How to crochet blanket stitch edging

This handiest of stitches is a great way to finish garments as well as blankets – not just for crochet projects!

You will need

• Yarn (DK or lighter)
• a sharp darning needle
• some spare fabric to practise on.

Prepare the fabric by placing masking tape near the edge (try a 1.5cm/½in gap) on right side. This will help keep your stitches even in height.

Thread yarn onto needle and knot the other end. Insert needle up to the right side of the fabric, at the masking tape edge, pull up to the knot.

Push the needle back into the same hole and pull to form a small loop (3cm/1in). Pass the needle through the loop so yarn sits at the edge of the fabric.

*Now insert the needle into the right side of the fabric at the masking tape edge, a short distance to the right or left (try 1.5cm/½in). Push needle to the wrong side and beyond fabric edge. Catch the yarn loop you just made under the needle tip. Pull yarn gently to form a stitch, but not too firmly or the fabric will pucker. Repeat from * around the edge, keeping the stitches even in width (you can mark the masking tape with a pencil to help with this). Fasten off.

How to crochet blanket stitch edging

Step 1

Work a row of blanket stitch at the edge of your fabric, using DK yarn and a sharp darning needle. Use masking tape to help guide the height and width of your stitches.

Step 2

The blanket stitches will have created a series of spaces that you can crochet into. Join your yarn into one of the spaces with a slip stitch.

Step 3

Work the turning chain for the stitches you want to work – we worked 1ch for double crochet. Now work dc stitches into each space, in the same way as you’d work into a chain space.

Step 4

Work the number of dc stitches that looks right for each loop, making sure you don’t pucker the fabric. At the end of the row, fasten off or turn and work more rows of your edging pattern.

Becky Skuse

Becky is a writer, crafter and designer from Bristol. As well as contributing many designs to Simply Crochet, Becky is also the creator of many of the Simply Crochet workshop features, sharing her incredible crochet knowledge with readers. As well as crochet Becky is a keen crafter in a variety of disciplines, including baking, beadwork, sewing and knitting. You can catch up with Becky on Instagram at @becky.skuse

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