One of the best go-to crochet edgings is also one of the simplest: an easy single crochet edging worked all the way around the blanket. This ties together the design, gives a polished finish to the blanket, and looks great regardless of what other stitches are used in the main body of the crochet blanket. Single crochet edging is made by simply crocheting sc stitches into each stitch around, with a little bit of adaptation for the corners, particularly if you are going to work multiple rounds. Learn how to crochet this edging around any blanket (or any other square or rectangular crochet project for that matter.) It’s a great go-to crochet finishing stitch.
Why Choose a Single Crochet Edging?
The single crochet offers a no-frills, super clean, streamlined finish to any blanket. This makes it a great choice for colorful patterned afghans, crocheted quilts, or any other sort of crocheted blankets that have a “busy” patterned design. This edging is also a great way to finish off afghans for guys, or baby blankets for boys; it is totally guy-friendly since it isn’t frilly or lacy. When you want to err on the side of simplicity, single crochet is the way to go with your edging. Additionally, a single crochet edging adds some denseness around the blanket. This adds warmth. It also adds some weight, especially to lacier openwork blankets, and this helps to keep the edges pressed down on to the bed, couch, or ground around you. This keeps the drafts out and makes sure that the blanket keeps you warm. This adds function to the aesthetic benefits of single crochet edging. Finally, a round of single crochet edging is often recommended even if you want to use another style of crochet edging. Using the first round in the pattern below before any other border will provide more stability and polish than using the other border design on its own.
Single Crochet Afghan Edging Free Pattern
Crochet Skill Level
This is a beginner crochet pattern that anyone can use to create a round of edging around a blanket. The blanket itself can be in any style or skill level.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:
ch = chainch-2 sp = chain-2 space, the space created when you worked 2 chain stitches in the previous rowsc = single crochetsl st = slip stitchst = stitch
Crochet Edging Pattern Instructions:
This crochet border is worked in rounds, starting in any stitch and continuing all the way around the blanket. To begin, join yarn in any stitch. Ch 1 (counts as first single crochet), then …
Round 1: Work 1 sc st in each st, all the way around. When you get to a corner, work 2 ch sts to turn the corner and then continue crocheting 1 sc st in each st. Sl st to ch 1 to join.Round 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sc). Work 1 sc st in each st, all the way around. When you get to a corner, work 1 sc st into the ch-2 sp created in the row below; then ch 2, work another sc st into the same ch-2 sp, then resume crocheting sc sts all the way around. Sl st to ch 1 to join.Rounds 3 and up: Repeat round 2 until the edging is the size you want it to be.
You can make your single crochet blanket edging as narrow or wide as desired. In fact, you don’t even need rounds two and up; you could creating a single round of single crochet edging. The choice is up to you. Play around with a lot of options to see what suits your designs best!
Variations on Single Crochet Afghan Edging Free Pattern
There are a variety of different small changes that you can make to single crochet stitch to make it a little bit more interesting and you can apply those ideas to this pattern.
Back Loop Only Crochet:
For example, if you work multiple rounds of single crochet in the back loop only (instead of working through both loops), you’ll get an interesting textured fabric that can give a subtle sophistication to your edging.
Change the Crochet Corners:
A small variation that many people like to make is in the corners of this pattern. In the original pattern above, we use 2 ch stitches to turn the corner. You can instead work 2 sc stitches (or even 3 sc) into the corner or even 1 sc, 1 ch, 1 sc. Play around with different corners to get the effect you like best.
Rev SC Stitch:
Another interesting choice is to implement the reverse single crochet technique, also known as crab stitch, which is a really popular edging choice. It only requires you to work one round around your afghan and you end up with a cute twisted edge. (Note that this works only for a single round, you can’t add additional rounds atop it, so it is a very narrow edging. That said, you could work several rounds of single crochet first before completing the project with a round of reverse single crochet.)
Single Crochet Edging for Other Projects
The great thing about the simple beauty of this type of edging is that it works on all different types of projects, not just blankets. Work a single crochet edging around washcloths and dishcloths, for example. You can also use single crochet edging on circle projects such as placemats and rugs. It is a terrific solution for giving a completed look to anything you might crochet. This article was edited and updated by Kathryn Vercillo.
