What is a good way to crochet an edge around a fleece baby blanket?
Quick Slip Stitch Border
Take the tip of scissors and poke small holes evenly spaced along edge of the blanket. Now take regular worsted weight yarn and slip stitch around the blanket. This is easy, quick and it gives a unique finishing touch to the blanket. For a baby, you could make small slits to run some satin ribbon through, make bows at all four corners.
By Debra in Colorado
Slip Stitch Good For Other Fleece Projects Too
Great idea! I was looking for a finishing idea for a fleece poncho. It can also be a nice finish on fleece hats.
By gelykn
Use A Chain Stitch
I do something similar, only I space the holes about an inch apart, and chain-stitch from one to the next (leave a bit of ease at the corners) and then go around again, which makes a nice little diamond pattern. I've also tried getting a scalloped edge with this, but I can't read crochet patterns, so I just faked it, it turned out ok enough to make it an interesting idea.
By chinacat
Corner Advice
You can also punch a hole with a metal crochet needle (the kind used with crochet thread). Then, when you get to the corner, make 3 single crochet stitches in one space for the corner - that way, you will have a smooth corner.
By tedsmom
Use A Punch For Holes
I use an old punch and a tack hammer and it makes the holes quite easily. Just make sure the punch is a small one.
By Linda Jo
Paper Punch Or Skip Stitch Blade For Cutter
For holes in fleece, I have used a regular 1/8 inch paper punch and it worked. There is also something out called a skip stitch for 45 mm rotary cutters. You can only get it online for about $10. The blade is made so that it puts little holes in the fleece edge as you would use a rotary cutter. I got one for a gift, works wonderful and fast.
By Lucy
Blanket Stitch Then Chain Stitch
I made several fleece dog blankets recently for our local humane society. All I did was to sew a narrow blanket stitch onto the edges with yarn and a large needle (the kind designed for plastic canvas works really well). Then, I crocheted an edge onto the blanket stitch like this: I attached the yarn to an edge and made 3 chain stitches, made a single crochet in the second blanket stitch, chained 3 more stitches, made a single crochet into the next blanket stitch, etc. until I got all the way around. It makes a pretty, small ruffly edging. If you want the ruffles to be larger, then just chain stitch more stitches and skip more blanket stitches.
By tedsmom
Tips For Holes, Yarn And Finishing
Here is the easiest way I have found to put the holes in the fleece. I use a small hole paper punch (found at Michaels or any craft store) about 1/8 size. Make sure your round the corners of your fleece, it makes it much easier to work the stitches in. I punch the holes about 1/2" apart all the way around. Using a size G hook, I then crochet 2 single crochet stitches in every hole around. This will give you a base to work your edging. My favorite yarn to use around the fleece blankets is Caron, Simply Soft. You can buy the fleece fairly inexpensively at Walmart. I usually use about 1 1/4 yards per blanket for the younger kids. I made my oldest daughter one using 1 1/2 yards, and my husband one using 2 yards. They are easy, and can be made up easily in a weekend or a couple of evenings.
By mom2hhh
Step By Step Shell Border
I make flannel baby blankets much like mom2hhh does using the smallest hole punch to make the holes spaced 1/2" or slightly less apart around the edge of the flannel. I use 2 yards of flannel for each blanket and fold it in half and trim the edges (prewashed flannel). It makes a nice large double sided baby blanket. I do single crochet stitches in each hole with baby sport yarn. This looks like a blanket stitch around the edge. Then in the single stitch spaces, do a shell stitch edging - 5 to 7 double stitches, skip a stitch, single stitch, skip a stitch followed by 5 to 7 double stitches. I try to space it so that a shell lands on the corner. I haven't rounded the corners. I will try that - it will probably be easier.
Expert Advice For Blanket Stitch
You can try using a tiny metal crochet hook (the kind that's made for crocheting doilies) and a thin "doily lace" thread. (These usually come in preshrunk "mercerized" cotton) to crochet right through your fleece. (If the weave is open enough)
If your hook won't go through your fleece, you'll have to first embroider your edge with a BLANKET STITCH (also called a "buttonhole" or "hem" stitch) using a large eye needle and either yarn or cotton doily thread.
After you have done one round with embroidery (needle and yarn or thick thread) then just crochet the rest of the rounds using whatever type of yarn and stitch you'd like, working the crochet into the top of the embroidery stitches. (I'd use double crochet, or make shells around the edge)
This is the way they used to do it way back in the old days, especially when crocheting baby clothes edging.
How To Embroider A Blanket Stitch (also called a "buttonhole" or "hem" stitch)
Below, is the reverse of the way I'm talking about, They show how to FIRST crochet the edge, THEN sew it on AFTER crocheting the edging, I don't recommend this unless you've already bought a great piece of edging and you wanted to sew it on.
Using The Embroidery Blanket Stitch To Edge Crochet
By Cyinda
Feel free to post your ideas below!
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