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How to Add a Border in Crochet

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100 Comments

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.

How to Add a Border in Crochet

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.

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.

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

Comments

  1. Judy says

    Hi! I am a n eager crochet fan, and altho I have made lots of great things (so I'm told), I never really know if I'm doing right. For now, I have just completed a simple afghan in half double crochet, and I don't know how to start a border. Help!
    Reply

  2. Alice says

    What a wonderful site! I hope I can find my way back to it. I've not put a border on anything yet. I'm crocheting a bedspread in a small ripple design I saw online, no pattern. It appeared to be a single with trebles above it. Color change with each SC/TRC. To me, it's a stashbuster. I'm quite pleased with it. Your tip for a border about using one stitch to a SC, two for a DC and three for a treble is so perfect and so helpful. I cannot thank you enough. After the initial row, I plan to do one row DC all around, then two or three rows of DC, CH, DC, then finish with a shell. Perhaps one color for the border would be best as it is already very colorful. Thanks again! You guys are great!
    Reply

  3. Kim says

    Your method for the first row of a border on a C2C afghan was a real time saver for me today, thank you! One question: on the second row, do you work the stitches into the space created by each chain 2 (and if so, how many? 2 sc? 3?), or do you work right into each chain? Thank you for your help! :)
    Reply

  4. Carolyn Watts says

    Hi Andrea, Just found your site on a Pinterest feed. Would like to get your updates, old and new patterns. Everyone of the post I have read are very pleased with your tutorials. I am 70 year old lady who loves to make things for her grans and others. Would love to be able to advance to other things than just doing dish/washcloths and scarves. It seems that I have finally found the person to help me. Thank you and going to join soon as I find out how. I am not computer savvy, but learning. Happy New Year to you and your family and May God continue to heal and bless you and your love ones.
    Reply

  5. Maggie says

    Hi, I’ve made a blanket using the Elizabeth stitch (or bean stitch). I’m wondering how to use your single crochet trick to add a border to it. Thanks, Maggie
    Reply

  6. Anne says

    I have an edging pattern that for the foundation row says "working in multiples of 2 plus 1 between corner ch sps, evenly sp sc around with ch-2 at each corner" I understand the second part, but what does "working in multiples of 2 plus 1" mean?
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Hi Anne! That sounds to me like you are prepping for the second row, to make sure that you will have the correct amount of stitches. If that is the case, you'll want to make sure that you have a multiple of 2 sts plus one. So 4 + 1 = 5 or 102 + 1 = 103. Any multiple of two, then plus one. I hope that helps!
      Reply

  7. Diana Farmer says

    Hi Ashlea! I am having TERRIBLE difficulty with tension issues. I have begun four afghans only to tear them completely apart once seeing the ends becoming 'taller' than the middle. I am so frustrated about this. I live near no one who crochets, and have no help. Can you give me any advice on this? I would greatly appreciate it! Diana
    Reply

  9. Paige says

    Such an excellent tutorial. Your site has taught me so much! I'm confused on one issue though. When you started the border for the sc swatch, you didn't chain one. You did chain one for the dc swatch border though. Is it only necessary to ch 1 for the larger stitch projects? Also, when working the sides of a basketweave stitch, would I still make 2 stitches into the sides, even though those stitches were worked into the posts and they're not as long. I have struggled making borders for 2 years now and your video is the one that finally got through to me. Thank you!
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Paige! I am so glad you have been enjoying this site! On the Sc swatch, I do not ch.1 because I start off by putting a 2nd sc into that corner stitch so that it doesn't curl up before I start working the edge of the piece. On the Dc swatch, I cannot start with the corner increase due to the height difference of the sc and dc...so I ch.1 to be able to start my border on the side edge. I hope that makes sense!
      Reply

  10. Derrick says

    This has helped a lot, but I still am struggling with my border. I am doing a seashell baby blanket and having trouble figuring out how to do the border. Any suggestions or advice?
    Reply

  11. Kim says

    Wow!!!! Thank you! What border is this scalloped edge above in pink? In fact do you have a pattern for that blanket?..
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Kim! The pink border is the Reverse Shell stitch repeat and a tutorial can be found here: http://hearthookhome.com/reverse-shell-stitch-tutorial-crochet-technique-with-photos/ The blanket is a Corner to Corner and a tutorial for that can be found here: http://hearthookhome.com/how-to-crochet-a-corner-to-corner-c2c-throw/
      Reply

  12. Lauren says

    I dont know if anyone is still using this site or repltinf to comments but I have a problem. Ive made a blanket, sc. I want to do a border like granny stripes all around but it is now starting to get wavy...why is this? I have tried everything but I cant keep it from becoming wavy. I ha e taught myself mostly everything I know about crocheting but now im stuck and I cant find the answer anywhere. Please someone help. Email is kelley_kelley23@yahoo.com
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Lauren! I am assuming that by wavy, you mean that the border is ruffling (like a tutu). Since I don't really know what all you have tried, I will give a couple of tips that will hopefully help. Make sure you are skipping 2 stitches between each 3DC block on your 1st round. Do not chain between blocks...except in the corners do 3DC, ch1, 3DC. If all else fails, you could try going down a hook size for the border and see if that helps. If you still need more help, you can email me or send me a message through my Heart Hook Home Facebook page and we can try to get it figured out together!
      Reply

  13. Robin says

    Help!! LOL. The 1,2, & 3 for sc, dc, & tc make perfect sense. But what about hdc/hhdc? Do I do 1 sc in each row end or 2? Or maybe 1,2,1,2,1,2......?
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Robin! I usually do 1 in each row end for hdc, but sometime the 1,2,1,2 works better. Whichever works best for you and with your project. Hope that helps!
      Reply

  15. Karen says

    I have made a baby blanket with double crochet shell stitches. Is there a way to add a border on the scalloped edge? It calls for tassels, but I don't like that look on a baby blanket.
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Karen! You could straighten out the scalloped end by using a combination of sc, hdc, and dc stitches. Example: If you have a 5 dc shell stitch, you would do hdc in the 1st stitch, sc in the next 3 stitches, and hdc in the last shell stitch...then place a dc in the sc. Hope that makes sense!
      Reply

    • Nonarae says

      As somebody who has attempted to learn coding for my own website, I can tell you that it is not as easy as it looks. If you know how to do it yourself, suggestions on how to fix the problem are always welcome.. Otherwise please just let the owner of the site know what you are struggling so that she can fix it. Nobody likes having difficulties on websites, but bashing somebody when their site doesn't work 100% perfect isn't super helpful either. Please be kind.
      Reply

    • Car says

      Wow. Are you ok? It seems like that is going a bit overboard. Maybe it’s about more than just user error on a crochet site?
      Reply

  17. Linda says

    Ashlea, thanks for the video on c2c border, I have finally found how to border my afghan of blanket yarn c2c . My question is after the single crochet, what type of stitch did you use to border on top the the first border of single crochet? Thank you.
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Linda! I'm so glad you found my video helpful! As for the following rows of border, you can do just about any border you want...crab stitch, shells, picot...the sky's the limit! The first round of single crochet just gives you a nice foundation all around the blanket for whichever border you choose. Hope that helps!
      Reply

      • Sue says

        One of my favorite stitches after the row of single crochet is a row of reverse single crochet which is simply reversing direction and single crocheting without turning the project. It makes a nice finishing edge.
        Reply

  19. Trish says

    Hello, I am just finishing up a baby blanket. I was wondering if there is a specific way to do the corners or if you just turn and keep going?
    Reply

  20. Donna Hill says

    Hi, I’ve just done a blanket in double crochet and chained 3 at the end of each row. I tried doing a single crochet border with one in each stitch up the sides but it started to go wavy as if there are too many stitches? Please help! Quite new to all this. Thanks
    Reply

  21. Joy says

    Hi a question if I may re borders! I have created a lemon peel stitch blanket so one slide starts with a single crochet but the other side ends with a double crochet. How do I do my SC border on both sides so they are even? Or am I missing something? It’s my first blanket so in hindsight I guess if I’d done an odd no. Of stitches I wouldn’t have this problem
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      I would do half double to even it out, because when you combine the sc and the dc it ends up being about the height of an hdc, if that makes sense.
      Reply

  22. Rhonda says

    Hi Thanks for posting this, it's very much appreciated . Now I have a dilemma I hope you can help with, I have no idea how to crochet. I have been knitting for as long as I can remember . I have just finished knitting all the squares for my new grand daughter due any day. I really need to put some kind of border along the edge before I attach another lacy border, if that makes sense. Do you ( or anyone) have any idea how to put a crochet border on a knitted blanket?? I need a step by step tutorial here, like I said I'm very new to crochet. In fact I have never crochet anything. Cheers
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      I'd just do a single crochet around the entire piece, one stitch per row end so that it doesn't start to wave or pucker. If you do too many stitches it will start to curl up.
      Reply

  23. Bhavana says

    Very helpful tips for edging crochet. Now working on c2c pattern. I will keep in mind always these tips. As edging properly not easy all time. So thanks for the video shared by you.
    Reply

  24. Kathleen says

    Love all the ideas , and never had done a single crochet in color of the afghan , then proceed with the border , thank You so much for all of your great ideas. one can always learn new tricks of the trade.
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Hey Peachy! You can do three too, I do that will some of my borders. I should have worded that better. Thanks for stopping by!
      Reply

  27. Sharon says

    I've used the single crochet before the border for as long as I can remember and would never add a border without it. Im a neat freak!!! Thank you for sharing for others.
    Reply

  28. Victoria says

    Thank you! Very easy to understand. Just about to finish an afghan... and was wondering how to make the sides look neat and tidy. So simple... Nicely done.
    Reply

  29. Alexya Shultz says

    Thank you, it´ll help me a lot and i´m happy , instead i´m at the beginning and day by day i´m improve more and more
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Hi Barbara! You can find the tutorial for that here: http://hearthookhome.com/crochet-border-reverse-shell-using-single-crochet/
      Reply

  31. Mandy says

    Wow! Thank you so much! I am new to crocheting and still find going up the side a challenge despite your amazing tutorial. For the white blanket in your video tutorial, what stitch did you use? It is beautiful!
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Hi Mandy! I used this tutorial for the white blanket: http://hearthookhome.com/crochet-border-reverse-shell-using-single-crochet/
      Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Hi! That tutorial can be found here: http://hearthookhome.com/crochet-border-reverse-shell-using-single-crochet/
      Reply

  33. Veronica says

    I'm teaching myself how to crochet and I'm on my first blanket. I'm doing a single crochet AND double crochet in each stitch. Of course I would mess it up and some of my rows have less stitches.. like a lot. Any suggestions on how to fix that with the border? Should I stick to the single crochet first and then something else the second time around? Thanks!!
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Hi Veronica! If it's only a few stitches here and there you might be able to fix it with a border and blocking (where you get it wet and force it to dry into shape with pins). If it's a lot you might do better ripping it out and trying again. Bummer, I know. :(
      Reply

      • Veronica says

        Dang! I might have to take those rows out then. I'll try the blocking and see if I works first. Thanks for your help!
        Reply

        • Jeanne Jacobs says

          Honey, just do your best on each project. Try to do a small swatch of the pattern and figure out the potential problems. Add your boarders a different one on each side of swatch then start the big project. Friends and family don’t judge they just appreciate the love, time, and care you took to make them something. I am disabled and cannot read patterns,my work has a mistake or 5 , but when I made a cowl for my friend who does professional level crochet, she said it was beautiful and it was the only thing made for her by anyone other than her deceased mother and she was very touched by my gift. Just enjoy and you will get there.
          Reply

        • Denise Dumser says

          Ripping out is best. Blocking won't fix mistake. I don't mind ripping out. We work hard on our creations. You want it to be right or you won't be happy with it .
          Reply

  34. Kay says

    What is the the 'back stitch of the foundational row'? It is not very clear when you are actually crocheting it and I have tried to google it to see if I can find any clearer images on what you are actually referring to....but with no luck.
    Reply

    • Jeanne Jacobs says

      The back stitch is just one half of the sideways u at the top is the stitch you will be splitting. Look down from above the row . Front= the side facing you the Back half of that sideways is the back. Picture a horse shoe, turn it sideways, pinch the top ends together that’s the stitch. Hope that helped. I discribe things in detail sorry if it didn’t help. Good luck. Or go to an old folks home and see if a nice old lady like me can give you a lesson. It would make her day!
      Reply

  35. KLP says

    Great post. One thought, OCD is actually a horrifying and debilitating illness (not a quirky preference for orderliness). Perhaps there's another way to phrase your keen attention to detail....
    Reply

  36. Pam says

    You are fantastic! Thank you for sharing your most valuable gift "time". Then the knowledge about crochet is amazing. Although I have been crocheting for about 50 years you have taught me so many little tricks. Did you know youth children are also learning to crochet with your totorials? I started teaching my kids and grand babies while on my lap. The two oldest ones now ten and twelve can crochet and knit but will go to Pinterest and sometimes utube to get help if I'm not around. It's also fun to watch your videos,your sense of humor and picture on your postings so easily recognizable we can find it now. That picture puts a smile on my face and a giggle when finding you in a new post . I know there is always going to be something I want to see. Thank you for being you. Health and happiness to you and your family. These days I find myself working on a lot of smaller projects, hats, mittens, scarves, blankness, and gazillions of scrubies. The seven grandchildren that can talk all want them with this face or that in every color grandma has. The scrubbies were made for there mommies dirty dishes after seeing the wierd yarn at the store. One thought it would work great in the tub and shower, she was right! They fit perfectly in our hands and bubble up better than the big round scrubbing balls we were buying. When i finished making enough to fill my daughters linen closets I have friends wanting me to make some for them.I have been so blessed to have nine grand babies) 5 of them 4 or under, it doesn't get better than that or if it does I wouldn't know what it could be.
    Reply

  37. Speattle says

    This is really helpful. Crocheting up the sides of a finished blanket has always been a bit of a hit or miss event for me. I'll try this next time. Also, I find that sometimes a simple hdc stitch can be a beautiful edge finish to any knit or crocheted scarf or blanket.
    Reply

  39. Carol says

    Great post. I have always started my borders with a base of single crochet, but I never knew how many stitches to put up the side. I just visually placed stitches. Therefore sometimes the number of stitches on one side may not match the number on the other side. Thanks to your post, I now know how many stitches to put on the side of each crochet row.
    Reply

  40. Stefanie says

    OMGosh, your link was in my Pinterest feed. What a great tip! I have always disliked the choppy join of a border to a blanket piece.
    Reply

    • Ashlea says

      Thanks Stephanie! I just checked out your blog and funny thing, I just finished A Curious Beginning also. Ha! Thanks for stopping by!
      Reply

  41. Kelly says

    Wow!!!thank you for the great tutorial. I was amazed when I read your profile. My grandson was born 2 years ago with type 1 truncas. He's had 2 OH surgeries and a stroke but he is doing amazing! Hope all is well at your "heart" home.
    Reply

  42. Greta says

    Thank you for posting this! I never could figure out exactly how to get the first border row on the sides. This was very helpful!
    Reply

  43. Rita Culpepper says

    I am glad that there is someone out there who also has OCD with regarding their crochet projects. I am sorry to say that most of the time I always have it. Thanks for the advice about trim. I am just about to start trimming a queen sized afgha. After all that work I want a great trim. Thanks again. Rita Culpepper
    Reply

  44. Jojo Sewist says

    Thank you for another well explained tutorial. Is there a "pretty" way to add a crochet border to fabric items w/o first poking holes in the fabric? If so, would you consider creating a tutorial of the technique? Thanks, Jojo
    Reply

    • rosenae2002 says

      I have seen people do a sewn blanket stitch border around a piece of fabric before stitching on their border. That way you get the nice even foundation for your crochet border, without having to poke all the holes and then crocheting through them. If you don't want to do that, there is a special circular cutter blade (https://www.amazon.com/Kays-Crochet-Fleece-Perfect-Projects/dp/B00LMGMOE6) that cuts the holes for you to crochet into.
      Reply

  46. Rhonda says

    I've been doing this for awhile now! I always use the main color of the blanket for the single crochet round. I find that it makes all the other colors I add for the border start off with a totally clean look!
    Reply

  48. Sally says

    Thank you for your border tips. It is a helpful article. As a fairly new crocheter adding a border is very intimidating to me especially the stitches along the unfinished sides of an Afghan. If you ever expand on this article it would also be helpful to know where to place the hook on the unfinished side (stitches) and what the trick is for spacing stitches for a half double crochet along the sides of an afghan/blanket i.e. two is too many and one is not enough. Is there a general rule of thumb used for hdc unfinished side stitch border placement? Thanks again. Your articles are always very helpful!
    Reply

    • Holly says

      I have the same problem with hdc along the sides. I usually just do the best that I can and live with it but I would love to know the right way. Thanks
      Reply

    • Jane says

      I believe you have to alternate. do one sc in the first hdc and two in the next etc. I personally haven't don't it myself, but since I have just recently finished my first bordered blanket, I'm now well informed from looking at every possible YouTube video I could :) Good Luck! I hope I helped x
      Reply

        • Heart Hook Home says

          Hi Patricia! C2C stands for Corner to Corner...I have a tutorial if you would like to learn it which can be found here: https://hearthookhome.com/how-to-crochet-a-corner-to-corner-c2c-throw/
          Reply

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