Crocheted borders for afghans and other items

I stopped by Michael's Craft Store on the way home from work to buy a seventh skein of Patons Divine in Regal Red for the Flattering Jacket (sweater) I've been working on. I finished the first sleeve last night. One more sleeve to make and attach, yarn ends to weave in, then it's done!

Of course, I had to browse the crochet leaflets and books to see what I might want to add to my collection of crochet patterns...and I found the new 50 Crocheted Afghan Borders booklet by Jean Leinhauser which has detailed photos of each of the 50 patterns...so I bought it!

Although the book specifies "afghan borders," these could be used for any item suitable for a border: a knitted or crocheted sweater or socks, a pillowcase, a hand towel, a T-shirt, a blouse, a pair of jeans...

5 Comments

Barbara Grant | November 25, 2006 10:08 AM | Reply

am just looking for a few free border patterns that I may use on some baby blankets.

Marian | February 29, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply

I am involved with the Prayer Shawl Ministry in my parish, St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, here in Memphis. I am looking for pretty borders to put on prayer shawls that will make them look less...PLAIN...but which don't have knots (tie-offs or joinings) which may irritate the sensitive skin of elderly and/or ill people. Any help would be appreciated.

Cheryl | March 5, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply

Hi, Marian - I'm finally catching up with email... If you're looking for crocheted borders, the 50 Crocheted Afghan Borders booklet by Jean Leinhauser is good. My favorite border has to be a picot, like this:

(sc, ch 3, sc in 3rd chain from hook, skip 1 stitch) repeat all around the edge - looks best when a row of sc or hdc or sometimes dc has been put around the afghan first.

-Cheryl

Phyllis Snook | May 15, 2008 3:53 AM | Reply

I have absolutely no idea how to border my shell afghan. I am a beginner crocheter & am losing my marbles as we speak! I cannot read a pattern book, so that's out. I have changed colors on two sides of the afghan and don't know how to weave the ends in and on top of that I cannot figure out how to put a border on both sides of my afghan. I would like a simple border. So, if you could please tell me how to do this in "dummy terms" that would be wonderful. Thank you so much. Phyllis

Cheryl | May 17, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply

Hi, Phyllis - A very simple border would be to single crochet around the afghan, using 3 sc in each corner stitch. I recommend a visit to Crochetville at http://www.crochetville.org - it's a great place to get tips and information about crocheting.

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About Cheryl

Enjoys crocheting, gardening, cats, NASCAR (especially Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch!), reading, photography, snorkeling in Kailua-Kona with sea turtles, Sizzler's Mega Bacon Cheeseburgers, hot and iced decaf coffee, dark chocolate, color (yarn, fabric), playing around with web technologies - not necessarily in that order! Still very much a beginner with quilting, knitting, and sewing. Donates crocheted lap blankets.

List maker, detail-oriented, organized, leans heavily toward perfectionism. ISTJ. Libra.

Late 40s. Married to Bill. Son Greg and daughter-in-law Lauren live in Oregon. Stepson Billy and daughter-in-law Rowena are in Maui, Hawaii. Stepson Bryan lives in the Bay Area.

Web Designer for a college in the Bay Area, California. Strives for web accessibility, web standards, valid XHTML, valid CSS.