Crochet Basics: 5 Beautiful Crochet Edges to Finish Any Project

No crochet project is complete without crochet edging. As you probably know, crochet edging is a finishing technique, often in the form of a crochet border that gives your design a polished, complete look. Crochet edging can elevate a design or affect the entire style of your project. Edging can range from wide to narrow, straight to ruffled, and everything in between. Adding a ruffled edge to a shirt cuff, a nice border to a blanket or pillow, or finishing a garment collar are all common ways that edging is used to finish a project. Here are 5 of my favorite crochet edges, you might want to memorize and master. That way, when you get to the end of a project, you already have a few ideas about how to finish it off.

1. Crab Stitch Edging

The crab stitch makes for a great corded edging. It’s a subtle and sophisticated finish that’ll be the easiest to memorize and use, so let's get to know it now! Worked over: any number of stitches.

How to finish: Work an odd number of rows (at least one) of single crochet. At the end, do not turn — CH 1, skip the stitch directly to the RIGHT and reverse single crochet (rev SC*) into each SC, ending with a sl st in the turning chain of the previous row. Fasten off.

Worked in the round: sl st into first SC, Ch 1, then continue as for working flat, ending with a slst into first rev SC.

*rev SC (worked from left to right): Insert hook in next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull loop through, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.

2. Shell Stitch Edging

Shells give you a more dainty looking finish, perfect for blankets and garments. You can even use this edging on non-crocheted items such as pillowcases to make them extra. Worked over: multiple of 4 stitches + 1.

Finish it: Ch 1, SC in first st, *skip 1 st, 5 DC in next st, skip 1 st, 1 SC in next st; Rep from * to end, SC in last st (or turning ch, if you work in the turning chains). Fasten off.

3. Picot Edging Stitch

You are already familiar with Picot Stitch, that we’ve learned before. Use picots for a decorative edge that’s not going to outshine the pattern. This really simple edge uses only single crochet and chains. Worked over: Any number of stitches, depending on how you want to space the bumps (picots).

Finish it: Treat this like a row of SC. After the first stitch, Ch 3, 4, or 5 and slst into first ch (picot made!). Work two, three, or four stitches, then make another picot. Continue working as such, ending with a picot over the second to last SC.

4. Block Edging Stitch

These stitches are basically “leaning DC groups,” and make a pretty interesting edge. If you want to put them in a pattern, your next row can be made by crocheting into the corners of each little block and chaining to get to the next. Worked over: Multiple of 4 stitches + 3.

How to finish: Ch 3, skip first 3 stitches, *1 DC in next st, Ch 3, 3 DC around the post of the DC, skip next 3 stitches; Rep from * to last 3 stitches, Ch 3, slst in last stitch or turning chain of previous row.

Worked in the round: Ch 6, DC in 4th ch from hook, DC in next ch, 2 DC in first ch, skip next 3 stitches, * 1 DC in next st, Ch 3, 4 DC around the post of the DC, skip next 3 stitches; Rep from * around, sl st into third chain of beg-ch.

5. Blanket Edging Stitch

Blanket edging, sometimes called the spike stitch, gets its name because it resembles the blanket stitch in embroidery. It’s a simple stitch that looks best in a contrasting color. Worked over: Any number of stitches.

How to finish it: This stitch utilizes the spike SC. Space them to suit the number of stitches you have in the row or round.

For example (multiple of 4 stitches + 3):

Ch 1, SC in first 3 stitches, *1 SC in next stitch by inserting your hook about 1/4″ below the edge, 1 SC in each of the next 3 stitches; Rep from * to end. Fasten off. You can make the spikes longer by inserting your hook lower in the main piece.

From simple block edging to unique edging like Picot and Crab stitch, these crochet edging ideas have the perfect finishing technique for just about anything.

It’s amazing how something as simple as edging can completely alter the style of your crochet project and bring things together seamlessly. Choose from classic to modern. These 5 easy crochet edging ideas are the perfect tool to add to your crochet knowledge to give you a polished, perfect finish every time.