#intermediate-crochet — Public Fediverse posts

Intermediate Crochet Edging Pattern for Blankets (With Video Tutorial)

Have you ever finished a blanket, admired your handiwork, and thought, “You know what this needs? A little something extra.”

Or maybe you’ve stared at a finished blanket and thought, “Nope. Don’t touch it. If I add one more stitch, I’ll end up frogging the whole thing.”

I understand both feelings.

My Rolling Tide Ripple Blanket was originally designed to be completely borderless. The ripples create a beautiful finished edge all on their own, and honestly, I love the look just as it is.

But sometimes you want a border.

Maybe you want to frame your blanket. Maybe you have a few yards of yarn left. Maybe you simply enjoy making decorative edges. (No judgment here. Some of us think crocheting a border is the best part.)

That’s exactly why this crochet edging exists.

This intermediate-level border combines crossed treble crochet stitches, textured dc3tog clusters, and decorative front-facing picots to create a beautiful edge that works on far more than just ripple blankets.

It looks fantastic on:

• Ripple blankets
• Granny square blankets
• Solid afghans
• Baby blankets
• Lapghans
• Throws
• Home décor projects

The finished edging has wonderful texture, plenty of visual interest, and just enough detail to keep things fun without becoming overly complicated.

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Watch the Video Tutorial

If you’d like to crochet along with me step-by-step, be sure to watch the full video tutorial below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWngDcuxGKg

The written instructions below are intended to supplement the video tutorial.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Crochet Terms

US Crochet Terminology

Special Stitches

Crossed Treble Crochet (Crossed tr)

Skip the next stitch, work a treble crochet in the following stitch, then working behind the previous treble crochet, work a treble crochet in the skipped stitch. This creates a decorative crossed effect.

dc3tog (Double Crochet 3 Together)

Yarn over and insert hook into the indicated space. Yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Repeat twice more in same space. Yarn over and pull through all 4 remaining loops on the hook.

Front Picot

Ch 3. Insert hook into the 2 front vertical bars of the single crochet directly below the chain and slip stitch to form the picot. This creates a picot that sits on the front of the edging rather than on top of the chain.

Notes

• This border can be added to virtually any blanket.
• Round 1 serves as an adjustment round and allows you to customize the spacing to fit your project.
• Each side should have an even number of chain-2 spaces at the end of Round 1.
• Corner stitches are marked to simplify placement in later rounds.

Written Pattern

Rnd 1: Beginning in any corner, work 3 sc in the corner. *Ch 2, skip a few stitches along the side of the blanket as needed, sc in the next stitch; repeat from * across to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner. Repeat around the blanket, joining to the first sc with a slip stitch.

Note: Each side should have an even number of ch-2 spaces.

Rnd 2: Join with a sc in the first corner sc. Work sc in the same stitch, sc in the next sc, and place a marker in this stitch to mark the corner. Work 2 sc in the next sc.

*2 sc in the next ch-2 space, skip the next sc; repeat from * across to the next corner.

Corner: Skip the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc, sc in the next sc (place a marker in this stitch to mark the corner), 2 sc in the next sc.

Repeat from * around the blanket. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc.

Rnd 3: Beginning 3 stitches before the marked corner stitch, join yarn and ch 4 (counts as a tr). Work a tr in the stitch to the right of the beginning ch-4 to form the first crossed tr pair.

*Skip 1 st, tr in next st, working behind the previous tr, tr in the skipped st; repeat from * across to the next corner, working the first tr of the final crossed tr pair in the marked corner stitch.

Corner: Ch 3, then work a crossed tr pair using the next stitch and the marked corner stitch.

Repeat from * around. Join to the top of the beginning ch-4.

Rnd 4: Join yarn in any space between crossed tr pairs. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in the same space.

*Ch 1, skip the next crossed tr pair, sc in the space between the next crossed tr pair; repeat from * to the corner.

Corner: Work (sc, ch 1, sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner ch-3 space.

Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc.

Rnd 5: Join yarn in any sc on any side. Ch 3 (counts as a dc).

*Work a dc3tog in the next ch-1 space; repeat from * across to the next corner.

Corner: Work 3 dc in the center sc of the corner.

Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning ch-3.

Rnd 6: Join yarn in the top of any dc on any side. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in the same dc, ch 1, skip the next dc3tog.

*Sc in the next dc, ch 1, skip the next dc3tog; repeat from * across to the next corner.

Corner: Work (sc, ch 1, sc) in the center dc of the corner.

Ch 1, sc in the next dc, ch 1, skip the next dc3tog.

Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc.

Rnd 7: Join yarn in any ch-1 space on any side. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in the same ch-1 space.

*Ch 1, skip the next sc, sc in the next ch-1 space; repeat from * across to the next corner.

Corner: Work (sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner ch-1 space.

Ch 1, skip the next sc, sc in the next ch-1 space.

Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc.

Rnd 8: Join yarn in any ch-1 space on any side. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in the same ch-1 space, work a picot, sc in the same ch-1 space.

*Skip the next sc, work (sc, work a picot, sc) in the next ch-1 space; repeat from * around.

Join with a slip stitch to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite things about crochet borders is how dramatically they can change the look of a project. It’s a little like putting a frame around a piece of artwork. The blanket may already be finished, but a beautiful edging can make the entire project feel complete.

If you add this border to one of your projects, I’d love to see it! Share your finished photos and be sure to tag me so I can admire your handiwork.

Happy Crocheting!

— Tanya
HodgePodge Crochet

Skull Granny Square Crochet Pattern

Few crochet motifs are as recognizable as the granny square.

Whether you’ve been crocheting for decades or picked up a hook last week, chances are you’ve encountered one. Granny squares have been used in blankets, clothing, bags, home décor, and just about every other crochet project imaginable. They’re simple, versatile, portable, and endlessly customizable.

But the granny square wasn’t always the colorful patchwork icon we know today.

A Brief History of the Granny Square

The origins of the granny square are somewhat debated, but crochet itself became increasingly popular during the nineteenth century. Early crochet publications featured motifs and lace designs, though the classic granny square as we recognize it today did not become widespread until much later.

By the 1970s, granny squares had exploded in popularity. Bright colors, scrap yarn projects, and handmade fashion were everywhere. Crochet enthusiasts began joining individual squares together to create afghans, vests, ponchos, purses, and even entire outfits.

One of the reasons granny squares became so beloved is their practicality. Small amounts of leftover yarn could be transformed into useful projects rather than being thrown away. The humble granny square quickly became one of the most accessible crochet motifs ever created.

The Evolution of the Granny Square

Over the years, crocheters have proven that a granny square can be much more than a simple cluster stitch design.

Today’s granny squares feature:

• Flowers
• Sunbursts
• Animals
• Seasonal themes
• Geometric designs
• Mandalas
• Pop culture characters
• Three-dimensional textures
• Intricate colorwork

Modern crochet designers continue pushing the boundaries of what can fit inside a square.

Which brings us to skulls.

Why Skull Granny Squares?

Skulls have become surprisingly popular in the crochet world. While they are often associated with Halloween, many crocheters enjoy incorporating them into gothic, alternative, fantasy, and year-round spooky projects.

A skull motif adds personality and visual interest while still maintaining the practicality of a granny square. Once completed, skull squares can be joined together just like traditional motifs to create larger projects.

The result is something that feels both classic and modern at the same time.

Meet the Skull Granny Square

This Skull Granny Square combines a textured skull motif with decorative petal rounds and a traditional square finish.

The finished square measures approximately 5 inches and works up quickly, making it perfect for stash-busting projects or larger motif-based designs.

Use a single color for a dramatic silhouette or experiment with multiple colors to create a completely different look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S12ufbweIVU

Project Ideas

Not sure what to do with your Skull Granny Squares?

Try using them for:

• Halloween blankets
• Gothic afghans
• Tote bags
• Market bags
• Pillows
• Wall hangings
• Table runners
• Cardigans
• Hooded scarves
• Book sleeves
• Decorative panels

Or simply make one square and enjoy the process. Sometimes that’s enough.