How to Crochet Edging on a Blanket (Best Edging Ideas)

Choosing the right edging is a fun way to give your blanket personality, whether you want something clean and modern or pretty and traditional. There are many crochet edgings to pick from, and they all start the same way, with an even base round, then differ in the decorative rounds you add on top. This guide rounds up the best crochet edging ideas for a blanket and helps you choose. It pairs with the step by step technique in how to crochet a blanket border, and it is part of the crochet stitch library.

Start With a Base Round

Whatever edging you choose, it sits on a base round of single crochet worked all the way around the blanket, with three stitches in each corner so the edge lies flat. Along the sides, you work into the row ends rather than the stitches, spacing them evenly to avoid puckering or waving. This even foundation is what makes every decorative edging look neat, so it is worth getting right. The full method for the base round and corners is covered in our blanket border guide.

Simple Single Crochet Edging

The easiest edging is a round or two of plain single crochet. It gives a clean, tidy frame that suits modern blankets and lets a busy stitch pattern or colorful design be the star. It is also a great choice for a first blanket, since it is quick and hard to get wrong. Even if you plan a fancier edging, a couple of single crochet rounds make a lovely even base for it, so this simple edge is never wasted effort.

Crab Stitch Edging

For a neat, firm, corded edge with barely any extra effort, the crab stitch is a favorite. Also called reverse single crochet, it is worked backward along the edge to create a twisted, ribbed border that looks smart and helps stop the edge curling. It suits both modern and classic blankets and gives a professional finish. You can learn it in how to crochet a crab stitch, and it works beautifully on top of a plain single crochet base round.

Shell and Scalloped Edging

For a pretty, traditional look, shell and scalloped edgings are hard to beat. A shell border fans groups of double crochets into rounded shells around the edge, while a scalloped edge creates soft, repeating waves. Both give a lovely, feminine, vintage feel that suits baby blankets and heirloom throws. They use more yarn than a plain edge, so keep extra of your border color, and they look especially charming in a contrasting color.

Picot and Dainty Edgings

If you want a delicate, decorative touch, a picot edging adds tiny points or loops along the edge for a dainty finish. Picots are lovely on baby items and lightweight blankets, and they combine beautifully with shells and scallops for an even prettier border. Because picots are small, they add charm without a lot of bulk, making them a subtle way to dress up an edge. They are also quick and easy once you can chain and slip stitch.

How to Choose Your Edging

To choose an edging, think about the blanket's style and who it is for. Modern, graphic, or masculine blankets suit simple single crochet or crab stitch edges. Baby blankets, heirlooms, and pretty designs suit shells, scallops, and picots. Consider how much yarn you have, since decorative edges use more, and whether a contrasting border color would look good. When in doubt, a plain base round plus one decorative round is a safe, attractive choice. A final block, as in how to block crochet, sets any edging off perfectly.

Finishing Your Blanket

With so many edging options, you can give every blanket exactly the finish it deserves, from clean and simple to soft and frilly. Start with an even base round, then pick the decorative edge that suits your project. For the step by step border technique, see how to crochet a blanket border, explore the individual edging stitches in the crochet stitch library, and find blankets to finish in the beginner pattern hub.