Crochet border and edging patterns for blankets, towels and linens

What are the most common crochet edges for blankets?

The most common blanket edges are a round of single crochet, a shell border, a picot edge and a crab stitch (reverse single crochet) edge. All of them start from an even foundation round of single crochet with three stitches in each corner, which hides uneven row ends and gives the decorative round a consistent count to work into.

For afghans made from motifs or granny squares, a border of two or three rounds of double crochet pulls the squares into a straight rectangle before any decorative edge is added.

Which vintage crochet edgings are in this collection?

These edgings come from Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81). Most are worked lengthwise in fine crochet thread and sewn on, or worked directly into the hem of a handkerchief, towel or pillowcase. The table lists what each one is for and its skill level.

How do you attach a crochet edging to fabric?

There are two ways. A sewn-on edging is crocheted as a separate strip to the length of the hem, blocked, then whipstitched to the folded edge with matching sewing thread. A worked-on edging starts with a round of single crochet worked directly through the fabric: pre-punch evenly spaced holes with a sharp steel hook or a fine awl about 1/8 inch (3 mm) in from the edge, or use fabric with a pre-hemstitched edge.

What thread and hook do vintage edgings use?

Vintage edgings are mostly worked in size 20 to size 70 crochet thread with a fine steel hook, far finer than yarn projects. Modern size 10 or size 20 cotton thread is the easiest to find; using it instead of a finer original thread makes the edging wider and deeper, so check the width against your hem before you commit.