You don’t need a lot of money, time, or even crochet experience to create a special blanket to give as a gift or donate to a child in need. These four quick and easy crochet edging patterns add a handmade touch to any fleece or fabric blanket. Choose from a basic border, two-round design, scalloped shell border, or openwork edging, or check out all my Crochet Borders & Edging Patterns here.
Add a Crochet Edging to Fabric
To start, pick out a fabric blanket, such as fleece, flannel, or even a receiving blanket. Many craft stores like Michaels and Joann Fabric carry small fleece blankets at very reasonable prices. The easiest approach is to find a blanket that already has stitching around it for you to crochet into, but you can also easily add your own blanket stitching around the fabric or use a tool to crochet directly into the fabric.
Crocheting a Border on Fabric with Blanket Stitching
Many fabric blankets already come with an edge of blanket stitching around them (Fig. 1a and 1b). You can start crocheting right into that stitching by inserting your hook through the top of the blanket stitch and pulling up a loop (Fig. 1c), then crochet your edging as usual (Fig. 1d). Scroll down to choose a crochet edging pattern.
Adding Your Own Blanket Stitching
If your fabric or blanket does not have a blanket stitch around it, you can easily stitch one on yourself with a needle and crochet thread, as I did here for these pretty tea towels. You can follow this tutorial for How To Do a Blanket Stitch, or you can use a sewing machine.
You can also crochet a blanket stitch border right into the fabric by using a special tool, such as a Sharp Crochet Hook, to add the stitching. If you already have a rotary cutter at home, you can also use a skip-blade attachment made for crocheted edgings.
For this tutorial, I am using a sharp, pointed crochet hook (Fig. 2a). To add a blanket stitch, use a coordinating color of crochet thread or separate strands from the yarn you plan to use for the border. Insert the hook into the fabric, and pull up a loop of the thread to the height of the edge of the blanket (Fig. 2b). Then, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook (Fig. 2c). Continue around your fabric until you have a stitched border to crochet into. Then scroll down to choose a crochet edging pattern.
Quick & Easy Crochet Edging Patterns for Blankets
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn
- 5 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- Fleece or fabric blanket
These free crochet edging patterns are written in U.S. crochet terms and abbreviations.
Helpful Crochet Resources: Refer to my Crochet Abbreviations and U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart as you work through the patterns.
Crochet Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Basic Border
This basic crochet border uses simple double crochet stitches for a clean, classic finish. It’s a great choice when you want an easy edging that doesn’t add too much detail.
Join yarn to the blanket by inserting your hook through a stitch and pulling up a loop (see Fig. 1c above).
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 1 dc in each st until you reach the corner. For rounded corners, work 2 dc in the three corner stitches. For straight corners, work 5 dc in the corner st. Continue working around the blanket. Join with a sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3.
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Two-Round Design
This easy two-round border combines half double crochet and single crochet stitches for a simple, slightly more finished edge.
Join yarn as above.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), work 1 hdc in each stitch until you reach the corner. For rounded corners, work 2 hdc in the three corner stitches. For straight corners, work 3 dc in the corner st. Continue working around the blanket. Join with a sl st in the top of the beginning ch-2.
Round 2: Ch 1, work 1 sc between each hdc around the blanket; continue the same around each corner. Join with a sl st in the 1st sc.
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Shell Border / Scalloped Border
This pretty shell border uses groups of double crochet stitches to create a decorative scalloped edge. It’s an easy way to give a plain fleece or fabric blanket a softer, more decorative finish.
Join yarn as above.
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 1 sc in the same stitch as the loop was pulled up, sk next st, 5 dc in next, sk next st, *1 sc in next, sk next st, 5 dc in next, sk next st, rep from * around, ending with a sl st in 1st sc (depending on how many stitches are around the blanket, you may need to improvise toward the end by perhaps skipping 2 sts or none at all to make the join work properly).
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Little Spaces Edging
This simple two-round crochet edging creates little open spaces along the first round for a pretty, lightweight border.
Join yarn as above.
Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), skip next blanket stitch, *1 dc in next blanket stitch, ch 1, skip next blanket stitch, rep from * around, working [1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc], ch 1, skip next blanket stitch around corners (Note: You may need to adjust how you work your corners depending on the degree of curve you have to your blanket’s corners), join with a sl st in the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4.
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc in next ch-1 sp, *1 sc in next st, 1 sc in next ch-1 sp, rep from * around, join with a sl st in the 1st sc.
More Crochet Blanket & Edging Patterns
- Ruffle Edged Crochet Blanket
- Crochet Edged Tea Towel
- Free Crochet Afghan Patterns
- Crochet Borders & Edging Patterns
Had a look at your US to UK terminology conversion chart.
Please correct it!
There is no such thing as Single Crochet in UK terms
Slip Stitch is Slip Stitch in crochet.
Same as the term Chain – neither of them change.
I can’t find baby blanket size with blanket stitch any where….only adult size. wher do you get them?
What size of hook do you suggest if you don’t have to do the blanket stitch?
The hook size should be that which is suggested for the yarn weight you are using.
I have several fleece blankets that I purchased that already have edging on them and hav been looking for patterns to add trim on them. Thank you! What size yarn do you suggest? 4 ply worsted or baby yarn?
You can really use anything you like. I prefer worsted because I feel like it goes best with the weight of the fleece, but it is really just a matter of preference.
Wow, I’ve made flannel and seersucker blankets for years with manually pushing through the material with a small needle or punching through with a craft awl. Thanks for sharing about the sharp needles. Just ordered!
I can’t find a sharp crochet hook, any suggestions for mail order?
Look for a hook called Edjit on Amazon. Perfect for this.
Hi Patti 🙂 I included links in the post for some sharp hook options that can be ordered. You can also find the Edgit Piercing hook on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2NMOtlS.
Thank you for posting this! Helped me choose which edge I should do and how to do it on my first blanket 🙂
What a fabulous idea! Adding that edge gives such a new look to a regular store bought blanket. Thank you so much for sharing this today on TALU! Crochet is something I want to get better at.
These are so cute! My mom loves to crochet, so I’ll have to show her your post! Thanks!