Half Double Crochet Border - Video Tutorial

After about a week's worth of patient and determined work by my own private technology guru who is my sweet husband of 27 years (we just celebrated our anniversary last week!), I finally have the following video to share with you. For some still-unknown reason, my video would not process in Blogger with all the separate clips put together into one video, which is the way I have made all my video tutorials available here at Hooked On Needles. The first clip by itself processed successfully and the other three clips together also processed successfully. I was ready to give up on it days ago, but my husband kept at it and finally was able to come up with a workable solution, to present this tutorial in two parts!

So without any further delay, below you will find video instruction on how to add a half double crochet border around a knitted garter stitch piece. This video was requested by reader Mat from the knittinghelp.com forum, specifically asking for details on the beginning and the end of the border. So the video shows the process from beginning to end, sparing no detail. If you need to brush up on your half double crochet stitch before giving this a try, you can find my video for that HERE.

Here's Part One:



And here's Part Two:



This is what I started with...a sample piece of knitted fabric in garter stitch which mean every row is done in knit stitch.


Here is the sample complete with the half double crochet border around it.


And this is a close up of one of the corners. You can see how the side edge is uniform because of going into the same hole at the end of the knit rows for each stitch.



If you would like to see other crocheted borders that I have done on knitted blankets, you can click HERE and take your pick. For a while, I was working on those wonderful little oddball baby blankets practically non-stop, but I've had to take a little break from that work in favor of quite a few recent commissioned projects, and of course preparation for Christmas and some family time.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Picot Border on Tiny Dancer Oddball Baby Blanket

Who doesn't love a quick project every now and then to provide that much needed sense of accomplishment? That's one of the reasons I love working on the oddball baby blankets. A package comes in the mail, I pick out yarn that I think will go well with the project, I knit a few inches of the pattern of my choice, I crochet a pretty border also of my choosing, and I mail it back. No long term commitments, no huge financial or time investment. The perfect fast finish! Of course the real satisfaction comes when we read on the knittinghelp.com charity forum that the blankets have been delivered and appreciated.

Here's the latest one I worked on, and my second finished project for September...


It's called Tiny Dancer, and is made with sweet colors and dainty patterns.


It really is quite tiny too, since it is for a premature baby, only about 21 x 22 inches including the border. It has been worked with sport weight yarns in colors or variegated of each knitter's choosing.


After I knitted the last section in a pretty pink using the farrow rib stitch, I worked 6 rows of garter stitch before binding off. Then using a soft yellow and this method for crocheting around a knitted piece, I worked 3 rounds of single crochet to provide a substantial base for the decorative border. The pattern I chose for the border is just a little picot every 3 stitches, and it is very easy to do.

Crocheted Picot Border

* sl st in each of next 3 st, ch 3, sl st in same st as last sl st *

Repeat from * to * around. When you reach the beginning again, end with a sl st. Cut yarn, draw tail through loop and pull tight. Weave in ends.

If you are interested in working on an oddball baby blanket, just go to the Knittinghelp.com Charity forum and pick the thread that matches your location. Join in the conversation and let them know that you are interested in working on a blanket. They'll be glad to have you! Make sure you tell them that Mary Grace sent you!

Happy Stitching!

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Sherbet Knitted Oddball Blanket Complete with Pretty Crocheted Border

Here's one more Knitted Oddball Baby Blanket finished. This one is worsted weight and it was named Sherbet. Doesn't it look good enough to eat?


My knitted section is the pink one at the top of the picture. I used Bernat Satin yarn in a color called Sea Shell. It was so soft and lovely, I just couldn't resist! I worked my section using the Farrow Rib Stitch which is pretty popular for these blankets.


Here you can see the detail of the knit stitch, and the border I crocheted around the edge. For this border, I crocheted only two rounds of single crochet, then for the third round I worked a simple pattern of (2hdc, skip 1) along the edges and 4hdc in the corner stitches. For the final round, I worked 2 single crochet in each of the spaces between the half double crochet pairs of the previous round, and 3 single crochet between the 2nd and 3rd single crochet in each corner.

I think I'm on the list for just one more oddball blanket, and then I must take a break from working on them for a while. I was just contacted by our local library and asked to do a 4 session quilting class for children this summer, so I must prepare for that. I also have a few other things on my to-do list for Hooked On Needles, plus quite a bit of maintenance work I need to do on it. And I found out recently that the memorial golf tournament for which I am making an afghan to be used as a raffle prize is actually the beginning of August, when I thought it was sometime in the fall! Yikes! I better get on my horse here and get busy!

Next up will be the tutorial on beading in crochet, since so many of you have requested that!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Oddball Blanket Complete - Rainbow Connection

I have talked a lot about these Oddball Blankets that I work on every now and then, but I like to bring it up frequently just in case there is someone new out there reading Hooked On Needles who might not know about this great work.

If you are one of those Instant Gratification kind of people and the thought of making a whole blanket just doesn't appeal to you, check out the website for the Northeast US Oddball Baby Blanket to get an idea of how this whole Oddball thing works. You'll see updates on lots of different blankets that are being passed around the northeast and then gathered up again to be donated to a hospital. If this is something that interests you, then go over to the Charity Knitting Forum on Knittinghelp.com and find your own region of the country. See what blankets are in the works and looking for knitters or border crocheters and sign up. You'll be able to put your own little creative mark on a wonderful gift for a new baby and you won't break the bank doing it. It's a great opportunity to try new stitches or become proficient with basic stitches if you are new to knitting. You won't even have to purchase your own needles! They will come with the blanket! You use them, then send them along to the next knitter. This is also a fabulous way to use up your stash yarn by signing up for blankets requiring colors that you already have! It's really a win-win arrangement.

Would you like to see the blanket I just finished?


This one is made entirely in crochet stitches, just rows of double crochet so it is very simple. The name of it is Rainbow Connection. I worked the last section in purple, then the border in white. My son who is 6 years old informed me that it was ok to leave out the indigo and violet and use purple instead since most people don't like indigo anyway! Okie dokie! So glad I got his stamp of approval!


I worked the border by first doing 2 rounds of single crochet. This is a worsted weight blanket so I thought 3 rounds, which I do on the sport weight blankets, might have been a little too much. Then I worked one round of my favorite border stitch, reverse single crochet. If you would like to see how to work reverse single crochet, click HERE and watch my video. It's a very simple stitch once you get the hang of it and I just really like the way it looks.

How do you like to finish off your crocheted or knitted baby blankets or afghans? Is there a stitch you've wanted to learn but might be having trouble with? I'd love to help you figure it out and I'm always looking for material to add to Hooked On Needles. Perhaps I could make a video for you and see if we can figure it out together.

Leave a comment and let me know, but make sure I can respond to you somehow by making your email available on blogger or by including it in the comment.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Chain 3 Scallop Border Video Tutorial

Recently I began working on my first Crocheted Oddball Blanket, this one called Butterfly Kisses. All the others I have worked on have been knitted blankets with a crocheted border, so this is a little bit different in that the blanket itself is crocheted and then it has a crocheted border. Another difference is that I get to collect the crocheted blankets and donate them to my local CareNet Center so some new moms will have little handmade blankets for their new babies.


After crocheting the last section of this blanket, I worked 3 rounds of single crochet around the whole thing.


I like how the 3 rounds of single crochet give the border a substantial base on which to sit, and it extends the border a little bit, allowing it to make more of a statement and finishing the blanket off nicely.

Here's a little video showing how I worked the very simple chain 3 scallop border on this blanket...




I hope you find these videos helpful. I know some people just learn better when they have someone sitting right there with them, and sometimes a video on the internet is the closest a person can get to that these days.

Here's the finished border:


My section was worked in Bernat Softee Baby Soft Lilac, just as the rest of the blanket was worked, in rows of double crochet. At the top you can see the 3 round of single crochet, then the last round of the Chain 3 Scallop border.


And here it is all finished and ready to be washed and delivered to some lucky new mom for her very special little baby.

Happy Stitching!

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Seaside Park Oddball Baby Blanket Complete

Another Oddball Baby Blanket is all finished and on its way back to Connecticut! This one is called Seaside Park, the same one you saw just recently when the knitting on it was finished. The crocheted border is now complete and, as usually happens when adding a border to anything, it finishes off the blanket very nicely.


Here is Seaside Park, all finished and looking lovely. It's so nice to think of the baby, most likely not even born yet, who will cuddle up under this blanket that has been knitted with so much love by strangers.


In this close-up, you can see the three rounds of single crochet and the last round of reverse single crochet which make up the border. I actually had planned to crochet some sort of a wavy pattern as the last round, like I did on the Circus Circus blanket, but I wasn't quite sure I would have enough yarn to work a pattern like that. I decided to work the reverse single crochet and see how much yarn I had left at the end. If I had a lot left, I would rip out the last round and work a wavy border to go along with the Seaside theme of the blanket. Well, as it turned out, after working the reverse single crochet border, I had barely 2 feet of yarn leftover! Whew! At least I was able to finish what I started and I didn't have to rip anything out! I suppose reverse single crochet is appropriate for the Seaside theme since it does look a little bit like rope. What do you think?

Anyway, reverse single crochet is one of my very favorite borders for a blanket and I enjoy working it. If you would like to see how it is done, you can view my video by clicking HERE. Once you get the hang of it and can achieve a consistent look to your stitches, it is a fun and satisfying border pattern to use.

Happy Stitching!

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Circus Circus Oddball Baby Blanket Complete - Crocheted Wavy Border

Once again, a crocheted border around a knitted blanket gives it the perfect finishing touch.

Just recently you saw the oddball baby blanket called Circus Circus after all the knitting had been completed. The colors that each knitter chose to work with were all so bright and cheerful and conjured up happy Circus-like images.

The border has now been added in an equally cheerful color using a fun, and easy, crocheted wavy stitch which you will find below.


Here is Circus Circus in all its happy cheerfulness. The variety of stitches and colors really makes it a fun and uplifting blanket and I just know it will make some little baby very happy.


This crocheted border begins with 3 rounds of single crochet to provide a solid base for the wavy stitch.


Then the quick-to-stitch decorative wavy border is added for the final round. Here's how it is worked:

After completing one or more rounds of single crochet (3 in this case), begin the wavy border by working 2 Half Double Crochets (hdc), 2 Double Crochets (dc), 1 Triple Crochet, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 4 single crochets (sc). Work each of these stitches in a separate stitch. Repeat pattern around the blanket, working 3 of whichever stitch you are on in the pattern into each corner stitch. Join with a slip stitch after finishing the last repeat of the pattern close to the beginning.

My 300th post is coming up quickly, so don't forget to enter my giveaway. You could win 4 crocheted dishcloths in your choice of colors. Tell your friends too!

Happy Stitching!

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Here Comes The Sun - Another Oddball Baby Blanket

Here's another Oddball Baby Blanket all finished and ready to go. The five knitted sections were done in a variety of stitches by knitters in Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I crocheted the border right here in Massachusetts.


The scallop border I crocheted on this blanket is the same one I did on the Tutti Frutti blanket a while ago. If you would like the border pattern and a video showing how to do it, you can find it by clicking HERE. It's really quite simple and produces a sturdy but pretty border for a tiny little preemie blanket like this, or even for a big full size afghan.

I have received my swap partner information for Sheri Howard's Think Spring Swap, and she is practically a next door neighbor! Isn't that funny? When I signed up for the Stitcher's Angel Swap last year, my partner was from all the way across the globe in Australia. And this time I got someone right in the next town from me! I think I'll hand deliver my package and make a new friend! You just never know what will happen when you sign up for a swap, but so far, I have had a good experience with each one. I'll show you a picture of my swap gift before I deliver it, and of course whatever goodies I receive in the mail from whoever got my name!

Happy Stitching!

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Simple Knit - Garter Stitch Pattern and Reverse Single Crochet Border

One more Oddball Baby Blanket finished! This one is called Citrus Sunshine and the part I worked on is reminiscent of Pink Lemonade! Then I added a very Lemony Sunshine Yellow border. Along with all the other colors and patterns in this blanket, these make up a very cheerful and sunny baby blanket.


This is a close-up of the border I crocheted for Citrus Sunshine. It's so simple, but finishes off the blanket nicely. First I worked one round of Single Crochet around the knitted blanket. Then I worked another round of Single Crochet, this time working into both loops. Then I worked one round in Reverse Single Crochet, which is what gives that rope-like effect on the outer edge. Reverse Single Crochet is one of my very favorite simple border patterns and I use it frequently on baby blankets and afghans.


The Pink Lemonade section that I knitted onto this blanket was worked in a very simple pattern of about an inch of Stockinette Stitch, then 3 rows of knit stitches, then another inch of Stockinette, always keeping the first and last 3 stitches of each row in knit stitch. The last 3 rows were knit to continue the garter stitch border. Working a few rows of garter stitch into a stockinette background is an easy way to add texture to any knitted piece, and looks great in a sweater, blanket, scarf or whatever you are knitting.


So this is Citrus Sunshine, all finished and ready to be mailed off to the person who will deliver it, along with all the other Preemie Blankets to a local hospital. Hopefully this bright and cheerful blanket will bring lots of love and warmth to a new little baby while he is waiting to get big enough to join the family at home.

If you would like to join in the fun of knitting these oddball baby blankets in your region, just go to the Knittinghelp.com forum and click on Charity Knitting. There is a thread for each region of the US and also some for other countries where you can see what projects are in progress and what projects still need knitters. These little projects are quick and fun, and can also be great stash busters if you sign up for projects where you can use up yarn you already have. It's also a great way to learn new stitches or practice old ones. And, of course, the best benefit is knowing you are doing something nice for someone else. Think about it!

Happy Stitching!

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Cotton Candy Points Crocheted Border

I love a pretty crocheted border, as you probably have figured out by now! Here's the border I crocheted for the Cotton Candy Oddball blanket...


Scallops can be done in so many different ways. This time I made them a little more pointed than the scallops on the Tutti Frutti blanket. This effect was achieved by using a variety of stitches for each scallop instead of just using many of the same stitch.


This is the completed blanket. Doesn't it just look good enough to eat? The purple section at the top was my knitted contribution, done in Farrow Rib stitch in soft lilac.

Here's how I worked the border...

Cotton Candy Points Crocheted Border

Work 3 rounds of single crochet stitches all around the blanket, then begin working the decorative border as follows:

* Sc in next stitch,(hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc) in next stitch, sc in next st, sl st in next stitch *

Continue from * to * around the blanket and join with a slip stitch at the base of the first scallop. Cut yarn, draw through last loop on hook to secure, and weave in ends.

This border pattern uses many stitches of different heights which is what gives the scallop a more pointed shape. You can make use of the heights of different stitches to create all kinds of fun effects in your crocheting. Mixing them together as in this border pattern, or using all the same stitch in each row can produce some interesting patterns and textures. This illustration of stitch height comparison might come in handy if you are trying to decide what stitches to use for a project.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Cherry Berry Bobble Stitch Border Video Tutorial

These oddball baby blankets can become addictive! I have been the last knitter and also the border crocheter on several in the past few weeks and I've been having lots of fun with new patterns and stitches and pretty yarns. When I shared the pattern for the Hurdle Stitch recently, I had been working on the blanket called Cherry Berry which is a preemie blanket and worked in sport weight yarn in pinks and reds.

The border I worked on Cherry Berry is one that I made up for this blanket, although I am sure there are many similar to it out there. There was just a little touch of red in one of the yarns, so I chose for the border the red yarn I had left over from Jersey Devil and a garter stitch rainbow blanket I started with the same needles. And since it is called Cherry Berry, I felt it necessary to make something in the border look like a cherry or a berry. This is what I came up with...


It's a scalloped border with a bobble right in the middle of each scallop. Bobble Stitch is fun to do and can be found in both knitting and crochet. It is used in afghans, sweaters, hats, anywhere you would want a 3-dimensional effect.


Before I worked the last row of Bobble Stitch scallops, I first crocheted around the blanket two times in single crochet. On the second round and the scallop round, I worked my stitches into the back loop only which is what forms the pretty parallel lines of red along the border.


Here you can see the section of blanket that I worked in Hurdle Stitch with the border already on it. When I was first working up the pattern for this border, I tried putting the bobbles in all different arrangements. First I tried doing a bobble in every stitch, but that was just too much bobble in too little space. Then I tried spacing them out by working one or two double crochets between each bobble, but that was not very attractive. Then I thought how nice it would be to have a bobble in the middle of a scallop. I love scallop borders on afghans and baby blankets, just like the one I did on Tutti Frutti. Plain and simple, but elegant at the same time.

So here is a little video showing how to do this Bobble Stitch Border just like I used on Cherry Berry. Actually, I must be honest, the video is not very little! It is longer than any of my others, but when I was editing it, I tried to think of what information I should cut out. I decided that sometimes more is better, so I hope you can forgive me for being so long winded and find some useful information here.




Here is the pattern written out for you:

Bobble Stitch Scallop

*Single crochet, half double crochet, bobble, half double crochet, single crochet, slip stitch.* Repeat from * to * around the blanket. End with slip stitch near first scallop.

Bobble: (yo, insert hook into stitch, yo and draw loop through stitch, yo and draw through two loops on hook) 7 times. Yo and draw loop through all 8 loops on hook. Chain stitch.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Scallop Border Video Tutorial

When I crochet or knit a baby blanket, I love to finish it off with a nice border. Some patterns have the border sort of built in to the design, such as a knitted blanket with a garter stitch border. But some, such as the oddball baby blanket I recently showed you called Tutti Frutti or the Jersey Devil and Forest Greens blankets I also worked on, have a garter stitch border built in as the foundation for a crocheted border which is added after all the knitting is complete.

After knitting the last section on Tutti Frutti using the Diagonal Seed Stitch in a pink and white Bernat Softee Baby yarn, I chose another Bernat yarn to crochet the border. This blanket already had so many soft yummy colors that I just had to pick a color that would be just as soft and yummy for the special little person who would be getting it. Soft Lilac was my pick for this, and I worked the border in a simple scallop.

What do you think of the finished blanket?



In this picture, you can see the five different sections, all knit by five different people using five different stitches and five different yarns. What a happy and cheerful blanket all these differences make!


Here's a close-up of the scallop border crocheted in purple around the whole blanket. First notice the rows of knitting just before the purple begins. These last rows were worked in garter stitch, which is just knitting every row. The blanket was begun in the same way, several rows of garter stitch. Also the beginning and end of each row throughout the blanket are worked with 3 knit stitches which makes a garter stitch border around the entire piece.

Starting with the purple, I crocheted 3 rows of single crochet around the whole blanket before beginning my scallop border. Then I worked the scallops by skipping one stitch, working 5 double crochets into the next stitch, skipping the next stitch and working a single crochet into the next stitch. That is how easy this pretty border is to crochet.

Here's a little video showing how to do this border:




In this video, you can get a few glimpses of the other sections of the blanket that I did not knit. Some of the stitches the other knitters used were so interesting that I asked for the instructions for the stitches and will be using them myself in future blankets. Right now I have another one in progress called Cherry Berry and I am using the same stitch as in the pink section you see in the Tutti Frutti blanket. I will share that with you soon.

The KnittingHelp.com Charity knitting forum has so many talented and generous knitters from all different parts of the country, but they could always use more willing hands. This is a great way to work on a little project which is not a huge commitment of time or money, but will benefit someone in such a wonderful way. Even if you are a new knitter, what better way to master the skill than to practice it!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Border - Simple But Pretty!

A crocheted border on a knitted or crocheted afghan can give it such a nice finishing touch. Depending on who will be receiving the afghan or baby blanket, either a simple border of single crochet or a foofy frilly ruffle border might be appropriate. Of course there is always a Something In Between type of border that could be just the thing too.

The most recent Oddball baby blanket I completed was Forest Greens on which I knitted the last section in a basket weave design. On that blanket, I was also on Border Patrol so I came up with a simple but pretty -- and easy -- border for this one. Here is a close-up of a finished corner...


Working a round or two of single crochet around a knitted piece is a good way to get a border going. It stabilizes the edges and provides crochet stitches into which you can work the decorative border for the last round.


This is the whole blanket all finished and ready to be delivered. The colors in this picture are much closer to real life than the colors in the corner picture above.

Would you like to use this border pattern on your own knitted or crocheted blanket? Here's the pattern:

Work 2 or more rounds of single crochet (sc) around the entire piece, making sure to work 3 sc in each corner so the piece will lie flat.

For final decorative round, * sc in each of next 3 stitches. Chain 3. Sc into same stitch as last sc was worked.* This will create a little loop of chain stitches coming from the same sc stitch.

Continue working from * to * around the piece. Join with slip stitch. Cut yarn leaving a tail of about 10 inches to weave in. Draw tail through last loop to secure. Weave in ends.

Borders are fun to experiment with. Use your imagination and creativity to come up with variations of other borders you have tried from patterns. You can crochet a different border on every afghan you make, creating a truly one-of-a-kind work of art!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Border -- Small and Big Scallops Video Tutorial

The Northeast US Oddball Baby Blanket on-line charity knitting group in which I have begun to participate is going great guns on so many beautiful baby blankets. Pictures of blankets in progress can be seen by clicking HERE, and pictures of completed blankets can be seen by clicking HERE.

The first blanket I worked on was the all-red Jersey Devil blanket which I have already shown you. At the end of that post, I promised videos showing how to do the border that I made up for that blanket. I have already shown you how to work a single crochet border around a knitted piece. But I also promised a video on how to work the decorative border I used for that blanket.

Finally here it is...




The written pattern can be found in the original post on the Jersey Devil blanket if you would like to give it a try.

I am now in the process of knitting the last section of the Forest Greens baby blanket and then I will crochet the border on that one too before mailing it to the person who will deliver it along with other completed blankets to the hospital to be given to the babies.

If you are looking for a nice group of people to get to know, and a quick project to do every once in a while, check out the Knittinghelp.com Charity Knitting forum and sign up for a section of an oddball blanket in your part of the country. It will definitely put a smile on your face!

Happy Stitching!

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