of white yarn instead of simply the sides of the C2C graphghan.

Tips for Adding a Border in Crochet
Pin How to Crochet a Border

Does it add an extra step? Sure. But it looks soooo much better. How do YOU add a border in crochet? Give my method a go and let me know what you think!

See more Crochet Tips before you go!

How to Crochet the Triple Crochet (Treble Crochet) Stitch
Reverse Shell Stitch Tutorial :: Crochet Technique (with photos)
How to Crochet: Understanding Crochet Gauge and How to Measure It
Super Slim Hidden Fanny Pack Free Crochet Pattern
Power Rangers Graph Pattern for Graphghan
How to Crochet the Moss Stitch (Written and Video Tutorial)
The Crab Stitch Crochet Stitch + Video Tutorial

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107 Comments

  1. Hello from Texas :). I am so happy I found this site! I have always struggled with the beginning SC border row and this site/video is the only one I have come across that has been truly helpful to me. You have saved me many hours of frustration! Thank you for taking the time to create the instructional tutorial and video. Just completed an HDC blanket with border with your instruction and it is the first border I have completed that I am actually proud of and like. I appreciate you!!
  2. You sent and this one *** would not open when clicked on the rest did? Borders and Edging tutorials: • Tips for adding a border in crochet • How to crochet front post and back post stitches (Great for hats and cuffs) • How to crochet the Picot stitch • How to add crocheted edging to fabric •***************************************** Crab stitch (reverse single) crochet tutorial *************** • Reverse Shell border << one of the most popular tutorials on the entire blog!
  3. On doing the single crochet around blanket to start border... how many stitches in the corners is recommended?
  4. I have made a super bulky yarn ripple Afghan for my grandson, and would like to know if there is anything different I need to do to add a border to it? Also, how do you do the corners with the border?
    1. How many stitches do you recommend on the sides of a blanket stitch blanket? The top and bottom are no problem but I find it confusing on the sides where you chain to move to the next row
      1. Hi Christina! A single crochet gets one stitch, a double crochet gets two stitches and a triple crochet gets three.
  5. I found this article because I'd like to a add a border to a hat to clean up the edges. This hat is crocheted in a rectangle with HDC in back loop, to create a rib, and then it will be seemed at the end. It's not done in the round. The ribbing will be vertical along the length of the hat. So I was wondering how I would do a border along the edge that will end up as the brim of the hat, which is *along* the height of the HDC. Because if it were singles I'd do a single SC, and if it were doubles I'd do 2 SCs, but it's half-double! I'm thinking I might squish in 2 SCs with a slightly smaller hook than the main hat. Any suggestions?
    1. Hi Deborah! I typically do 1 stitch per row, but you could try doing 3 sts for every 2 rows. Hope this helps!
  6. I have a hard time getting the single crochet into the stitch of the double crochet, however I can easily get one into the space between the two rows. So what I did is put a single crochet in that part and a chain to reach the next spot, essentially creating a row of moss stitch for the base row of my boarder. I realize I could go around the post of the double, but to me that creates big holes that I don't like.
  7. Hi: Im a newbie and just completed my first queen size afgan. OMG. So I really like the colors in the 2nd pic on the following site: https://hearthookhome.com/how-to-add-a-border-in-crochet/ had a red border, colors were red, blue, gold, white is all I could see. Was wondering if there is pattern with the colors? Ty
  8. Hi...i sort came into a problem and could use your advice. I finished your corner 2 corner blanket. I did not know you could single crochet going around the blanket. I researched it and every place I went it said to single crochet in between the blocks, chain 2 and repeat around the entire blanket and that is what i did. I wanted to make the "Reverse Shell Stitch and realize you need single crochets going all around. How to i rectify that having the chain 2 spaces now? My daughter is having twins and having a baby shower this Saturday Aug 29 and I only have tomorrow which is a Thursday to finish it up. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you. Xo
  9. Nice amazing pattern.creative ideas for the crochet lovers.amazing ideas for everyone.thanks for the helpful idea.
  10. I'm making a baby blanket using moss stitch. What border would you recommend to pair with it? This is my first time adding a border to a project!
  11. Good info. Lucky me I found your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I have bookmarked it for later!